The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-10

New York, April 9-Benjamin r.
French who has lived in Europe for
many years and who. during the last FIVE,
has been in business in Italy, with his
| headquarters in Florence, has come back
/ 20 make his home in America and. as he
puts it, 10 try 10 find out where he be-
longs IN his own country.
There are very few Americans in BUSH
ness in Italy" said Mr. French. There
are more Englishmen and many more
Germans. II has been my observation
that the Italians are not very fond of the
| Germans. especially in the northern part
of the country. This is due, perhaps. TO
the fact that they do not distinguish be-
tween the Germans and Austrians. with
whom Northern Italy had a hard strug-
gle that naturally left its people enbit-
tered.
American Branch Houses.
such American business men as are
TO be found in Italy are generally those
in charge Of the business of a big Ameri-
can house that has established a branch
there. italy is not a country in which an
outsider may do business easily, espe-
cially if the outsider happens TO be a cor
poration. The method of taxation in italy
makes a company liable 10 be taxed upon
its entire earnings, no matter in what
part or in how many parts. Of the world
those earnings are made.
From a business point Of view the
district known locally as north of the
Apprentices exhibits the greatest degree
of enterprise of any part of the country.
In fact. the development of manufactur-
ing in the provinces Of Piedmont. Lom-
hardy. and Liguria during the last ten
years is revelation. even 10 Americans.
and We who have generally regarded
italy az the home of art and macaroni
discover when travelling through these re-
gi0ns that the Italian is awakening with
new vigor into distinctly Industrial be-
ing.
In fact twelve years ago in passing
through by the ST Gothard tunnel to
Milan you would rarely see a chimney.
whereat to-day there are forests Of them
between the Swiss frontier and Milan.
This awakening has naturally brought
Milan forward as a large distributing
center, and as the manufacturing inter
ests are principally found represented
there the growth of the city in the last
decade has been very considerable. both
in population and wealth. and in It's other
characteristics, such as the symmetry OF
the streets in the new part Of the town.
its street railways, park system. and the
general manner Of living in large apart
ment houses. 1t bears a closer .resem-
hlance 10 an American city than any
other town IN italy.
Stands Third Ia silk Making.
Italy. as many know. stands third in
Importance in the world as regards the
silk industry. and Milan is now one of the
leading. if not the foremost. Of the silk
markets Of Europe. It's relations with
the United States in that industry are
constantly growing IN Importance.
''One thing that has perhaps contributed
in large measure TO the industrial awak-
ening in that part Of Italy IS the de-
velopment Of electric power. an evolution
OF the water power of the Alps. In some
cases an Alpine stream Is damned two
or three or more times In ITS downward
flow. and large proportion OF the power
for machinery, electric lighting. and street
railways is furnished by this means
"Of course Florence, by comparison
with Milan. is commercially nowhere.
il is, as is well known. the great art
center Of the world by reason Of the
beautiful monuments left by the Medicis.
and the galleries, but besides this, nature
around Florence makes a strong appeal.
The ordinary tourist does not gather in
the fun beauty Of Florence with his visit
20 the galleries between trains. for ma
ture has given the town most beautiful
setting. and there are points Of great in
terest in the environs that the tourist
seldom sees.
The climate is not so equable as that
Of Rome. but from the middle of March
to the middle of June and from the mid
die Of September to about December ! as
a rule the climate is most salubrious. and
during the various seasons I have spent
there 7 have known the Arno to be frozen
over only once, and that only thin
skim of ice