TICINO (Ger. Tessin). A southern canton of Switzerland, bordering on Italy, between Valais on the west and Grisons on the east. Area, TOSS square miles (Map: Switzerland, C 2). It has a very mountainous surface intersected by the valleys of the Ticino, Maggia, Moesa, and of a few other streams. In the north rise the Lepontine Alps with the Saint Gotthard, in the east are the Adula Alps, while the southern part around Lago Maggiore is com paratively low, and is the most. fertile part of the canton. Notwithstanding its mountainous character, Ticino has two-thirds of its area under cultivation. Cereals are the chief products, but southern fruits and grapes are also cultivated on a large scale. The manufacturing industries are undeveloped and native artisans emigrate annually to other parts of Europe. The chief means of transportation is the Saint Gotthard Railway. The Constitution (as amended in 1S92) provides for a Legislative Assembly elected by the people on the basis of proportional representation, and an Executive Council, also elected by the peo ple. The optional referendum prevails. Popula tion, in ISSS, 126,751; in 1900, 138.638, almost exclusively Italians. Capital, Bellinzona (q.v.). Consult Motta, Bibliografia storica tici-nese (Zu rich).
Ticino as part of Gallia Cisalpina was early joined to the Roman Republic. After the decline
of the Roman power it passed successively into the hands of the Ostrogoths, Lombards, and Franks. During the later medireval period its territory formed a portion of the Duchy of Milan, from which it was wrested in successive con quests during the fifteenth and sixteenth cen turies by the members of the Swiss Confederacy, whose title was confirmed by the 'Eternal Peace' of 1516. The attempt to establish Protestantism in the District of Locarno was rigorously stamped out by the exile of members of that faith in 1555. The rule of the Italian district by the other members of the Confederacy was harsh, but only one rebellion, in 1755. marked its course. In 179S this district, divided into the cantons of Bell inzona and Lugano, was constituted part of the Helvetic Republic; in 1803 they were united into one canton—Ticino—which received greater privileges as a full member of the Con federacy. Other difficulties were removed by the Constitution of 1830, but measures of a religious and commercial nature have often separated the inhabitants from the sympathy of their northern neighbors, and local struggles of Radical and Ultramontane parties have often necessitated Federal interference.