South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-25
BELGIUM FAST
REBUILOS TRADE
Merchants of War time COun-
try Quickly Renew PTe-War
Trade Standards.

WASHINGTON. .. C.. Jan. "a
Heroic Belgium. war ridden. almost
ruined by the depredations OF the
invader. apparently IS going 20 Dc
the first of the European nations &C.
fully rehabHitate herself This is
foreshadowed by the nature Of her
imports from the United states. as
well as the fact that on no occa-
sion since the Cessation OF hostili-
ties have her merchants overlooked
an opportunity 20 renew and restore
10 pre-war standards their trade
with this nation. Figures made pub
lie by the department Of commerce
give proof sufficient Of BelEium's
plans 70 build again. on the ruins Of
the old. her homes, her commerce
and her industries
For the first nine months Of 1919
Belgian imports from America in
Guided: Household goods and per
sonaI effects. S1,5O5,0Oo; cattle and
horses. s190, 900. lumber, SI215.000;
iron and steel products. s9.524.ooo;
electrical machinery and appliances.
s64S.OOO: binder Irvine. $3S7.OOO: re-
fined copper. S9Os.000, aluminium
manufactures. s233.000. zinc spelter
s16.Oo0: hops. $91,sO0. and mail.
&2.732.0OO
Machine Tools Important.
All Of these 90 Belgium. whose to-
tai area Is only 1873 square miles
Conspicuous among the iron anF
steel products. and indicative Of the
energy being put forth by the strick-
CA people 20 regain lost CONNER
ciaI ranking are lathes and othe'
machine tools. sharpening. grinding
and metal working machinery. to-
gether with countless items of lesser
importance. All. however. will
serve to replace I'm Belgium factories
the machinery and equipment car
ried away or destroyed when the
German hordes drove across the lit
ue nation with only a desire 20
wreak havoc and lay n path of
waste
Arteries OF transportation must
need be rebuilt n the country is to
thrive. Thus, Belgium has come in
to American markets and has
bought up railway equipment. she
has bought motor trucks. she has
contracted for vast quantities Of
iron and steel billets. bars. rods and
fittings generally. The assortment
shows plainly, officials explained
what depredations We're committed
ON he nations rolling stock and
motive power
Great Food Supplies.
Along with all OF these articles
have gone immense supplies of food
commodities. BelEium's food pro-
duction districts have not yet re-
gained their potency. Belgian buy
ers have been In the markets for
everything that goes on the dining
table. and the quantities pur-
chased give a feeling of confidence
among American dealers that Bel
GUMS recuperative powers are fully
able 90 meet demands which must.
OF necessity be placed on them.
Witness these figures: Meat and
dairy products exported TO Belgium
during the first nine months Of 1919
aggregated S95.6S4ooO. OF this
sum. s6.456.0OO consisted of butter
cheese and evaporated condensed
milk Included I'm the meat con
signments were 127,644.oOO pounds
81 lard. which is valued at $4,000
o0O-17 pounds for every person i'm
The nation.
There were also lard compounds
totaUng 21.970.OOO pounds anC
worth s5.13I.OOO sent over in the
same period Bacon shipments
amounted 10 72.973.OO0 pounds
worth s23.133.OO0, and hams and
shoulders aRgregating 2S,S53,0OO
pounds. worth sS597.OOO. Edible
vegetables oils and fats and othe,
articles OF food also were included
.n the heavy shipments.