GALICIA, ga-llshli-a (Ger. Giilizien). The largest of the Austrian crownlands, situated in the northeastern part of Austria-Hungary, bound ed by Russia on the north and east. Bukowina on the southeast, Hungary on the south and south west, and Austrian and Prussian Silesia on the west (Map: Austria, H 2). Its area is over 30,300 square miles. Separated from Hungary by the Carpathians, the surface of Galicia in clines toward the north, while the interior con sists mostly of hills and elevated plateaus. The northern part is a gently rolling plain. Galicia is abundantly watered by the Vistula and its affluents, and also by the Dniester, which drains the southern part of the province. The latter flows southeast, and is navigable from Sambor. The Pruth also flows through the southern part of Galicia. The Vistula is navigable at Cracow, and, flowing northeast, forms part of the bound afy of Russian Poland. Among its tributaries in Galicia are the San and Dunajec, both navigable, and the Bug. There are no lakes of consequence, but mineral springs abound, some of them of more than provincial repute. The climate, owing to the exposed northern position of the crown land, is colder than that of any other part of Austria-Hungary. The winters are generally long and severe, while the summers are hot.
Galicia is more purely agricultural than any other of the crownlands of Austria, no less than 77 per cent. of its population depending for a liv ing directly on the soil. The soil, with the excep tion of some sandy and marshy districts, is fer tile, and produces wheat, barley, rye, oats, maize, etc. Flax, hemp, tobacco, hops, beets, etc., are likewise cultivated. The production of cereals is generally more than sufficient to meet the domes tic demand, considerable quantities being in fact exported. Horses, cattle, and sheep are raised in large numbers. The unequal distribution of the land is shown by the fact that while one-third of the cultivable area is in the hands of large landholders owning estates of over 1400 acres each, about one-half consists of holdings of less than 14 acres in extent. This state of affairs, together with the industrial backwardness of the country, is chiefly responsible for the wretched condition of the agricultural classes. Most of the peasants are unable to make a living from their small farms, and are consequently obliged to emigrate in large numbers for a part of the year to Russia, Russian Poland, and Germany, where they work for low wages, while their fam ilies attend to the farms at home.
The forests of Galicia occupy about 25 per cent. of the total area of the country, and yield large quantities of timber for export to foreign coun tries, chiefly to Germany. The mineral industries are insignificant, with the exception of rock salt, of which there are extensive deposits, those of Wieliezka being famous. Petroleum is obtained in large quantities, and the refining industry is assuming very great importance. The manu factured articles of Galicia are mainly the out put of house industries. Weaving, brewing, and distilling, and the production of small wooden articles are the leading industries. There is, however, an improvement in some branches of manufacture, notably in that of textiles. The trade is almost exclusively in the hands of the Jews, and is hindered by the Russian trade pol icy. The transit business, nevertheless, is some what important. The leading exports are petro leum, salt, ozocerite, lumber, grain, cattle, and linens. In 1898 there were in Galicia 2000 miles of railway.
The Constitution of Galicia dates from 1861. The Diet is composed of 154 members, consist ing of three archbishops, five bishops, two rec tors of universities, 44 representatives of the landed aristocracy, 20 representatives of towns and industrial centres, three from the cham bers of commerce and industries, and 77 from the rural communities. In the Austrian Lower House Galicia is represented by 78 delegates, of whom 15 are elected by all voters, while of the remaining 63, 20 are sent by the large land holders, 13 by the towns, 3 by the chambers of commerce and industry, and 27 by the rural communities. For the purpose of administra tion Galicia is divided into 78 counties, and the two cities of Lemberg and Cracow. The popu lation of Galicia in 1900 was 7,295,538, showing an increase of 10.4 per cent, for the period 1890 1900. According to nationality, as determined by the language spoken, the population is composed as follows: Poles, 53 per cent.; Ruthenians, 43 per cent.; the remainder mainly German. As to religion, over 45 per cent. are Roman Catholic, 42 per cent. Greek, and about 11 per cent. Jews. In 1890 over 73 per cent. of the population could neither read nor write. Higher education is af forded by universities at Cracow and Lemberg. The important cities are Lemberg, the capital; Cracow, Tarnow, Brody, Tarnopol, Przemysl, and Kolomea.