The New York herald., 1867-06-02
FRANCE AS IT Is AND WAS.
Progress Of the Country in Commerc~s
Finance md Public Works since 1881.


Finance md Public Works since 1881.
Paris MAY 10l Correspondence of London rimeAl
The Cossitv'ionnd calls attention to the marked i'm
provement which has taken place within the last Hteeu
years in the general conditions OF existence in France
The regularity and continuance Of the improvements
have tended TO prevent the Importance
Of tho change from being remarked as It mertsd In
order to obtain clear idea OF what has occurred con-
siderable period Of time should be regarded and
parison instituted the difference between the sua-
tion then and that existing at present.
reviow OF that kind has been published by M De-
vnck, formerly President Of the Tribunal OF Commerce
at Paris His work contains inquiry into the progress
OF commerce and manufactures in France and in order
trade movement Of tho years 1855 and 1851. Tho
principal points Of the writer's conclusions may
.,..1 be summed up oo"sin 1851 tho com
was a. follows-Imports, 1924, 900, 600 francs;
ports 1870 900 ooo making total Of 2si4 600 900
and the exports 4 0s7 OOo OO0 or in ALL 1915 600 O0O
In 1853 nnd for the first eleven months only tthe
total Of about 900 900 francs being an Increase in
fifteen years OF nearly 200 per cent No such augments-
ton WAS observed before anywher,.
In 1881 the number OF French and foreign vessois
which entered or left the French ports was 81 436 In
1885 the figure rose to 81 1856 showing for maritime
commerce alone progress OF about so per cent
In 1851 the network Of railway measured 500 kiome
(hve-eighhs OF mile each. but at the end OF the
year 1865 It showed length OF IA 900 kilometres actn
ally at work. The concessions form much larger
amount--moro in TACT than 21,000 kilometres. In
for 900 Kilometres and transmitted 10 900 dispatches
In 1865 was in operation for distance Of 81 500 kilo
metres, possessed 2, 100 stations and transmitted
$500 900 dispatches The charge has been reduced by
10 cent since 1851 The number of letters carried In
the earlier period IS 0OO whereas in 1895 had
risen TO 800 000 The postage has been diminished
on an average oneth and the conveyance has become
four times more rapid.
In 1851 the smount OF the discounts At tho Bank OF
France 1,2si 900 O00 whereas IN 1860 u
6,574 900 600. During tho period have
the produce Of coal basins where hands wanted,
increased twood and that OF tho cast
and ,yrot0M iron triplsd.
The State has executed great works for improving tho
atinun Nv ~ l.,,xy,
up the tolls paid to companies the tariffs have
whore been either suppressed lowered In tho year
1851 the indirect taxes and those consumption pro-
duced sum or 73s, 242 0o0f; in 1852, so4 334 0OOf
and 1888, 1282 268. 000f At the time that the
consumption has been so prodgously developed 70 tho
been most considerable In fifteen years France has
furnished capital the amount Of which be set down
ct 20 900 millions which has been either invested n
loans contracted by different governments employ cd
In the establishment OF railways formation of powerful
companies or In great works Of public utility and in
material improvements OF kind