Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1887 — Europe’s Smaliest State. [ARTICLE]

Europe’s Smaliest State.

The smallest state in Europe—beside which the* principality of Monaco and the republics of Andorra and San Marino appear “great powers”—is Moresnet, which is situated between Yerviers and Aix-la-Ohapelle, upon the confines of Belgium and Germany, in a fertile valley watered by a river named La Gueule, which runs into a lake upon the shores of which is an ancient donjon, dating from the time of Charlemagne. The reason assigned for the independence of this district is that the district of Moresnet, which is only about four s juare miles in extent, and has a population of 2,000, possesses some very rich zinc mines, and that, as after the battle of ‘Waterloo, Belgium and could not agree as to which of the two should have possession of these, and as neither would give way, the district was by mutual consent made independent. At that time the district wa3 very poor, and there were not more than fifty dilapidated cottages and huts in it, whereas now there are 800 houses, and the mine yields . a handsome return, so that some time ago it was thought that Germany and Belgium would agree to swallow it up between them. But so far the independence of Moresnet has remained unimpaired, though Germany and Belgium each has a delegate living in the distriot, whose duty it is to settle any dispute which may arise. The administration of the district is intrusted to a burgomaster, who is selected by the delegates of the two governments, and who himself selects ten municipal councilors. There is no elected assembly in Moresnet, and consequently no division into “parties,” while the inhabitants are exempt from military service, and pay onlv five shillings per head taxation. The total revenue of the republic is rather under £6OO, and this suffices to cover all the expenditure, including the school of the district and the “army,” which latter force consists pf one soldier, who acts as gendarme and policeman as welL This soldier is often to be seen enjoying a game of chess or billiards with the burgomaster at the beer garden on the shores of the lake, which enjoys the style and title of Casino. Ihe question as to the relations between church and state does not give any trouble at Moresnet, os the mining company pays the stipend

of the priest, and tbd* only drawback to the complete satisfaction of Moresnet and the inhabitants is that they are not allowed to have postage stamps of their own.— Paris American Register. _