The evening times., 1898-11-09
REPORTS FROM OUR coNsuLs.
Coal Products I'm Belgium and For
ekts I'm BOh heInia,

Coal Products In Belgium and For
ests I'm bohemia.
George w, Roosevelt. theyAmerican con-
sui at Brussels, reports to the State
Department concerning the Belgian coal
production of 1897. 1t is shown that the
total amount of coal produced in that
country during the year amounted to
q ,492, l46 tons. representipgt value OF
220,672,1O0 francs (s42, $50 1880. and ex-
ceeding by 24O,076 tons the production of
1885, which was considered the largest
ever realized in Belgium.
During the year 1897 there were forty
eight strikes throughout the various
mining sections, of which one, occasioned
by posting the rules regulating work
shops, reached serious proportions. Out
of the forty-eight strikes only four, hav-
ing as motive increase of wages, were
partially successful. 1t is estimated that
4S4, 500 working days were lost by strikes,
and some 1,579,300 francs (S3Ol ,S0i.9W to
the miners.
Frank w. Mahin, consul at Reichen-
berg, reports to the department upon the
subject of butter and pork products in
Bohemia. Referring to a recently pub
lished statement, that the American Sec
retary of Agriculture had introduced
American butter into Europe, the consul
says:
IF the price of American butter sold in
Europe is no higher than that of Euro
pean butter, the former should gradual
ly gain a large sale as it's superior quail
ty becomes known. The first day after
being made European butter may seem
equal to the American product; but gen.
orally by the second or third day it will
have an old, strong taste and smell 1t
may be that the butter is not properly
worked the difficulty may be due to
the practice of keeping cows in barns all
the year round instead of turning them
loose in pastures, as is done in the United
States
The American lard is also better than
other products, Consul Mahin says.
The duty on lard is higher than on but
ter. being l6 forms per 100 Kilograms
about cents a pound. The same may
be said of bacon. The duty is also is
forms per 100 Kilograms. American ba-
con is sold here for l3 cents a pound +;
Austrian bacon. from 10 TO 20 cents.
American bacon is the better.
In another report from Consul Mahin
he refers to the forest preservation in
Bohemia.
Bohemia" he says, lis one of the
climate is relatively cool, with rather Sc
we're winters Therefore, much fuel is
used, and 1t is largely taken from the
forests which cover the mountain sides.
Yet, after the many centuries during
which these forests have furnished fuel
and building material for a dense popu-
lation, they retain nearly their primeval
area. This is due to the forethought of
| the government in ordaining that as trees
! were cut down others should be planted
/ to iill the vacancies Vast stretches of
dense forests cover the mountain slopes
| of this district. The wood is mostly pine.
| Trees are constantly being cut; but wher-
| ever a clearing is made, small trees are
/ planted the next spring. What at a dis
! tance may appear TO be o bare spot in
/ the forest, on near view is seen to be COW
cred with little trees set out in symme-
! trical rows and varying In height accord
! ing TO the length of time since they We're
! planted. These new trees are raised from
the seed in small Enclosures scattered in
the mountains, and are thence trans
/ planted. A similar custom I'm the United
! States might yet avert the serious dan
ger threatening at least the western part
! of our country