Its Productions, Industries, and History
By Chas. Grim
Its Productions, Industries, and History
BELGIUM is situated on the coast of the North Sea, between France and Holland. While it has an area of about 11,373 square miles, it has a population of 6,500,000 inhabitants, which makes an average of more than 570 to the square mile. In proportion to its extent, it is one of the most densely populated countries on the globe. Two principal languages are spoken here; the French, or rather the Walloon, in the south, and the Flemish in the north. In addition, German is spoken in some towns near the border of Germany. The natural resources of the country are abundant. In the north spread out fertile plains, where are cultivated the cereals, the sugar beet, flax, and hemp. Through the center runs a rich basin of oil. This is passed out to the world through the great cities of Liège, Charleroi, and Mons. There are also mines of iron, zinc, and lead. These last products give rise to metal industries, which are very flourishing. The country is filled with blast furnaces, steel works, and rolling mills, which send out their products to all parts of the world. Crystal glassworks have made great strides in recent years,15and there are many glass factories of all kinds, especially for window glass. We must also mention the weaving works and the cloth factory, which are also of central importance. The southern part of the country is more hilly, where woods and forests abound. Elsewhere there are prairies dotted with farms, busy in cattle raising and butter making, butter being an article of large consumption in the country. After enduring the Roman yoke, Belgium, like all the other countries of Western Europe, passed under the rule of the French kings, when Rome as an empire split up into the ten kingdoms. And The city of Liège lays claim to the honor of being the birthplace of the Emperor Charlemagne, to whom the city has raised a statue, and also of the most celebrated French kings. At the time of the Reformation, Belgium formed a part of the empire of Charles V, the rabid enemy of Protestantism. So the reform movement, which had made great development in that country, was stifled by the violence of the persecutions. It passed some time under the dominion of Austria, after which it was reunited to Holland, when Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo. Being obliged to complain much of the new ruler, the Belgians revolted in 1830, and after a furious struggle of a few months, the Hollanders (Dutch) were driven from Belgium, and independence was proclaimed. In 1831 the new constitution was adopted, which is still recognized by the country. It is one of the most liberal of Europe. It gives entire liberty of conscience, and permits each one to teach and to propagate his views by speech and press. Thus the Lord has prepared the way for the last message to be proclaimed in a country where the darkness is great.