The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-06-01

BRUSSELS ExPos1T1oN-LEoPoLD1 H.
tory and pictorial display of mans material
progress from the time when he dug esculent
roots with his fingers and burned a cavity in
log for a canoe to these days when steel and
steam are the motors Of true golden age
The United States has honored the invita-
tion to participate by an appropriation of
s3O,OO0 and the Hon. John Bigelow has ac-
cepted the presidency Of the American cont
mission Among its associates are Gen.
John NJ Schofeld, commander of the depart
ment including New York; Hon. Carl
schurz, Albert Bierstadt, the artist; White
law Reid, Surgeon General Hammond and
Gen. John Newton. The central position Of
Belgium, between England, France and Ger
many, makes this rare opportunity for tho
exhibition Of those articles in which Ameri-
cans excel.
It appears to be law of nature Tor long
habit has made it seem SOY that the people Of
each country have certain specialties in
which they excel all other nations. When GER
tain arts are long practiced children appear
to be born with inherited aptitudes for those
arts and even with fingers naturally deft in
such work. We therefore feel a curiosity as
to tho lines of Belgiums specialties, not only
as to what American visitors will sec there,
but what our exhibitors will be able to
recommend to the Belgians. It goes
: without saying that Americans vastly
excel all other peoples in agricultural tools
and machinery as well as in that class OF
minor conveniences known as yankee
notions;' that the French have the reputation
for delicate fabrics and little articles
of taste, while the British are supposed
to excel in those products requiring massive
strength and soliditM as the japanese do at
the opposite extreme Of minute work.
Similarly Belgium led the world for 400
years in the manufacture Of fine clothing,
and even now her laces and linens, carpets
and dalnasks make the names "Mechlin and
Brussels" household words in all civilized
lsnds. The perfection of Belgium work in
whatever tho people devote themselves to
is proverbial; and the efficiency OF the gov
ernulent the perfection of agriculture and
the general comfort and exemption from
pauperism are studied by statesmen and
social reformcrs in all lands.
Belgium is but one-third as large as the
state of Indiana; y.t in its 1852 square
miles live nearly 0,0o0, 900 people who own
100000 horses, 1,5c0 900 cattle and nearly
1000, 900 sheep, and who produce annually
S35, ,OOo, 900 worth of coal, and vast quanti-
ties of iron, zinc and other metals, besides
lavish abundance Of all the necessaries OF
life except tropical products. Only one
fourteenth of tho whole area is unfit for
cultivation; and though the soil was origin
ally light and sandy, they have by long and
careful cultivation brought it to produc-
tiveness which is tho wonder Of the world.
Despite the dense population they produce
grain for export, tho annual crop Of wheat
often exceeding 10000, 900 bushels, while tho
crops of rye, oats and root products are gener-
ally more than sufficient for home consump-
ton. There are very few large farms, and
nearly all the land is owned in little tracts OF
four, six or eight acres, each cultivated by
ths owner and his family with spade. hoe and
rake. Flax is fostered as national speciality,
and the annual crop averages the value OF
$4,000, ,0o0 Grasses are cultivated to such
success that single acre sustains three OF tho
heavy Belgian cattle. The product OF sugar
beets and other roots is surprising. In addi-
ton they have many manufacturing towns
and noted mineral springs The people are
about half Walloons OF French descent. and
> half Flemings, of German descent: so the
country dialects are rather corrupt but all
the educated people and those OF the large
towns speak French. The revenue OF tho
government averages about $4O, ,OOo
year. and the expenditures little less Most
If the people ere Roman Catholics.