Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1920-05-30
Recent Figures Reveal
Astonishing Recovery
of Belgian Industries


which only 279 we're In running or
der; In March. 1920. she had 4.22O.
Of which 60 per cent were in good
condition. This furnished sufficient
motive power 10 haul so per cent OF
the normal pre-war passenger trains
and so per cent OF the normal pre-
war freight trains. Five hundred
and fifty new locomotives have been
ordered; lGi additional locomotives
bought and negotiations are under
way for additional purchases.
Before the war agriculture was
one OF the most prosperous branches
OF national industry In Belgium. One
million persons were employed In II.
out OF a total OF 7.275.605 acres In
Belgium. more than 4.2SS.350 acres
were under cultivation. The princi-
pal crops were: wheat. barley. oats,
rye. potatoes. sugar beets. etc.
During the war ,on account OF the
scarcity Of feed. the soil of Belgium
was cultivated 10 the utmost. There
was not a piece OF tillable land that
was not utilized. But the military
operations. especially on the Ypras
and User fronts. and the flooding OF
that part OF the country. rendered
large districts untlllable. Some Of
these lands have already been re-
stored TO use. Belgian horticulture.
which enjoys n well-earned reputa-
ton. did not suffer from the effects
OF the war and is carried on as
usual. Belgium continues TO export
It's beautiful hCt.house grapes.
The present condition OF foreign
trade Is most encouraging. The In
crease in the number and tonnage
OF ships entering the Port OF Ant
werp reflects rapid progress in the
resumption Of normal business ac-
tiyity In Belgium. In 1913. this ton
mage was l4.Ii6.Si9 tons, In 1919.
the total was 8. 800. S76: the number
OF ships In December was 456. with
aggregate tonnage OF G36.SiS rs com
pared with 95 ships and l6i.S33 tons
In January. In the first three months
Of the current year the entering ship8
and tonnage have shown further
gratifying increases In the totals. by
months the figures are as follows:
Ships Tonnage
January .. $40 7l5.7O4
February ......... 6l3 69S.256
March 49,. .... 69l e5S'Sbt
Before the war Belgium ranked
fifth among the nations as market
for United States exports. Today
she still ranks fifth. being sur
passed only by the United Kingdom,
France. Canada. and Italy. During
the twelve months Of 1919, the first
calendar year since the armistice
the United States exported TO Bel
GUM articles valued at s377.S71 500
or s42 per capita for that country
During the whole fiscal year ended
June 80, 1914. the United States ex
ported to Belgium tn the value o
consequently the expor
trade OF the United States with Bel
GUM shows the enormous increase o
more than coo per cent over pre.wa
trade. On the other hand. Belgiai
|. exports TO the United States show
OF course. great decline from tn
! pre-war period. For the fiscal yea
ending June 80. 1914. Belgian's OK
ports To the United States amountel
Ito s4l.O35,5s2. For the calenda
year 1919 these exports were onl
s7,7OO.OOO. but this period include
2 the early months Of the year whe
Belgian exports amounted to almos
: nothing. Since February. 1919. BE
GUMS experts TO tho United State
: lhaye increased rapidly and steadil!
Statistics for January and Febrt
Il airy, 1890. show that. in the toti
: imports into Belgium, America
trade ranked second: imports froI
Z the United States amounting TO moi
: than $4,000. 900 francs for the tw
: omnths. and being exceeded In valt
By a small amount only by impor
from Great Britain.
y Total Belgian imports TO all coul
tries for 1919 totaled 5(O75,OOO.Ou
y francs. while exports amounted
l. 2,2s6. OOO. OOO france about 10 ~
e cent OF imports. For the first "
J. months Of 1890. exports equalcd
u per cent Of imports. which indicate
" gratifying growth In the export trad
" A continuation Of the recent devclo
III ment of the foreign trade would r
n suit by the end OF the year In an e
u cess of exports. The countries ia
" nishing raw materials. Argcntin
j. England and the United States. n
: the only ones In which the trade bs
= ance during 1919 was heavily again
~ Belgium.
d The Congo is a vast source OF I
y ture wealth for Belgium. This III
,; gian colony Is so times the size
" The mother country and about on
third the size Of the United State
u Under the traty OF peace. Belgiu
y has rec .ived q mandate over q
~ northwest portion OF what was "a
d merry Grman East Africa. This W
le be an important addition to the III
" gian colonial possessions.
>, The exports from the Congo ha
~ been chiefly vegetable products SUI
y as rubber. palm-oil. copal and coco
y, In recent years copper. gold. di
~ mOnds and other minerals have be-
n exported In increasing quantities.
The principal into the Congo a
., cotton TEXTILES. steamers. engine
"a railroad equipment. machinel
u building material. shoes and clothin
III The peleian government Is now CO