The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-03
Observations Of A
 Local Physician Now In Switzerland
Finds Citizens of European Re- public at Peace With World
 and Themselves
Economic Conditions in That Land Have Progressed Far Towards the Goal Which Makes For
 Much Contentment
 Among Peoples.

Geneva, Switzerland, Sept. 16, 1911. It is very difficult in this beautiful country, where there are so many | things to see and to go to, to tear | ones self away, I will not say from pleasure but from contemplating na- lures charms and sit down to write an article, however interesting, on the political and economic conditions of Switzerland. But I am not for getfui of the many courtesies extend ed to me by The Farmer, nor Of the promise made when I went away, and so I will give you briefly the results of my observations along that line, even though it be meager, as nave followed up many other paths in this wonderful country.
 TO an American who is accustom- ed to the perpetual turmoil of his own land, 1t seems very strange to come here andx find no politics at all and no open political problems with which the Swiss people concern them selves. The Swiss Confederacy owns all the railroads running in the twen- two Cantons, excepting few short mountain roads, it owns all the steam boats on the various inland lakes, it although in some cases the towns or cantonS own their own city lines, it owns or controls the manufacture and sale of wine, beer and all spirituous liquors, and yet no one seems to be raising his voice against the condi- tions.
 You go into the postoffice to mail a letter here, and from the same building you can send telegram or call up by telephone, for the govern ment has complete ownership of these three branches of communication. Consequently everything is had here correspondingly cheap. For exam pie, telegram to any part in Switzef- land costs 30 centimes, that is cents and 2 1-2 centiTnes, or half cenr for every word. Hence message of ten words would cost just II cents.
 Again on the railroads facilities are offered for travel that can not be equalled anywhere in the world. One can buy here<a season ticket for two weeks, month or a year, that would permit him to travel upon all the roads at any time to any place he pleases and as often as he likes at a cost, if he. did much travelling, that would amount to less than cent a mile.
 The parcel post, likewise, is a long established thing here. I have seen a woman bring into the post office a basket of merchandise weighing over ten pounds which she sent to dis tant part Of Switzerland, paying a postage of 70 centimes, or IA cents. One can send his luggage by one train in one direction, himself go in another, and then either go where to him if he changes plans. The luxury is cheaply bought.
 Our. moneyed people would think that these were ind1gnitleS enough, but what would they say about an income tax that is we'll established = 1,4% is yrod ad n- cording to the persons means or amount of income?
 And yet they don't seem to be com plaining in this country at all l ask ed a prominent man here whether they like it, and he shrugged hls Somebody has to bear the burden or government'' This was logical, es- pecially that he himself bears good share of it. .
 From this it may appear that there are no wealthy people m m Swl,- ssnt The city of Basel is called the "c1ty of millionaires." I was told that ov- CT two hundred millionaires live In Basel For so small a country most of it rugged and barren mountains, and with so limited a population, deed very prosperous. They manu- facture nearly everything that, civil ized life requires, from cutlery, crock cry and kitchen utensils to the very complicated electric engines used on The electric mountain railroads. For export are manufactured silks. r1b- bons, cheese and wine to great ex- tent, while wood-carving Is b great industry in the Bernesc c5erland. 4
 Yet I have seen many poor people here, especially in the agrarian or farming districts And if you give these people a half a franc, ten cents. you incur their lasting gratitude.
 They are ever on the lookout for tourists with loose half francs Tn their pockets; and the tourists come. for Switzerland is the great picnic ground of the world.
 L. SMIRNOW, MD.
 Or. Smirnow is well known here where he practised his profession for several years. Of late he has been devoting much of his time to literary pursuits with success. His most pro- tentious work was fascinating story based upon the destruction of St. Pierre which had a wide vogue. His present tour of Europe is for the purpose of research, he being engaged upon a new novel which is to short ly appear.-Eds. Farmer.)