Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 03.djvu/360

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
DE LA RAMÉE
308
DELAWARE

to become consulting engineer to the War Department in relation to railroads in the Philippine Islands. He was afterward president and director of many important railroad systems. In 1913 he was appointed by President Taft, and again by President Wilson in 1914, as a member of the Federal Reserve Board and was designated vice-governor for two years. He resigned to enter the army in June, 1918. As a major and lieutenant-colonel he performed service in the Engineering Corps, and as deputy director of transportation in France. He was promoted to be colonel of the Transport Corps in 1919 and was honorably discharged in October of that year. He was a member of many scientific societies.

DE LA RAMÉE, LOUISE. See Ouida.

DELAROCHE, HIPPOLYTE (familiarly styled Paul), (de-lä-rōsh), a French painter; born in Paris, July 16, 1797. He studied landscape painting for a short time but applied himself afterward to historical painting, and rapidly rose to eminence. Notable among his works are: “St. Vincent de Paul preaching before Louis XIII. on behalf of Deserted Children,” “Joan of Arc Interrogated in Prison by Cardinal Beaufort,” the “Death of Queen Elizabeth,” “The Children of Edward IV. in the Tower,” “Cardinal Richelieu Conducting Cinq Mars and De Thou up the Rhone to Execution,” “Charles I. Mocked by His Guards,” the “Execution of Lady Jane Grey,” the “Death of the Duke of Guise,” and the “Hemicycle,” an immense work painted in oil on the wall of The École des Beaux Arts, Paris. It represents an assemblage of the great painters, sculptors, and architects from the days of Giotto to those of Lesueur. He held a middle place between the classical and the romantic schools, and was regarded as the leader of the so-called “eclectic school.” He died in Paris, Nov. 4, 1856.

DELAVIGNE, JEAN FRANCOIS CASIMIR (de-lä-vēn′), a French poet and dramatist; born in Havre, April 4, 1793. He produced in 1819 his tragedy of “The Sicilian Vespers”; “The Comedians” appeared in 1820, and the tragedy of “The Paria” in 1821. Of his other plays which followed these may be mentioned: “The School of Old Men”; “Marino Faliero”; and the dramas of Louis VI.—founded on Commines' “Memoirs” and “Quentin Durward”—and “Don John of Austria.” His hymns, “The Parisienne” and “The Varsovienne,” and the ballad “The Toilette of Constance,” are among his more popular poetical pieces. He became in 1825 a member of the Academy. He died at Lyons, France, Dec. 11, 1843.

DELAWARE, a State in the South Atlantic Division of the North American Union; bounded by Pennsylvania, Delaware river and bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and Maryland; area, 2,050 square miles; one of the original 13 States; number of counties, 3; pop. (1890) 168,493; (1900) 184,735; (1910) 202,322; (1920) 223,003; capital, Dover.

Topography.—Delaware lies on a level plain, the highest elevation being less than 300 feet above the sea. The N. part is hilly, with a rolling surface, but below Newcastle the ground is flat and sandy and in some parts swampy. A ridge about 70 feet in altitude extends along the W. boundary of the State and is the watershed for the affluents of the Delaware in the E. and of several streams falling into Chesapeake Bay. The principal streams are the Christiana and the Brandywine rivers. The Christiana is navigable for large steamers as far as Wilmington. The coast of Delaware Bay is marshy; the Atlantic coast has many sand beaches, inclosing shallow lagoons. The largest of these are Rehoboth Bay, Indian River Bay, and a portion of St. Martin's Bay. The only harbors of consequence are Wilmington, Lewes, and Newcastle.

Mineralogy and Geology.—Geologically, the State is divided into three divisions, the cretaceous in the N.; tertiary in the Central, and post-tertiary or alluvial in the S. Bog iron ore, found in all the swamps, shell marl in the greensand region, and kaolin or porcelain clay, are abundant.

Soil.—For eight or ten miles inland from Delaware Bay the soil is for the most part a rich clayey loom; but W. of this it is light and sandy, and productive when well fertilized. The swamps where reclaimed are also very productive. In them are extensive forests of cypresses and other evergreen trees, and shrubs of a semi-tropical character, as well as bog-oak, hackmatack, etc. The remainder of the State has been cleared of its forests and is under cultivation.

Agriculture.—The State is highly agricultural, ten-thirteenths of its entire area being under cultivation. It is pre-eminently a fruit-growing region, peaches, apples, pears, quinces and other small fruits are extensively raised, and the annual peach crop alone averages 4,000,000 baskets. The acreage, production, and value of the principal crops in 1919 was as follows: corn, 230,000 acres, production 6,900,000 bushels, valued at $10,005,000; wheat, 145,000 acres, production 1,740,000 bushels, valued at $3,706,000; potatoes, 11,000 acres, production 915,000 bushels, valued at $1,141,000; sweet potatoes, 7,000 acres, production 966,000