total
population in 1900 was 112,227 (of whom 3066 inhabited the rural
districts), mainly German-speaking, and numbering 73,063 Protestants,
37,101 Romanists (including the Old Catholics), and 1897 Jews. The cantonal
constitution dates from 1889. The executive of seven members and the
legislature (_Grossrat_) of 130 members, as well as the one member sent to
the Federal _Staenderat_ and the six sent to the Federal _Nationalrat_, are
all elected by a direct popular vote for the term of three years. Since
1875, 1000 citizens can claim a popular vote (_facultative Referendum_) on
all bills, or can exercise the right of _initiative_ whether as to laws or
the revision of the cantonal constitution.

The other half canton is that of Basel Landschaft or Bale Campagne, which
is divided into four administrative districts and comprises seventy-four
communes, its capital being Liestal. Its total area is 165 sq. m., of which
all but 5 sq. m. is reckoned "productive" (including 55.9 sq. m. of
forests). In 1900 its total population was 68,497, nearly all
German-speaking, while there were 52,763 Protestants, 15,564 Romanists, and
130 Jews.

The cantonal constitution dates from 1892. The executive of 5 members and
the legislature or _Landrat_ (one member per 800 inhabitants or fraction
over 400), as well as the single member sent to the Federal _Staenderat_
and the three sent to the Federal _Nationalrat_, are all elected by a
direct popular vote for three years. The "obligatory Referendum" obtains in
the case of all laws, while 1500 citizens have the right of "initiative"
whether as to laws or the revision of the cantonal constitution. Silk
ribbon weaving, textile industries and the manufacture of tiles are carried
on.

(W. A. B. C.)

BASEL (Fr. _Bale_, but _Basle_ is a wholly erroneous form; Ital.
_Basilea_), the capital of the Swiss half canton of Basel Stadt or Bale
Ville. It is now the second most populous (109,161 inhabitants) town
(ranking after Zuerich) in the Swiss Confederation, while it is reputed to
be the richest, the number of resident millionaires (in francs) exceeding
that of any other Swiss town. Both facts are largely due to the opening
(1882) of the St Gotthard railway, as merchandise collected from every part
of north and central Europe is stored in Basel previous to being
redistributed by means of that line. Hence the city has an extremely large
and flourishing transit trade, despite the rather dingy appearance