The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-02-24
Inasmuch as Belgian steel and iron

lnasmuch as Belgian steel and Iron
manufactures and other allied iron and
lsteel products comprised over II Der
leent. OF the total pre-war export trade
OF Belgium, It IS necessary for these
industries to resume operations as soon
las possible. Furthermore, as textile and
other manufacturing plants have been
stripped of machinery, il will be neces-
tsary tor new machines TO be installed
land II IS desirable that the Belgian steel
works shou! d assist as much as possible
IN rehtting these plants Although the
Belgian steel companies were in a very
bad way, due to the destruction of mos
lot their property, several mills could
Ioperate at the time of the Armistice
and others have since been put in or
der Some 10 or II of the largest stecl
companies IN Belgium have undertake.
the formation Of large steel corpora
ton similar IN plan to the United States
Steel Corporation. Each Of the plants.
II IS understood, will specialize in some
particular branch of the steel industry
| German prisoners have been used 10
advantage IN clearing away the debris
4 OF ruined buildings and in other work
Many carloads of machinery and fix
lures taken away by the Germans have
| been returned and set in operation. Re
employment OF the workers at high
wages has resulted in the withdrawal of
public aid from nearly all Of the S00001
| persons who were being assisted IN
| November, 1918. Official reports ind
cate that the yield Of this years crops
will not be much below that of normal
pre-war years
In the Belgian Congo there is an as
set which will prove of increasing i'm
iportance in the future development Of
| Belgium's industries In area the colony
IS eighty times as large as Belgium il
self. Although situated in equatorial
Africa, its climate is, on the whole,
much more salubrious than that Of most
tropical countries, because the greater
L part of the country IS a comparatively
high plateau.
Among the surest evidences Of a wise
preparation Tor the future development
of the Congo is tho official recognition
of the fact that the foundation Of a
stable economic life and of endriag
general prosperity there, must be found
in agriculture. In 1910 the Government
began a comprehensive program Of sc
ricultural education and experlments-
ton Quite naturally, the development
OF the transportation system of the CO..
ony began with the utilization of thc
Congo River and its III, utariss, the
worlds second largest river system, with
about 10000 miles of naviRs bic water
In January, 1916. there ere ! los miles
of Congo railways in operation. Ias-
portant additions to this sliieage have
since been made.
The vast mineral wealth of the Congo
includes copper, tin, Sid, diamonds,
iron. and coal. The cAiet mining in
terests are the copper properties in k
tanga, the southeastern section of tho
colony. Only a small proportion Of tSe
total deposits sre being worked, but tbs
estimated output in 1913 WIS 40,OC0 to-.
The cololys exports and IMPORTS H.
1913 had value Of az fortunately 81
100000, and IN 40 the foreign trade
exceeded S38,CtG,000
The depletion OF ulanrpoAer In Bel
GUM during the Sar was not as great
proportionately as was experienced by
most Of the be!Lgeren nations, Sor the
sudden rush of tn invasion made 1t
impossible TO mobilize a large nurnbel
of the men of military age.
The proved industrial capacity aud de-
.pendable character Of the masses of the
Belgian workers arc the nations best
assets IN the present emergency. The
record of the nations achievements in
the past and It's quiet and confident
graphing with present difficulties arc
the surest guarantees thas the BeSgians
CA and will solve their economic prob
lens satsfaGsesily,