The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-14
NGHAM AGE-HERALD, SUNDAY, OCTOBER IA, 1928

bugle announced that the fire was extinguished, the captain saluted us and the men marched off in military order.
 A Great Steel Center.
 Before coming to Lodz I made a trip through the coal and iron re- zion of Polish Silesia which, by the plebiscite, was taken from Germany. My guide was prince connected with the foreign office. His name is Georges de Ciechanowiecki. l doubt whether you can pronounce it but in my conversation l came very close to it by calling him Prince Checks and-Whi5ky," and as he is good fellow he did not object. We went first by rail from Warsaw to Kat towitZ, a distance of 400 miles. The fare was less than s4 and my sleep ing compartment cost just S5 cents. Tho distance from Kattowitz to Der lin is about the same as to Warsaw and the fare is still cheaper.
 If Lodz is the Manchester of Po- land. Kattowitz is the Pittsburg. It lies so close to Germany that with modern rifle one could shoot over the boundary and so near Czecho- slCVakia that an ordinary big gun would send cannon ball there. It is the chief city of a little territory containing about 20 square miles, which is one of the worlds treasure vaults. It has mines of coal, zinc, iron, silver and lead and the coal will make coke and steam.
 As we came into Kattowitz we rode for miles with smokestacks in sight, passing many plants devoted tC the production of steel, zinc and lead. The coal mines number 50 and in them alone 150,000 men are employed. There are even more in the factories and foundries. and just now both are humming with work.
 This part of Poland was developed by the Germans, and almost every thing connected with the rolling mills, steel plants. and mines was operated on a high grade of effi- ciency. The capital was German and so were the managers. Today the French have invested largely in the mills, but. as most of the plants are l owned by stock companies, it Is diff ficult to say to just whom they be- long. The government has some large properties, including coal mines and works for the reduction of sil- yer and lead. Immediately after the | plebiscite there were some labor troubles. The Germans commi tied outrages tr the Poles, and the Poles on the Germans; but now everything has gone back to normal and inter- national friction has almost disap- peared
 O O O
 Work and Wages.
 | The amount of manufacturing is rapidly increasing. Three shifts are employed and many of the plants work day and night, and even on Sundays. The wages paid are about ore third more than at dz, and the hours are the same, with one-half hour off in the morning for rest and lunch.
 About tke same rent and living conditions obtain. The average dwelling of a workman consists of two rooms and kitchen, and at the present low rate tf exchange the rent | is. about 3 cents per month. The | families are usually large, and all sleep in the little room outside the kitchen. The people have plenty to eat and I venture that at present they are far better off than the Ger mans of the same class. The work ing mans dinner is usually soup meat and potatoes. with often a salad. His breakfast on rising is ] coffee, bread and butter and meat and he takes a lunch of bread butter