Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-05-25
Switzerland.

of Europe, lies between the
famous mountains of the Jura
and Alps. It's area is equal to the
sum of the areas of Delaware, New
Hampshire and Connecticut. It's
boundaries are very complicated
and do not follow natural features.
1t is limited by France, Ger
many, Austria, Hungary and
Italy on the west, north, east
and south, respectively
About three-fourths of its area
is mountainous. The central
and southern Swiss Alps, alone
cover three-f1fths of its sur
face. The three most impor-
tant peaks are Mt. Dole, Jung
frau and Matterhorn. Although
Mt. Dole is the highest, the beau
tiful mountain maiden Jungfrau
and the Incompatible pinnacle of
the Matterhorn are much more
often spoken of by visitors and
writer's.
The head waters of the famous
rivers, both in history and
legend, Rhine, Rhone and Pc are
in this little country. The lakes
Constance, Lucerne and Geneva
are noted for their size, depth
and untiring beauty.
The clear, healthful climate is
distributed vertically, rather
than horizontally. In the plains
it is always temperate, but it
gradually decreases as the ele-
walton increases until it becomes
very severe in the highest parts.
Although Switzerland is not
as rich as formerly in timber,
there are yet great forests of
hardwood trees. This is the
home of the famous flower,
edelweiSS. 1t is famous, not by
reason of it's beauty alone, but
of its scarcity. AS it grows in
elevated haunts it is very diff
cult to be obtained Less wealth
is obtained from agriculture in
this country than in any other in
Europe, except Norway Much
of the area is covered with hay
lands, hence the raising of live
stock is important.
Granite and gneiss is the
backbone of Switzerland.
Although lacking coal, iron and
seaports, it is great manufac-
turing country. Its chief man
ufactures are laces, machines
and watches. Watch making
has suffered much of late from
the competition of machine made
watches in United States. There
is an aim for excellence in all
their manufactured goods.
They import grains, cotton,
coal, iron and groceries. Their
exports are chiefly manufacture
ed goods, such as laces and
jewelry. AS it's rivers are I'M
navigable, railroads are it's means
of transportation.
Switzerland s water falls, clear
lakes and picturesque mountains
| afford never firing pleasure to
it's many visitors. But it is not
beauty alone that brings the
travellers; it is also the peculiari-
ty in forms of mountains.
lakes and rivers. The Rhone
enters lake Geneva a yellow and
turbid, but leaves it clear, blue
stream. The inhabitants have
cause ever to fear the dread
avalanche. Often without warn
ing great masses of snow leap
from the mountain side and fall
into the valley below with "a ter
rible speed. Nor must we fail
to speak of the people. Nearly
every home is a small factory.
Some of the most delicate work
in the manufacturing line is
done by these people. The
smallest watch ever known,
which kept perfect time was
made here, in the end of a COM
mon led pencil. Some of the
pleasanteSt inns in the world are
here. Their motto seems to be
Let us cheer the weary travel
err" They train the ST. Bernard
dog to go out on the darkest
night and search for the lost and
exhausted traveller. Most of
their visitors enter at the at
tractive gateway of Interlaken.
Some of the principal cities
are Basel, Zurick and Bern, the