Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-01-13
REVENUES DESTROYED BY WAR
Discouraging Economic Difficult
ties Confront Switzerland.
No Neutral Nation in Worse pvcdicn-
mept through Loss Of ITS Industrial
Markets and shifting OF Of
Raw Material.

War-bound Switzerland has been con-
frorrted. probably, with the most discour-
aging economic difficulties brought about
by the world war for any neutral coun-
try; for it depends upon other nations for
most of its raw materials. for much Of
Its supply OF wares for home consump-
tion, and for the handling OF all its over
sea business, begins a bulletin given out
10y the National Geographic society. which
describes how war geography has hurt
The small republics prosperity.
Although not quite one-thrd as largo
IS New York state, without any impor-
tant coal and iron deposits and unable
70 produce enough food to cover the de-
nlands OF its people, Switzerland, neverthe-
less, has, due to several great advantages
which balance the unfavorable conditions
progressed in wealth and comforts on
even terms with it's powerful neighbors
II has become an industrial country Of
hrst rank, and, at the outbreak of the
mar 1t possessed an important and grow
ing commerce with many countries
Like Holland. the remarkable progress
OF Switzerland must he credited to the
character of the people and to the en-
lcouragement of their free institutions
Nearly half OF the country is largely un.
productive. All of that part of Switzer-
land which lies toward Italy in the sout n
is bare. snow and-ice crowned mount ain
land, including unexpected forests and
l5ew high pastures. In the north. around
Lake Constance, are found rich vineyards
while above the vineyards on the middle
slopes of the Juras, are pasture lands,
where the cows are kept from whose mill
the famous Swiss cheeses, and equally
famous milk chocolates. are made.
Industrial Switzerland forms wide
belt, which stretches from the Austro-
Hungarian border around TO central
France. Here cotton, laces embroideriee,
machines, silks. straw plating ribbons,
locomotives. watches, clocks and leather
wares are manufactured for export; while
In the hills and fiat lands of the central
plan are situated the Swiss farms. many
of the important diaries, straw plating,
wood carving, and chemical industries
The straw plating is made by the peas
hntry. IT is home industry. az is that Of
the Swiss wood carving. Despite its sola-
tics in the midst of great industrial COM
petitDrs and its lack of almost all Of the
important raw materials. il is to its m,l,s
and factories that Switzerland mainly
owes its wealth.
The mountain republic derives less sup
port from its agriculture than any coun-
try in Europe except Norway: for only
about one-sixth Of II can be titled. Many
or it's farms have been coaxed into being
on the abrupt mountain sides. and liter
ally 1t is as dangerous a task as that OF
the structural iron worker on skyscraper
TO till them. Fully half Of the country
He's above the zone of agriculture, and
much of the soil that could be made pro-
auctive is used as pasture land Swift
erland grows hemp, fax, cara way, fruits.
citron, lemon. mulberry, orange Olive and
pomegranate, corn, maize. oats, peoples,
potatoes, barley, rye spelt. saffron, to.
hacco and wheat. In normal times it had
to import from Russia, Hungary and the
United States three times as much wheat
"a 1t produced. 1t produces considera BILE
value in timber
Moreover, there Is no important mineral
production in Switzerland: for the noun
fains belong to geological formations un-
productive Of valuable minerals Some
coal is found in cantons of Valais Vaud,