Cheyenne Wells record., 1921-08-04
IS RICH DISTRICT
Upper SiIesian Cities in the Heart
of Coal Fields.
30 Important That Germany Guarded
Them With Jealous Care During
the World War.

EOur CltIeD Oh upper 6lleW0, winch
are reported to have been seized By
Polish insurgents who feared that the
bulk Of Upper Sllesia was to be turned
over to Germany. are experiencing real
war for the first time since they be-
came cities," says . bulletin issued
BY the National Geographic society.
The cities are Tarnowitz. Beuthen.
Koenigshutte and Katt0witz. Though
they are situated practically at the
meeting point Of pre-war Russia. Ger.
many and Austria a-Hungary-a rather
precarious position on the outbreak Of
the World war-so valuable II the min
ing and 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
IL famous. None II more than fve
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
appreciable 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
a great impetus from mining and In
dustrial development. 1t Is the capi-
tai Of district. and has a population
Of about 8S.OOO. When Silesia was a
part Of the old kingdom Of Bohemia.
Beuthen was capital Of the duchy Of
Beuthen. The title, duke Of Beuthen.
Is one of the mediatized titles among
the German nobility.
"Konigshutte, with nearly $4,000 In
habItants. Is the metropolis Of the Up
per Silesia mining district and may
be considered the Silesian Pittsburgh.
It lies only three miles south Of Beu-
then. In Konigshutte is situated the
largest iron works In Sllesla. Half the
population Is said to consist Of Poles.
"Kattowitz, three miles south Of
Konigshutte, Is supreme as a coal
market. 1t Is perhaps the strongest
tOllSI CtHkcA uAloHk lAC OPlSCA
cities. Zinc. as well as coal, is mined
In the neighborhood. The place was
only a village in 1915. Its population
Is now about $4,000.
"Tarnowitz, a few miles north Of
Beuthen, is the smallest Of the group.
Its Inhabitants number close to $1,000.
In addition to iron works 1t has other
metallurgical factories and lime kilns.
It Is also Polish center and Its vote
in the plebiscite is reported to have
been markedly adverse to Germany.
"When the World war broke out the
Russians were able to push through
the German Russian frontier in its
northern portion. but the line which
ran a 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 than
so miles to the east; and when the
C0ssacks made a raid into Posen. q
short distance to the north. threaten
ing to cut of the Upper Silesia wedge.
On both occasions the Germans. realiz.
ing that one Of their most important
centers Of munitions manufacture was
endangered, drove the attackers back.