The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-18

In searching tor the cause OF this re-
markable self-supporting ability of the
Belgians, discovered some things which
English writer's are not in the habit of
pointing out to the British public, lest
it may offend "my Lord" First, during
the French occupation, between 1892
and 1914, the French system of convent
disestablishment was introduced into
Belgium, whereby the vast estates sb-
sorbed by the converts and nunneries
were confscated by the Government,
broken up into small farms, and sold to
the people in fee simple. Second, the
French land laws, abolishing primogen-
iture and entail, and compelling the
equal PARTITION of land among natural
heirs, were adopted; and the ancient
feudal system of entailments was abol-
ished. The operation of those two
French laws has in seventy years divid-
ed the real estate of Belgium, country
and city, among one million of owners.
Previous to the French occupation the
AdAlu do ilCAN N NoSt NSLdtCS hAAC AO-
bles and priests for the benefit of a few
pampered families, and the support of
swarms of idle monks and nuns, and as a
consequence, the country was badly till
ed by an ignorant superstitions and pow
erty pinched peasantry. But, as fast as
the lands, under the operation of the
French laws, became the property of
those who farmed them, the system of
tillage improved, and the condition of
the people changed from pauperism into
independence.
There is now no hereditary land mon
opoly and no idle land in Belgium. Not
an acre is devoted to deer parks, pheas-
antries, or other sporting purposes. for
the enjoyment of a luxurious and disso-
lutte aristocracy, while masses of men are
starving for bread. AS travel through
Belgium, see swarms of men, women
and children cutting down and gather
ing a harvest of grain and grass, where
the wheat will yield thirty to forty BUSH
els to the acre; the oats fifty to seventy
five bushels, and the hay two and half
to four tons per acre; while the ensuing
product of fax and root-crops-potatoes
and beets-will be beyond American
conception of possibilities. The straw
berries, red raspberries, and gooseberries,
brought to market, while not superior
in flavor to those sold in Chicago, are
twice or thrice as large.
These enormous yields of agricultural
and horticultural products are not in
consequence of better soil or climate
than in America, but are the results Of
heavy manuring, deep plowing and
spading, subsoiling, undertaking when
required, irrigation when possible,
watchful hoeing and wedding, free use
of guano and other fertilizers for top
dressing, and careful harvesting and
storage of crops, whereby nothing is
wasted, lost, or allowed to rot in the
fields. This perfect system of tillage
never was adopted or thought of until
the land became the property of the
cultivators of the soil, and the relations
of landlord and tenant ceased to exist.
The price of land in Belgium ranges
from 5000 to 81 900 per acre, and a fair
average would be $4OO to $500; but
there is very little offered for sale.
Most of the sales take place in cases
where rich manufacturers or bankers
want a country seat, or more frequently,
where the older heirs purchase the in
terest of the younger ones, the latter
taking up their residences in the cities.
1t is perfectly surprising on how small
freehold patch of ground the Belgian
peasant is able to raise a family in COM
fort and supply all their reasonable
wants. Of course they realize high
prices for every article they have to sell
about double what an Illinois farmer
gets-while they purchase all their
"store goods" for less than half of what
the Western farmer must pay for his
supplies. Ownership of the land and
good prices for the crops are the incen-
tives which cause the Belgian farmers
to strive to make the earth yield Its ut
most production.
The foreign commerce of Belgium is
immense for SO small country. Last
year the imports amounted to $280,O00,-
900, and the exports to $3.50, 10000.
Like the British, the Belgians seek to
have the balance of trade" against
themselves, as that proves they receive
more property than they send abroad in
exchange for it. Hence the "balance of
trade" against them measures their clear
pro6ts;'.at least they think so, and, by
pursuing that course steadily for thirty
or forty years past, they have become
very rich, in spite of the adverse "bal-
anee of trade"
The revenue of the Government for
1873 was $3s, 200, 900, and the total ex-
penditure $35, 100000. The surplus was
applied in payment of the National debt
which now amounts to $1S3, 3,O00, 900
the interest on the same being 81, 200, 900
The Belgian debt consists of two parts
first the portion Of the Dutch National
debt which they are obliged to assume
after obtaining their independence, as
adiudged by the Great Powers. second,
the amount expended for the construct
ion of State railways and telegraphs.
The former, or Dutch debt part, amount
ed to S97, 100000, the latter, or cost of
the railroads, to S126,Ooo,ooO; total
1928, 100000, of which $4,000, 900 has
been paid off. Belgium is one of the
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