126 AGRICULTUBE Oif THE RHINE. 



kind of ore that was required for making steel. Trade 

 had scarcely taken this turn in the direction of the Baltic 

 from France and England, when the French invasion and 

 subsequent Continental blockade cut off all remains of 

 direct communication between England, the greatest 

 market, and the interior of Germany. After the war not 

 only was the very name of this once celebrated and still 

 rich district lost to the great trading stream in the West 

 of Europe ; but the improvements effected by English 

 steel-manufacturers enabled them, in spite of enormous 

 duties, to send steel of superior quality to Siegen itself, 

 where it is now sold at every dealer's shop, and of course 

 is preferred by cutlers and other artisans. 



On the cession of this district to Prussia after the war, 

 the productions of the mines and foundries, instead of in- 

 creasing in value, were every year less and less sought. 

 It was suggested by some thinking heads, that as all the 

 modes of restriction devisable had been tried without 

 success, it would be well to try the effect of setting the 

 trade in metals and charcoal free. The export of ore, 

 which had long been prohibited even in the neighbouring 

 circles, was allowed without much opposition on the part 

 of the founders who could not work up their ores. Still, 

 although large establishments immediately sprang up or^ 

 the borders, which were worked by coke brought from the 

 river Ruhr, the founders and steel-workers have not yet 

 given up the restrictions on production, which they still 

 look upon as a kind of privilege. The government does not 

 urge them, as they alone are mterested in the matter, and 

 experience has shown that the present system brings no 

 gain. The wood-owners of Siegen have thus, by a plan 

 adopted as a specimen of perfect wisdom while all lay in 



