. A complete geography. ain, after supplying her many factories, exports alarge amount of coal, France has to import some. The principal coalbeds, from which more than half the output comes, lie close to Bel-gium. They are, in fact, a continuation of the deposits that werefound to be so plentiful in that country. The other beds are smalland scattered, but the best of them lie near the centre of the coun-try, not far from St. Etienne. Of what advantage is this location? The quantity of iron produced is small and comes mainly from thenortheast, near the coal fields. Fine clays for porcelain abou
. A complete geography. ain, after supplying her many factories, exports alarge amount of coal, France has to import some. The principal coalbeds, from which more than half the output comes, lie close to Bel-gium. They are, in fact, a continuation of the deposits that werefound to be so plentiful in that country. The other beds are smalland scattered, but the best of them lie near the centre of the coun-try, not far from St. Etienne. Of what advantage is this location? The quantity of iron produced is small and comes mainly from thenortheast, near the coal fields. Fine clays for porcelain abound in cen-tral France, and building stones are quarried in nearly every part. Manufacturing. â In spite of the limited supply of fuel, Frances a great manufacturing nation. Besides silk and wine, in the)roduction of which this country is the leading nation of the world, Fig. 403. A farm scene in southern central France. The moun-tain peak is an extinct volcano, one of the MoutsdAuvergne (Figs. 399 and 401). 384 EUROPE. there is extensive manufacturing of metal, cotton, and woollengoods. One reason for these manufactures is the fact that coal iseasily obtained either in France or from the neighboring countriesof Belgium, Germany, and England. Another reason has to dowith the nature of the people themselves. The Frenchman has a peculiar appreciation of what is graceful, delicate, and elegant. This isillustrated by the fact that ourfashions in dress originate â inFrance; and a skirt, a pair ofgloves, or a bonnet from Parisis expected to be a trifle moredesirable than that bought else-where. The French have ac-cordingly specialized in thisdirection ; and thus their artis-tic sense has had great influ-ence upon both the kind andamount of their artistic taste is exercisedless, however, upon cotton thanupon other goods ; for the cot-ton mills are mainly engaged in furnishing simple, inexpensive cloth tothe large number of peasants and other poor people. Wool and
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectgeograp, bookyear1902
