POPULATION
In 1926 the population of the Netherland East Indies was esti-
mated to be 51,013,878 inhabitants, of which 209,934 were Europeans,
49,848,661 natives, and 955,283 foreign Asiatics. Java, which is one
of the most densely populated areas in the world, was estimated to
have 36,403,833 inhabitants, or about 717 per square mile. The
population of the Outer Possessions was placed at 14,610,045, or
about 21 per square mile. The principal cities of the Netherland
East Indies are:
City
datavia. . _
Surabaya... ——
SeMArANT _ cma enna
Soerakarta (Solo) eee.
Total
nopulas
Hon
5 131
"48, 961
50,952
51.273
‘uropean
popila-
tion
24, UB
23, 620
18, 954
9 144
ty
NGOCNE we oem
Jjokjakarta (Djocja).....__.
DALAL. csiniesiisesmisieis sw
Todan_
Total
popula-
tion
26,018
10, 120
58, 718
15, 246
European
popula-
tion
15, 743
9, 604
2, 742
3 198
TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION
The transportation facilities of Java are adequate to serve the needs
of the island in spite of the denisty of population. The same degree
of development has naturally not taken place in the Outer Posses-
sions, although Sumatra is well served by railway and bus lines in
the more densely populated areas. Busses are now an important
feature in the transportation system of Java. Road mileage through-
out the territory is estimated at 36,200, of which over 25,000 miles
represent improved highways of macadam construction.
The principal railways in the islands are owned and operated by
the Government. In addition, there are 19 private railway com-
panies, the most important of which are the Netherland Indies Rail-
road Co., which operates in central Java, and the Deli Railway Co.,
which operates on the east coast of Sumatra. The total length of
Government and private railways in operation is approximately 7,300
kilometers, of which 4,300 kilometers are Government operated.
{One kilometer equals 0.62137 mile.)
Connection with Europe is maintained by two lines of fast mail
steamers owned by Dutch companies. The interisland trade is
entirely in the hands of the Koninklije Paketvaart Mij., a Dutch
company. The latter company also maintains a regular service
between Java ports and Singapore and Australian ports. There are
also monthly [reight services direct from the west coast of the United
States to Java ports.
The chief ports of the Netherland East Indies are Surabaya,
Batavia, and Semarang in Java; Modan and Palembang in Sumatra;
and Makassar in the Celebes. These ports have modern equipment
installed to facilitate the handling of cargo and meet all of the require-
ments of the present shipping traffic. In Java the ports are well
connected with the commercial, producing, and consuming centers in
the interior by a system of railways, canals, and roads.
The Netherland East Indies were among the first countries in the
Far East to realize the possibilities of commercial aviation. Daily
flights are now scheduled between the principal cities and a weekly
service connects Singapore with Batavia.