The farmer and mechanic., 1914-09-22

this market is lost to Belgium.
Shipping facilities have been one
source Of Belgium's success in in
ternational commerce. Picturesque
Bruges has lost the glories which were
it's in the days of the Hanseatic
League but Ghent, by means Of con-
stant port improvements, has kept
abreast with the demands of modern
commerce especially for raw mate
rial for textiles
Antwerp, as one of the great world
ports has had the solicitous attention
of the Belgian government and, not
withstanding the natural difficulties
of the Scheldt, the port provides ia
cilities for commerce equal TO that
Of it's continental rivals. It's tonnage
runs even with that of Hamburg. Ex-
tensive port improvements were un
dertaken year ago.
An illustration of the progressive
Belgian spirit in everything that re-
lateS to the commerce and industries
Of the country is the plant to convert
Brussels, which is 9 miles from the
sea into maritime port at a cost of
SIS, 900. This is by enlarging
and deepening the old Willebroecke
canal SO as to make it a sea canal
Other canals uniting the navigable
| waterways of the Scheldt and the
Meuse basins have been improved,
and the old canal from Brussels to
CharlerOl has been enlarged.
The social fabric of the astonishing
BelgianS under which they have de-
| yeloped into an industrial and COM
mercial l.ation is q complex one, yet
| it reflects the character of a people
| differing in many respects among
| themselves who can work together
for common ends.
| For an artisan population, in which
| skilled labor is extensive wages are
| in I,f
pean countries. a year ago the wages
| OF mechanics, machiniStS and tool
| workers who worked 10 hours q day
six days in the week was $675 week
| The Socialists are strong, and the
| government has to recognize their
| standing a distinct political group.
| Many years ago cooperative societies
were started for the avowed purpose
| OF securing cheaper bread for the
| working people. While in the begin
ming these cooperative societies were
distinctly socialistic. others have been
| formed OF non political character.
| In the agricultural districts the
| farmers formed cooperative societies
for the sale of their dairy and other
products and for the purchase of ag-
| rlcultural implements. The employ
eeS Of the railways and other depart
ments of the government administra-
ton formed cooperative societies Of
| H.
is the most pronounced and aSgreS-
sive opponent of the Socialists. form
| ed federation of cooperative SOcie-
ties as means of com batting So
cialism.
The government, in it's paternal
policies, while also combating So
cialism, has favored some of the
) measures Of the Socialists The rail
ways are owned and operated by the
State. The government has estab-
, lished rural schools for domestic sci
ence. and has a fairly definite policy
OF welfare legislation. One feature
Of this policy is liability insurance fol-
employees by employers.
Belgian capacity as a colonizine
,, country has been fairly tested in the
kOngO, and the Kongo is one Of the
prospective prizes Of the present war
, Notwithstanding the abuses disclosed
: when King Leopold held it as a per
, sonal appendage. and which caused
: Belgium through the pressure of in
ternational sentiment, to assume the
: responsibility Of administration and tc
. | annex the kOngO, it is the testimony
y | Of fairly diSinterested observers tha
= the Belgians have shown administra
" | tive capacity In this colonial posses
;. | sion. They at least have done as wei
, as the Germans in the German col
onies of Africa
Belglum'S position in internatiOna
:, high finance is that Of a world power
This has been the natural outcome O.
it's favorable position as an industrial
;, and trading nation with accumulated
= capital. In seeking to promote tn,
. sale Of Belgian products in foreign
countries Belgian capital also wen
: abroad to finance various govern
: ments and to develop private enter
;. prise.
- The Belgian artisan and the Bel
. gian peasant are thrifty and saving
notwithstanding their small income
Brussels and Antwerp banking insti
q tutions have huge accumulations
> When the native industries wer
" financed there was still a surplu
II which had to be employed, and profit
'e able employment could only be fOun,
in other countries.
Some of the capital went to Ger
II many, though little is ever heard o
IT Belgian loans in Germany. Som
d went to Turkey in the form of loan
10 n tho government n cOpjIIpct IN