Evening star., 1919-10-05

How much will America have to
help Europe get on her feet indus
trially. and In what form can this aid
best be given? In order to answer
this question comprehensively the
international trade conference will be
held at Atlantic City. beginning Octo-
France, italy and the United states
represented at the big get-together
meeting.
In an endeavor to learn the pres
>ent Industrial and financial state Of
the allied nations the United States
Chamber Of Commerce. under whose
has asked certain delegates to the
meeting to describe briefly the exact
needs and actual resources OF these
countries as a sort Of preliminary to
the intensive discussions which will
take place At the conference:
Here is bird's-eye industrial view
Of Belgium, prepared by Belgians in
timately in touch with the country's
conditions. It shows the little war
swept nation to be in better shape
than the outside world imagined
could be possible in the light Of cir
cumstances covering the last hve
years:
Coal Mines Undamaged.
The coal mines of Belgium were
keep them. but they suffered abnor-
NAL wear and tear. particularly upon
their hoisting cables, which have to
be replaced. The output at the be-
ginning of 1919 was so per cent Of the
pre-war total. 1t is now "a per cent.
complete restoration OF this industry,
viz: insufficiency Of transport and
diminution Of the productive capac-
ity of the workmen. are gradually
disappearing, and we feel we can
say we shall soon reach the pre-
concerned. Belgium is already able
to export coal to her neighbors to
the following quantities:
Three hundred thousand tons
monthly to France, $4,000 to Italy.
10000 to Holland ahd $4,000 to swift
tons. or 4.sso.ooo yearly. This as
sures to Belgium a yearly income
Of more than two hundred million
francs, a rather important factor
toward the stabilization Of the ex-
change.
mantlins and destruction. Several
years will be necessary for complete
repair. although work is already
under way everywhere, and carried
on with great energy. In 1914 there
were in Belgium fifty.two blast fur
pig iron). distributed as follows:
Twenty-Five in Hainaut, twenty
three in the province OF Liege and
four In Luxembourg. Twenty-three
Of these were totally destroyed and
ten were seriously damaged. Re-
At present nine furnaces are work.
ing.
Combine All Iron Works.
"A scheme has been devised to COM
bine all the iron works. based on
division Of labor. each work concen-
trAting on special product, one on
rails. one on girders. etc:
THE zinc industry suffers mainly
from insufaciency Of ore. but will
soon be in activity. The glass fac
Moustier, Franiere. Florette and Val
Saint Lamber all conflicts between
labor and directors have been set :
tied. There is also quite an export
OF bottles to England. For the first
seven months Of 1919 these exports
reached seven million francs.
In porcelain we are able to sup
ply all the demands Of the Belgian
market Sugar factories are in full
activity. Not only is there sufficient
lOI tuS ueeuS OI 0elBluul, DuI we are
able to export to France. In shoes
the production is almost equal to pre-
war times.
Unfortunately, in horticulture the
nurseries are In q most critical posi-
tion. Export to France is impossible
at present. owing to lack Of transport
England has established new restric-
tions and duties which render import
almost impossible, too. Russia, which
has great market, Is, Of course, not
in a position to buy. Germany is un-
able to buy. owing to the depreciation
Of the mark. The great hope for our
horticulturists was the American
market, but unfortunately the United
States has closed its ports to the i'm
ports Of plants Quarantine No. 37),
which means a real disaster for the
whole region Of Ghent
"As to the chemical industries the