Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21

! money. They are noted for their business
ability and are not afraid Of large under
| takings. Another source Is the tourists
who drop into our laps 900 every
year There are other items. but these
two will more than make up the apparent
dehcit''
SWISS INDUSTRIES WHICH PAY.
The Swiss have many industries pecu-
liar to the country. which are more or
less related to America. American tour
lists spend millions here every year, not
only In hotel and travelling expenses. but
also in purchases. Not long ago a Gene
va nillsner in speaking Of her business
said:
God bless the Americans! It seems
that they are really sent from heaven to
keep up our business!''
Many OF our tourists buy watches here
TO take back to the United States and
not few get pearls and furs. Geneva
Is famous pearl market, and 1t deals
largely In Jewels and precious stones. 1t
makes many pearl necklaces and sales of
necklaces worth $1,000. and upwards to
American tourists are not uncommon. 1t
used to be that many OF our ladies got
their furs here and especially their seal
Skin sacGues, but the new law which pro-
hibits the bringing OF seal into the United
States has broken up this trade. and now
not fifty seal sacques are sold in q sum-
Eer. The customs regulations prohibit
ing any traveller to bring in more than
500 worth of goods have also affected
Switzerland. The merchants say they
would have sold three times as much t.
tourists had 1t not been for this law, and
that a number of possible purchasers Of
pearl necklaces and costly furs had told
them that they now had to buy In New
York. At the same time more or less
goods are sold to tourists VINO hope to get
them through the customs house without
declaration.
FORTUNES IN CONDENSED MILK.
The Swiss are making fortunes out OF
the condensed milk manufacture. They
exported more than 62.oGo.00O pounds of
such goods last year, and their sales OF
condensed milk to Great Britain alon'
amount TO more than $2.G00,000 annually
This business was founded by an Amert-
can. a United States consul. who opened
g factory here IN 1866. He organized
company with patd-up capital OF s12,ooo.
and in the first year condensed only
about $1,000 cans His friends put more
money into the business. It steadily
grew, and by 1880. It had increased &c
s2.0o0000. and it was turning out cans by
the millions. Branch Offices were estab-
lished in different parts Of Europe. and
later on. ! believe, in the United States.
The business paid right along. and SINH
lar establishments are now to be found ir
different parts of Switzerland, operaeed
by the Swiss. The farmers bring their
milk to the factories and are paid SO
much per quart for 1t. There seems NJ
reason why the business should not be
protitably carried on in the dairy regions
OF the United States
THE CHEESE BUSINESS.
Switzerland makes lots OF money out OF
its cheese. II exports something like |
100000 pounds annually, and it's receipts |
therefroa are more than 5000 900. WI |
ourselves take about 100000 pounds |
every year and pay our grocers on the |
average So cents a pound for it. The |
same cheese sells here for about Is cents
3 pound. The duty is only cents. so
you can see that our srocers are making
2 good round profit.
I am surprised TO find that no Neu-
chatel cheese is made at Neuchatel, al
though Neuchatei cheese Is known the
world over. Neuchatel is town Of 20,oO5 |
people which is more noted for watch |
making than anything else. 1t has
large house industry, and q number OF
and uses many American watch
cases TO inclose Swiss movements The
only cheese Of account that is exported
from Switzerland IS the large round
cheese which we know as Schweitzerkase.
and OF which We eat alrnos. 100000
worth every year.
SWISS INDUSTRIAL BEEHIvES.
Switzerland has been called the play
ground OF Europe, but 1t is the workshop
II the Swiss The tourist business big as
t is. is oagatelle in comparison with
he other industries. Nearly every town
and city is q beehive OF work I have
written OF Zurich as one OF the most
prosperous factory towns of the CONT
rent. Geneva has only 10000 people, but
I IS doing the business Of tens of mil
Ions. and al the country around il
.un1s. There are watch factories, music
works, and ccockery establishments here
which make quantities of goods Tor ex-
'ort. and also establishments turning out
ewelry and enamelled work.
III Basel. city OF the same size as
Geneva. on the other side Of Switzerland
he industries are equally great. Rib
IONS are made there on looms imported
rom America, and there are Factories OF
'arious kinds.
SWISS WATCHES.
One OF the Queerest industrial centers
8 ChauE.tde-Fonds IN the Jura nouh
aims. Here the finest OF Swiss watches
re made. and that largely by hand
he town has a population OF 81. 600, and
az OF its people are employed In making
catches and watch movements. The
FORK is much divided. ca oh man making |
ne kind OF wheel or part OF move
1ent. Those who prepare The simplest