Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-11

spondence OF The Bee.)-The
- streets of Brussels are torn up by
WTHRM the American invasion. In front
- OF the Stock exchange a crowd OF
blue gowned black-capped, clog-shod work
men are digging out the old horse railroad
and putting in an American underground
trolley. The road is roped off and the brok-
ers have to walk a half square out of their
way to enter the bourse. At night lighted
lanterns mark the confines of the work, and
all day the sound of the pick and the ham
mer is heard. The work is under the charge
OF the Americans, although they are not di-
rectIy on the ground. The machinery is be-
ing put in by the General Electric company
of New York, which has invaded many parts
OF Europe and is doing a big business here.
The Westinghouse company is competing
with It. 1t has an office in Brussels and its
electrical supplies are found in all parts OF
the country.
There is a good opening here for cleo
trical machinery. Many of the cities have
no ramwa and good-sizcd towns have no
electric lights. Belgium Is cut up by canals
now operated by horse power, and at this
writing horses are used to haul many OF the
cars OF Brussels itself. They drag the cars
not only along the tracks, but on the cob
bles, pulling cars weighing two tons and
in addition, thirty passengers over the
rough stones. Our horses could not do II,
but these big Brabant steeds are very ele-
plants in harness and they haul with ease
loads that would stall the American Per
cheron.
Brussels is fast adopting rapid transit.
The electric work Is being well done, and
when completed the roads will be managed
on military principles.
The street car conductor here Is as gor-
IIn hnu N
uniform with brass buttons, his cap is COW
cred with gold embroidery, and he keeps
himself as bright as though he came out of
a bandboX.
Every conductor has n whistle or a horn,
a bag for his money and receipt slips for
fares. He carries a little metal tube with
a sponge in II upon which he vets his nm
gers in tearing of the slips.
The car fares are low, ranging from ;
cents upward. according to class and dis
lance. On some cars the irst-class seats
cost 3 cents and the second-class 2 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.
Brussels is the capital OF Belgium, com
mercially and politically. The merchants
from All ldllS u II NbhAAlg Nb4AlN - ~
buy, and by a look at the stores IL is easy
to see that the trade is enormous. All
sorts OF notions are sold. Our patent med
icines are displayed in the drug stores and
our porous plasters are advertised on the
walls. Kodaks and American typewriters
are well represented, as are all sorts of
American farm tools.
Brussels is more than 1000 years old,
and in the middle ages II was already doing
an enormous business. One OF the Oldest
parts Of the town is the market place, con-
tanning the city hall, one of the finest build
ings Of medieval Europe. Right next To this
old building are stores OF American hard
ware, stacks of lawn mowers from Phila-
delphia, hay forks from Columbus, o., and
grindstones from Berea. Nearly every
Brussels business house keeps its account:
with American cash registers made at Day
ton and the most OF the tailors use Amer,
lean sewing machines.
One OF the brightest business Americans
have met on the continent is Mr.. H.. C. de-
Clerq, who represents the King Spring com
pany OF Buffalo and a number OF othel
American institutions. He is one OF the