The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-18

peace comes from Belgium, where one oil
The most novel of projects is now under
way. Instead of spending vast sums of
money in demonstrating its war fleets,
the nation has determined TO use the APP
preparation in constructing and fitting
out a peace navy, the duty of which shall
be TO introduce the Belgian nation. its
lag and its products TO every port OF
Importance in the worlu.
In other words, instead OF battic-Ships,
cruisers, gunboats and other destructive
craft the projected Belgian fleet is to
consist of State ships fitted with sam
pies OF Belgian products, and these YES
sells are TO be kept plying from port TO
port in African Asiatic, American and
Australian waters. BY this means II
VIII be possible for the nation TO come
thoroughly in touch with the world. New
commercial methods Will be suggested,
new markets Will be opened, and, it is
quite possible, a new era of prosperity
may dawn for the nation.
For some time past the naval question
has been an important one in Belgium.
According 10 The authorities d very
large sum of money must be spent II
the feet was to be put upon par with
those of other nations. TO do this
meant an increase IN taxation that would
prove a great hardship to the people of
the panEs of the Tightening times.
The matter when brought before the
Ministry was discussed at length, and
was finally settled by the adoption OF the
scheme proposed by the King. Instead
of vessels OF war they would build YES
sells of peace. Instead of visiting ports
for purposes of intimidation, If not Tor
actual destruction, they would inauGur-
ate an industrial navy, fleet that would
l,. ,jrcr less than fiOd unS
commercial museum under patronage Oh
the Government.
A POPULAR PROJECT.
The novelty Of such a scheme iInlnc-
diately appealed to the people, and the
effect has been !ar better than even the
King himself could have assumed that IL
would be. The.feeIing Of diSquietude that
has DISTINGUISHED the past two years OF
his reign has been almost entirely set
,loa and every one is working with eV-
cry one else 10 make the new project a
success.
Already two ships are practically ready
10 be put in commission and others
80 10 he constructed at once, so that
Lv ,lla lime OF the big Belgian exposition
at llc.se, in 1866, the nation ana rs
products will have become thoroughly
i-,trodrced TO the world. As the result
those who have been lamenting the fact
shat the country had no naval force 10
officially display the flag in distant ports
are satisfied that the best thing has been
done, and ii IS unlikely that anything
more Will be said about the creation of
an armed fleet.
According to the present intentions.
the new industrial navy VIII consist OF
about seven or eight ships that Shall
h. state property. They will be manned
l,y sailors wearing the Belgian uniform
and will carry some marines. The ships
will be protected by a few guns but
they will be so constructed that in case
Of actual war they could be eaSllE uSeu
as an armed fleet.
In this way there viii be no fleet TO
keep in idleness during the psc.ods Of
peace. and nothing Will have been done
that can possibly be regarded as incon-
sistent with The country's neutral IRA
ditions.
There arc few countries in Europe of
which less is known than of Belgium.
Occasionally the name of the King, or
some slight reference to the country,
appears in the newspaper reports oil the
DAY nut there are comparatively Jew
persons who know much more about me
nation except in a general way Inc
Telgians realize this, and they regret
that such conditions have existed so
long.
wELL-KNOWN LAND.
They are determined, however, that
this shall be changed in the future, ara
they believe that within the next two
years they will be able to make their
land the best known country in Europe
The contract is a big one, but they are
setting out cncrgetically TO fill il
Tho first step that was taken was
She establishment of a line of steamers
between Antwerp and the Congo Free
State. and the formation OF several
companies to develop the commerce and
industries Of several sections of Africa.
Tl,an came the proposed commercial
mission TO China and the announcement
of q great International exposition to be
held al Liege.
According to every Indication there Is
no reason why Belgium should not profit
greatly by such scheme. To-cay she,
is practically unknown commercially,
except in certain ports and cities OF
Europe BY the time her ships have
yoyaged once or twice around the globe,
her name will be familiar one in COM
mercial circles. for she has many things
In show-things that will make her ships
interesting and attractive
One of the greatest sources of wealth
in Belgium is the mineral prodnc!s Oh
which there are so many il the KING
dom. Coal iron, zinc, manganese and
rrtaI,be are found in abundance and
there are many quarries of limestone,
granite. slate and sandstone. There are
IN the Kingdom no less than $50 coal
mines, producing more shan twenty
million tons annually. which give en-
ploylnent to more than hundred thou
sand worktnen. The riches; of the mines
are located at Eainaut. while iron
.abounds chiefly IN The province of
Nacuur.
1t is not 20 the mineral products of
The kingdom that Belgium looks for her
prosperity, however Already she has
market for all the iron. coal. lead and
similar material that she can supply:
but what she hopes to be able to do Is
10 find new markets for the goods that
she manufactures so extensively.
The articles consist chiefly of cotton,
linen cutlery, carpets, machinery. aper,
woollen cloth, etc. The 'ae linens OF
Flanders well IS the laces OF Brabraat
have q worldwide reputation.
FAvORABLY SITUATED.
There are NEW countries IN Europe