Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-23
ANTWERP AND HER DOCKS
A Practical System for Preventing Labor
Troubles Among Stevedores.
Cooperative Dock Societies and How
They WOYk-UnlOad-
ing Vessels.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

of ships into the harbor appreciate the cos
mopolitan and commercial character of
Antwerp.
Even its name bears testimony Of early
commerce Tradition says that in the sew
enth century the river upon which Antwerp
is situated was under the dominion of
Duron Antigon. He laid a tax upon each
vessel that passed his stronghold. and If an
Independent master tried to escape the
tribute he was quickly caught his right
hand cut of and thrown into the river
from which we have Antwerp. coming from
hand. hand. and werpen, to throw. If
this derivation be true or not none can say
but the authorities of the city place enough
credence in 1t to have on the municipal
right hands.
A Checkered Career.
The city has had its career checkered
with prosperity and adversely, growth and
decay. 1t has been the home of wealthy
merchants, the seat Of mighty rulers and
the coveted prize Of rapacious armies. AT
no time has abiding peace been its portion.
and each time it was found necessary to
extend its boundaries ramparts and FORTH
cations were moved further back. This
seven-time-repeated extension is easily
traced. for the only wide streets to be
found In the city are the sites of the former
lires Of Notifications. The last extension.
Of the earthworks the magnificent sweep Of
boulevards known as Avenue des Beaux
Arts. Avenue de rIndustrie and Avenue du
Sud.
Magnificent Docks.
Napoleon appreciated the Importance Of
Antwerp as q port. and began. in 1904. the
erection Of docks. pursuing a plan which
has been followed with such improvements
as modern needs and better appliances de-
mand. until now the entire river front is
one continuous dock. solidly built Of stone.
with water deep enough for the largest
ship that floats.
Upon these docks twelve thousand tons Of
freight are daily handled and six thousand
ships are discharged each year, making
Antwerp the third city In the world In
maritime importance.
Thus 1t is that Antwerp is a world city
and is Justly entitled to have a worlds
fair.
A City Without Strikers.
In view Of the labor troubles in the Unit
ed States. ones attention is called to the
disastrous results which would follow a
strike among the stevedores or longshore-
men here. But they don't have strikes
Not that the Belgian is opposed la greve; by
no means he rather enjoys one. But on the
docks there is system worthy OF tmita-
ton and emulation.
There are forty-nine societies or guilds of
dock laborers, who load and unload each
vessel that comes into port. These socie-
ties are called nations, and each one limits
its labors and will handle only certain arti-
cles and in some cases only those certain
articles that come from a certain locality.
For Instance the Nalkeniero Matte Will un-
load lumber that comes from America, but
none but the Mexico Matte could handle
the lumber from Sweden: the 'Nlaey Matte
can charge a vessel with ordinary Belgian
sugar. but IL the sugar Is intended for can
dy Its loading is the province Of the Win
gard Matte
How the Nations Are Formed.
Each nation is a limited corporation, the
number of members being goverend by the
amount of work that usually falls to its lot.
The members are also stockholders for tine
society must own drays, wagons. horses
and all the utensils necessary. The shares
vary lin price; in the most prosperous ma
items a share is valued at 5000. Each
shareholder must be also a laborer and
obey implicitly the officers of the society.
The officers are the dean, assistant deans
and secretary. Each morning all the men,
bers meet half an hour before the days
work begins at their headquarters, and
tasks are assigned TO each man. IL there Is
work for all: II not, TO such as the dean
may select-he always taking part in tie
actual work. Those who receive no assign
ment report again at noon.
The CO-Opcrntivs Plan.
dean is paid and the money is at once
placed in bank. And SO the work continues
Until the end of the month. Then each
member receives a stipulated sum. usually
$50 II the earnings of the month should
yield surplus over and above the monthly
payments it is left in the general fund to
help out these months when the earnings
are not so great. In making these monthly
payments no preference Is shown for those
who worked a day or two more than the
others-the man who came at the eleventh
hour fares as we'll as the one who bore the
heat and tie burdens of the day.
Likewise those who are sick or who have
received injuries obtain the same allowance
that is given those who worked every day.
In this connection it should be said that
the officers receive no extra pay, and work
every day when others are engaged.
The assets of nation are besides Its
good name and privileges, horses and wa
CONS, for they not only unload vessels, but
they deliver goods, haul them to warehouses
or place them in other vessels or on cars
for reshipment In some cases the value of
the property belonging to the society is as
much as 100000.
When a Vessel Arrives.
When a vessel passes Flushing. forty
miles down the river. it is reported at Ant
werp. The port authorities at once assign IL
place at the docks or in one of the basins
and notify the proper nation. so that by
the time the vessel is tied up to wharf
men are there ready to begin unloading.
There Is no dickering about prices-they are
fxed-por are there any Undertaking. and ir
responsible contractors. AS soon the ma
ton begins to unload ii becomes responsible
for the cargo, and must make good any
damage that may arise from carelessness.
Arbitration.
In adjusting such damages arbitration is
resorted to, never courts of law. Although
some Of the nations have been in existence
without interruption for three centuries
they have never been involved in a law
suit The members are under oath to abide
by the decision Of the majority and their
share is annuled II any should violate the
expressed will Of this majority.
Should a member die-and many do from
injuries-his share Is the property Of his
heirs and Is sold at auction FOR their bene-
fit. The ony condition imposed Is that the
purchaser be vigorous active laboyer
Some of the nations own as many as
eighty hoTses-probably the finest draught
horses In the world; they have their own
sta bles. employ their own smiths, and give
to their horses the best possible care
An Interesting Parade.
On the Sth of July the nations gave their
annual parade, each society having In line
one loaded wagon for each kind of produce
it handles. There were seventy-nine