Ferdinand Heidler

“ That we did not labor in vain will be admitted by everyone who has passed over our railroads and the railroads of the other countries of former empire. But even hardest work and greatest financial sacrifices will have to continue for a long time, before the railroad catastrophe is fully obliterated. ”

“ Condition of the sugar beet crop is very promising; when we consider the startling decrease in the world’s production of sugar which amounts to 5 million metric tons, it will appear that we are the only European country which can supply any considerable part of the deficiency. Our former most dangerous competitors have become our best customers. ”

“ In so far as manufacturing needed raw materials from overseas, which applies especially to textile industries, there was nothing left for it but to use substitutes, principally paper. Being totally cut off from the world and unable to export our own commodities, we suffered serious losses, we lost all touch with our markets. ”

“ Mining of coal was totally neglected from the technical point of view, as all work was done with a view to immediate necessities and no regard was paid to future needs. Manufactures were made exclusively subservient to war purposes and the needs of the citizens were completely ignored. ”

“ It is only proper to emphasize that in 1919 we had no strikes or disorders in our coal mining districts, because Czech miners realized that the fate of the republic was in their hands. The difficulty in supplying the domestic needs is due to orders of Allied missions which compel us to supply tremendous quantities to neighboring states. ”

“ But hard work will bring the republic back to normal life. Since we are to a very large extent an industrial state, reconstructions with us a much more complicated problem than with the purely agricultural countries of eastern Europe. ”

“ Only the lack of railroad rolling stock prevents our sup plying the world market. Our china and glass industry which enjoys world-wide reputation is re-establishing connections with old customers and finding new markets. Other branches of our industry are waking up, such as the wine industry ”

“ Visible and hidden supplies were pretty nearly exhausted and everywhere there was a lack of the most elementary necessities of life. Real values were displaced by a flood of banknotes whose circulation throughout Austria increased at a terrific rate every month. ”

“ Even now the progress is striking, but it will be at least a year, before our railroads can take care of the necessary traffic. In addition to repairing old cars we build 1000 new cars every month. Boats are running on the Elbe and we are ready to start water transportation on the Danube, as soon as the Magyar political problem is out of the way. ”