Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11
: HOW AMERICANS HAVE CAPTURED BEL GU ".

fcorrsspondonce Of the Dispatch.)
Eopyrsght. 1902, by Frank g. caTpenter3
BRUSSELS. January 6-The streets of
Brussels are torn up by the American In
sznion. In front of the Stock EEchangs.
crowd OF blue-gowned, Handicapped.
tlog-shod. workmen are diggiYg out the
SD horse railroad and putting in an
American underground trolley. The road
ropcd Off and the brokers have to
4 saik half square out OF their way
% enter the boursc. At night lighted
anterns mark the confines OF the work.
ind all day the sound of the pick and
The hammer is heard. The work is un-
Ter the charge of the Americans. all
though they are not directly on the
ground. The machinery is being put in
~ the Genera, Electric Company. Of
New York. which has invaded many
parts of Europe anG Is doing big BUSH
less here. The westinghouse Company
competing with 1t. 1t has an Office
Brussels and Its electrical supplies
ire found in all parts of the country.
ELECTRIC TRANSIT IN BELGIUM
There Is good opening here for cleo
Tica1 machinery. Many of the cities
rave no tramways and good-sized towns
save no electric, lights. Belgium is cut
up by canals, now operated by horse
oower. and at this writing horses are
hself. They drag the cars not only along
The tracks. but on the cobbles pulling
sars weighing two tons and, In ADDITION,
thirty passengers tover the rough stones.
Dur horses could not do it, but these
Big Brabant steeds are very elephants
harness and they haul with ease loads
shat would stall th,, American Percheron.
Brussels is fast adopting rapid transit.
rhc electric work is being we'll done
Ind when completed the roads will be
managed on military principles.
The street-car conductor here is rs
gorgeous as a German lieutenant He
has a uniform with brass buttons. his
cap is covered with gold embroidery.
Ind he keeps himself as bright as though
he came out of handbook
Every conductor has a whistle or a
horn. bag for his money. and receipt
ylips for fares. He carries little metal
lube with a sponge In it upon which he
vets his fingers in tearing off the slips.
The car fares are low. ranging from Q
rents upward. according to class and
Instance On some cars the first-class
BOATS cost 8 cents. and the second-class
k.cents. the seats being exactly the same.
except that the second are behind the
FIRST The thrifty Belgians patronize the
cheaper seats. SO that there is usually
plenty Of room in the Scent quarter.
AMERICAN GOODS IN BRUSSELS.
Brussels is the capital Of Belgium. COM
mercially and politically. The merchants
from all parts of the country come here
to buy. and by a look at the stores it is
easy to see that the trade is enormous
All sorts Of notions are sold. Our patent
medicines are displayed In the drugstores
and our porous plasters are advertised
on the walls. Kodaks and American
typewriters are well represented. as are
~ SORTS of American farm tools.
Brussels is more than a Thousand years
pM. and in the mido,e ages 1t was already
eoing an enormous business. One of the
oldest parts OF the town is the Market
the finest buildings of medieval Eu-
rope. Right next this old building are
stores of American hardwars stocks Of
iawnmowers rom Philadelphia. hay forks
from Columbus. O.. and grindstones from
Berea. Nearly every Brussels business
house keeps its accounts with American
cash registers made at Dayton and the
most of the tailors use American sew
ing machines.
INVADING EUROPE WITH AN AMER
ICAN TROTTER.
One Of the brightest business Ameri-
cans have met on the continent is Mr..
Fl. c. de clerq. who represents the King
Spring Company. of Buffalo. and num-
Der of other American Institutions. He
is one of the largest OF the Belgian
importers and is making big thing
In selling American goods. He has three
buildings In Brussels devoted to his
stores. workshops. and supplies. and he
trades not only With Belgium. but with
Germany, France. SPAIN and Italy.
Among sother ttiniss Mr.. de Ciera sells
American harness. carriages. and wa :
ons. and IL was in talking of this branch
Of the business that he told me how he