The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-03
ALSACE-LORRAINE PROVINCE.
Something About Two Small Blocks
OF Land Over Which French and
Germans Fight.


al Geographic Society i'm statement
concerning the geography Of Alsace-
Lorraine. says;
americans think of Alsace-Lor-
raine chiefly as prize of honor
ascribing the intensity of the German
French struggle for possession of this
small block of land to beliefs in their
title-rights and to feelings Of national
pride. This, however. Is only q part
truth. For Alsace-Lorraine also Is an
economic prize of tremendous value
1t is rich in iron it is one of the
largest grape-raising lands in Europe;
and its agricultural soils are very
fruitful.
This German Crownland is only
5.603 square miles in area-slightly
larger than the state of Connecticut.
1t produces, nevertheless, one-hfth of
the great wine yield of Germany, or
wine to value of about $9,OOO,O0O a
year. 1t is Germany's richest source
for iron ore, surprising in it's stores
of this mineral every other division
OF the Empire. Some years ago most
of the German iron ore was mined in
Prussia, but, in 1911, Alsace-Lorralnc
produced 17,754,571 metric tons of
iron ore as compared with a produc-
ton of 4,94S,711 in Prussia. More
over, great body Of skilled opera
tives, natives in the territory, whose
annual labors result in a production
of more than $4,000, 900, largely add
to its industrial importance.
Some of the most fertile farming
soil in Germany is found in Alsace.
The greatest part of the land Of
Alsace-Lorraine is serviceable to
economic purposes. About 4S per
cent of the territory is under tillage;
80 per cent. Is under forests, of
foliaceous trees largely owned by the
communities; 13 per cent is in mead
ow, used as grazing and haymaking
lands. and about per cent is planted
with grape-vines. Potatoes, sugar
beets, grains. and hops are grown in
abundance on the farms.
The grapes are planted to q great
extent in the hilly country, where,
also, dairying and poultry raising are
carried on.
THE development of the country's
transportation facilities has kept pace
with the development of its riches.
There are more than 5000 miles of
excellent roads, or nearly one mile of
road to every square mile of terri
tory. There is no better canal system
In Europe than that Of Alsace-Lor. :.
raine. these artificial highways, reach
ing i'm a wide network of trade arter-
les, up and down the country. Adj
ed to these means for communication,
there are about 400 miles of railway
or more than 22 miles for every 100
square miles of territory. With the
railways, the broad macadam and
rough-packed, crushed stone roads,
and with the canal mileage, the
armies operating in Alsace- Lorraine
will have better conditions under
which to maneuver than any other
armies other than those in north
western France.
The climate in Alsace-Lorraine is
mild and healthful; in the mountain
Gus parts, winter approaches the
point of being rigorous. The mean
annual temperature at Strassburg is
% degrees Fahrenheit, while the
mean winter temperature for the
highlands is only 81 degrees. Metz
has a mean annual temperature of As
degrees. There are days in high
Alsace and Lorraine, however, when
the cold seems to reach the intense
white bitterness of northern Russia ="