Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-09-02
IS Rich DISTRICT
Upper Siiesian Cities in the Heart
Of Coal Fields.
Them With Jealous Care During
the World War.

-Four cities of Upper Silesia. which
are reported To have been seized by
Polish insurgents who feared that the
bulk ~ Upper SileSia was TO be turned
over TO Germany, are experiencing real
war for the first time since they be-
came cities" says Il bulletin issued
by the National Geographic society.
The cities are TarnowitZ, Heuthen.
koenigshutte and Kattowitz. Though
they are situated practically at the
meeting point of pre-war Russia. Ger
many and Austria HunSary-n rather
precarlOus position on the outbreak OF
the World war-so valuable is the min
ing aud industrial district which sur
rounds them that Germany took care
to keep them outside the zone Of hos.
tilities.
THE four cities lie within few
miles OF each other and In the heart OF
the coal fields for which the country
- famous. None is more than five
miles from the old Russian border.
now the boundary Of Poland; and all
are almost equally close to the old
Austrian line, now that Of CzechoSlov-
aka.
"Of these cities. Beuthen alone Is OF
appreciablc age. The others are the
direct result Of the development Of coal
mines and metallurgical industries In
the vicinity after the middle Of the
century; and Beuthen itself received
great impetus from mining and in
dustrial development. It is the CAPT.
tai Of a district. and has a population
Of about $4,000. When Silcsla was n
part OF the old kingdom Of Bohemia,
Beuthen was capital OF the duchy of
Beuthen. The title. duke OF Beuthen.
is one Of the medatiZed titles among
the German nobility.
"Konigshutte. with nearly 1900 in
habitants. Is the metropolis Of the Up
per Silesia mining district aud may
be considered the Silesian Pittsburgh.
1t lies only three miles south OF Beu-
then. In konisshutte Is situated tine
largest iron works in Silesia. Half the
population is said to consist OF Poles
"Kattowitz, three miles south Of
KOnigShu:tc, IL supreme as coal
market. 1t ts perhaps the strongest
Polish center among the Upper Silesian
cities. Zinc, rs well rs coal, is mined
In the neighhorhoOd. The place was
only village In 1915. It's population
Is now about $4,000.
"Tarn0witz, a few miles north OF
Beuthen, Is the smallest Of the group.
It's inhabitants number close TO $4,000.
In addition to iron works II has other
metallurgical factories and lime kilns
1t Is also Polish center and its vote
in the p!"hiScite is reported to have
been markedly adverse to Germany.
"Wncn the World war broke ont the
Russians were able to push through
1.-THE German-ituSSinn frontier in its
northern portion. hut the line which
ran few miles west OF the Silesian
coal cities held firmly. Only twice was
This rich and important district In dan
ger of passing from German hands;
when the Russian offensive against
Austria advanced to CraCow. less chan
50 miles to the east; and when the
C"sSacES made u raid into PoScn. n
short distance TO the north. threaten
ing 10 GU: of the Cppcr SileSia wedge
On both occasions the Germans, rcaiiZ-
ing that one Of their most irnpnrtant
c"ntrrS Of munitions manufacture was
endangered drove the alta ckcrs back"