315 
MAGDEBURG. 
Among the three great cities on the Elbe—Hamburg, Magdeburg and 
Dresden—Magdeburg occupies the middle position both geographically and in 
point of importance as a trading centre. It is the capital of the Prussian 
province of Saxony and is regarded as the most centrally situated of the great 
cities of Germany. Its position on the Prussian railway system is such that it 
can be reached from Berlin on the north-east in two hours, from Leipzig on the 
south in three hours, from Brunswick on the west in an hour and a half, and 
from Hamburg on the north-west in a little less than four hours. Being the 
distributing centre for a wide agricultural area in which sugar and sugar beet 
are largely produced, it has come to be recognised as the leading market for 
sugar in Germany, while among the great German markets for farm stock and 
cereals it also holds a prominent place. Owing to its position on a great natural 
waterway navigable for large river craft from beyond the Austrian frontier to 
the North Sea the traditions and prosperity of the town have in the past been 
identified with commerce rather than manufactures. Like other German towns, 
however, whose early prosperity has been based on commerce, Magdeburg has, 
since the spread of railways, also developed into a considerable manufacturing 
town, its staple industries being sugar refining, the manufacture of machinery 
(more especially for agriculture and for the equipment of sugar refineries), 
steam fittings, ordnance and armour plates. 
The following Table shows the growth of the population of Magdeburg 
since 1871 : — 
Year. 
Population. 
Increase. 
1871 
1875 
1880 
1885 
1890 
1895 
1900 
1905 
114,509 
122,789 
137,185 
159,520 
202,230 
214,424 
229,667 
240,633 
8,280 
14,346 
22,385 
42,710 
12,194 
15,243 
10.966 
Increase per cent. 
7-2 
117 
16 3 
26-8 
60 
7-1 
4-8 
It will be seen that between the years 1885 and 1890 the increase of the 
population was greater than in any otner quinquennial period. This, it should 
be stated, is due to the incorporation within the municipal area in 1886 and 1887 
of the outlying parishes of Neustadt on the north, and Buckau on the south. 
The following Table shows the birth-rates, death-rates, and infant 
mortality rates for the last five years for which the figures are available 
Year. 
Birth-rate per 1,000 
of population. 
Death-rate per 1,000 
of population. 
Infant mortality rate 
per 1,000 births. 
19-0 
244 
1901 
30-5 
209 
17-5 
1902 
29-2 
180 
232 
1903 
28-2 
194 
253 
1904 
26-8 
18-1 
244 
1905 
25-8 
2 R 2 
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