Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-31
Geographic News
Bulletins BY the
National Geographic Society
ABOUT ANTWERP

Wnlcn, IL mas peen announced, the
last Of Americas "doughboys'' will
sail homeward, thus will become the
last town of the many from Bor-
deaux to st. Mihiel and Cantieny to
Coblenz, in which the American Ex-
peditionary Forces have played a
part. The city Is the subject of the
following bulletin from the Wash
ington, d. c., headquarters Of the
National Geographic Society:
Antwerp might be taken as q
classic example of how physical,
economic, governmental and relig-
ious deve1opments--and plain luck
affect the growth and prosperity Of
cities" says the bulletin. "Its his
honest little village that worked
hard, attracted a fairy godmother,
grew up into riches and power, was
thrown into rags by an ogre and
then came back all over again.
Storm Made It Seaport
"An inconsequential inland village
on a sluggish creek until before the
twelfth century, Antwerp suddenly
was given by q sea storm q broad
estuary with q deep tide. A ridge
Of sand dunes, washed away, turned
a long, tortuous channel into a short
straight one. Through the years en-
gineerS constructed embankments,
bettering the channels. But still the
town remained relatively unimpor-
tant because of the competition Of
Bruges. Then Bruges' channel silt
ed up, and Antwerp, twice the bene-
ficiary of luck, came into its own.
"In 1903 the first foreign factory
was founded by the Portuguese.
Others followed, and in q little over
a - - a. {o,
of more than 100000, and was one
of the most prosperous commercial
centers in the world, with hundred
vessels borne In on every tide. It
soon snatched the mantle OF old
Venice as the worlds banking center.
while its daily quota of ships reached
500.
Europe, north of the Mediterra-
mean countries, had never before
possessed city SO prosperous and
splendid as Antwerp. In the city
merchant princes made their mil
lions of fiorins; thousands of hand
some dwellings were built; churches
and public buildings were erected;
and some of the worlds most notable
works of art were wrought. The
cathedral, with a great tower rising
over 400 feet, is an example of the
best Of Gothic architecture.
Lost Control of it's River
"One significant feature of Ant
werp's rapid development in the six
teenth century was the fact that
comm ercial liberalism, individualisnn
and capitalism were somewhat more
emphasized than in cities that had
grown UP before. The gild system
was dying. Old Antwerp can be
looked upon therefore as a kinsman
to the commerce-buil cities of our
own day and our own economic sys-
tenn. Foreign merchants, because Of
liberal laws and customs, found lit
tie interference with their comings
and goings and their various entec-
prises.
Commercial liberalism led to re-
hgious liberalism. Then came the
Spanish conquest and Antwerp's
strife led to the separation of Hol-
land from Belgium. The former re-
tained control Of the mouth of the
Scheldt, Antwerp's channel, and kept
the once powerful city from free ac-
cess to the sea for two centuries.
During this period of political and
economic reverses Antwerp went in
to eclipse, while Amsterdam grew at
its expense.
Bought Its Way TO Freedom
"Antwerp took its first step to-
ward recovery when Napoleon, gain
ing possession of 1t, planned to build
1t up and make it "a pistol directed
at the heart of England He accom-
plished little, but Antwerp advanced
slowly under the Dutch after Water
loo. In 1880 came the revolution
which created Belgium and again
Antwerp's situation improved. But
the Dutch still controlled the mouth
of the Scheldt and charged toll on
ships to Antwerp which operated
like a 'differential in favor of their
own ports. This economic barrier
alone. the Belgians felt, was holding
Antwerp back from reaching its old
estate. Finally in a transaction that
deserves to rank with the purchase
Of the right-of-way for the Suez
Canar or our own Panama Canal,
the Belgians in 1863 bought free
right of way through the Scheldt for
36,000,000 francs. From that time
Antwerp forged ahead until just be-
fore the World War it was the great
est port of continental Europe except
only Hamburg. Since the Armistice
it has probably reached first place on
the continent, while surpassed in the
WOTIO only ny NtW OlhS A<OiiuOit
and Liverpool.
Before the World War Antwerp
was one of the most heavily fortified
cities in Europe and was considered
impregnable. The Belgian govern
merlt and army retired there to
make resistance, and 1t became one
of the first cities on which zeppelins
rained bombs. Though the city was
later bombarded by German siege
guns and the defenders driven out,
made through the
American minister prevented the de-
struction of the city's cathedral and
other irreplaceable monuments.
tha old Flemish name. The Belgians
are interested in pushing to world
leadersf1in the same city by quite a
different name. The American first
abroad who has taken the English
eouivalents in his textbooks too seri-
ously is likely to wake NTH start
when he finds himself not in Ant