New Britain herald., 1926-02-03
AMSTERDAM HEADS
 CITIES IN HOLLAND
This Is Really the New York Of
 the Dutch People

Washington. p C., Feb, B. Relief measures for the flood -strick- en portions Of Holland, which arc being conducted from Amsterdam. direct attention 10 this commercial and military capital ot one of ltu- ropes smallest countries,
 "Audacious though 1t may seem 10 compare Amsterdam to New York. when it is considered that the latter was ono, q namosake Of tho Dutch City, nearly every oSperi- cnco in the hustl.ng bustlng Am- sterdam of today is reminiscent to Americans ol the metropolis ot the Now World says a bulletin from Washington. p, C., headquarters of the National Geographic Society "Heredity is here apparently back tracking. for the father is every day becoming moro like tho son, and less like it's picturesque Dutch neighbors.
 Much In Common
 New York and Amsterdam have much in common, Each is the larg- est and most populous city in its respective country. Neither is the political capital of the country. but each Is the undisputed commercial dictator and the key-point of mill tary defense, Each is a seaport al- though here the analogy does not follow as closely. Rotterdam 8 commerce exceeds that Of Amster- dam. Amsterdam, however. has the headquarters of all the large ship ping companies, just as has New York. Like New York Amsterdam is also an important industrial cen- ter. with ship-buidlng plants, refn- cries, machine shops, many small factories, diamond polishing mills, etc.
 Geography prevents carrying the parallel much further. While New York towers above sea level on q foundation of solid rock, Amsterdam is a city perched on wooden piles. No permanent structures can be erected on the upper stratum Of loam and loose sand, hence the necessity for driving supports l5 to SO feet below the level Of the ground. and hence, probably the jest of Erasmus Of Rotterdam, who said the natives of Amsterdam live on the tops of trees like rocks.
 The Threat of Water
 ,r>;.n,4ro,a srfac+u nf bpavrl, ra ius in nearby regions emphasize the constant battle that the city and the country must wage against the eternal enemy-water Both to the sea and the sky Holland must ever present a strong arm. Amsterdam, itself. is shut off from tidal fluo- tuations by dikes and docks, but the water in it's many canals is con- stantly changed by inflows from rlV- CTS and canal connecting ii direct with the North Sea. The water in it's huge harbor and street canals is kept at what is known as 'the Am sterdam level which may be con- siiered a mean Of high and low tide.
 "The city of Amsterdam lies in the southwest corner of the great inland body of water known as the Zuyder Zee, at the influx Of the Amstel and Y rivers. Like Ncnice if is built on a number of islands but with much more regularity than the Queen of the Adriattc. Roughly the city plan looks like the profile of q half wheel with numerous water spokes and inner rims in reg uIar succession. These rims or sue cessive encircling canals indicate zones of expansion in the past and. flanked with avenues of elms ana tall narrow brick houses with Ranles turned toward the street give handsome and picturesque effect 10 the residential sections
 Not a Windmill in Sight
 "Americans who start their tour of Holland in Amsterdam are ilkeiN 70 he disillusioned. Not windmill can he seen in the downtown sec tior and the hurrying throngs Who iostle one on inc streets are dressed very much like other Europeans Steam engines arc replacing the characteristic waving arms Of the Dutch windmill throughout the l,inrdom. Only in the remote rurai sections, and at tourist attra'tlollS such IS the Isle Of Markon, can one find the hloomcrs, lace caps anu wooden shoes Of in" old gcographY hook pictures. Amstordams shops resemble Amcricas finest, both III quality and in price, while the Bank of the Netherlands is one ot ''' leading financial establishments of Europe.
 Amsterdam might ho said 10 be the first setting of nearly every diamond. It's diamond polishing ana cutting mills have been famous since +ho 18th century. whom tn" art was In+rodurc3 rv Portuguese Jews alter tnn sack oF Antwern. At the pres cnt time thcre arc nearly hundred mills, employing several ihousann persons Most of tho raw diamonds come from South Africa, although Brazil and thc Tar East arc other sources of supply.
 '~rhc Dutra are cr"a' lovers oi nottocs. signs and irs"riNtons. On some of the houses ot Amsterdam can still ho found printed l"gonds such as: 'Th.s ,~ my p'nasur" and my life 'Tho lJooe for song ctr Public luildln=s a-o special targets tnrouChout IT." country for tn" ln- scription pain. r. Thc Scriptures are go frooly drawn upon on" writer claims. that 0oro 'Io Bible other wise los. 10 man f could he roplac- d almost intact from tho tnscrir- -ions on Dutch iown-rates and Nunicl7al halls. X sign which xraws tha most attention from American tourists. however, and lrsh for ra-~aro )ah"l, is that v hich swings ou'-ii, thn door of modest little ho~.o'.v near the sta rior-'The D-m Ho'nl' Dam in butch. however. r1oa0s city
 Hollands "ncad Cities