176 GERMANY. 



process repeated after the fish have had time to multiply. The large Pond of 

 Lindre, in the valley of the Seille, sometimes yields 1,000 tons in a single year. 

 In a hot climate this curious " rotation of crops " would breed a pestilence, and it 

 is not quite without its drawbacks under a latitude of 49°.* 



Agriculture does not suffice to support the dense population of Alsace-Lorraine, 

 and vast manufacturing interests have been created since the beginning of the 

 century. The first cotton-mill was built in 1746, and the first steam-engine set 

 up in 1812. The progress since then has been immense. At first the manu- 

 facturers established themselves in the valleys of the Vosges, where streams 

 supplied them gratuitously with the motive power they stood in need of. In 

 course of time, however, steam superseded the running water, and the factories 

 were removed to the towns of the plain, where coal could be procured more 

 cheaply. 



Lower Alsace excels in agt iculture, Upper Alsace in its manufacturing industry, 

 the great centre of which is at Miilhaiisen. The manufacture of cotton yarns and 

 stuffs holds the first place, but there are also woollen-mills, machine shops, and 

 chemical works. Strassburg, in Lower Alsace, has many factories and breweries 

 in its suburbs. Niederbronn and the neighbouring villages have foundries, 

 construct railway carriages, and manufacture enamelled hardware. Lorraine, 

 being rich in iron and coal, has iron and steel works. The most important of 

 these are in the valley of the Orne, close to the French frontier : the coal mines 

 are in that of the Saar, to the south of Saarbriicken. Glass is manufactured at 

 Forbach, whilst Saargemiind is noted for its enamelled porcelain, its snuff'-boxes, 

 machines, and mathematical instruments. In addition to coal and iron, Lorraine 

 yields salt. The principal salt mines lie between the rivers Saar and Seille, and 

 more especially in the vicinity of Dieuze, Moyenvic, and Saaralbe. These mines 

 are for the first time mentioned in a document of the seventh century, and appear to 

 have been worked from the most remote times. Much of the salt is employed in 

 the chemical works established in their vicinity. Before concluding this notice of 

 the manufacturing industry of Lon'aine we must mention the fiimous glass works of 

 St. Louis (Miinzthal), which employ 2,000 workmen, and turn out annually over 

 £300,000 worth of crystal glass.f 



Alsace is well supplied with railways, the line first constructed, that from 

 Strassburg to Basel, being now joined to the railway systems of France and 

 Germany. The railway which runs from Ostend by way of Brussels, Luxemburg, 

 and Strassburg to Switzerland, is one of the great trunk lines of Europe. Since 

 the Germans have taken possession of the country several strategical lines have 



* Of the total area of Alsace-Lorraine, 46 per cent, is arable land, 12 per cent, meadows, 2 per cent, 

 vineyards, 1^ per cent, gardens, 31 per cent, forests, and 7| per cent, uncultivated. 



t Occupations (1875): — 14,-308 miners; 11,78-5 persons employed in potteries and glass works; 

 11,785 in the manufacture of machines and instruments ; 75,075 in the textile industries ; 15,905 worked 

 in wood; 14,609 were engaged in the preparation of articles of food and drink; 29,850 in making wear- 

 ing apparel, &c. 



Mining (1876) :— Coal, 376,044 tons; iron ores, 664,498 tons; asphalt, 59,238 cwts. ; petroleum, 

 10,953 cwts. ; salt, 37,304 tons. In the same year 19?,279 tons of pig-iron were made. 



