Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-01-01

", MINNESOTA, THU
and sparing consumption. France
manufactures tho great bulk of her
own iron, and nearly everything made
therefrom in the form Of steel and
iron implements, railroad tracks, en-
gines, ships, etc. While the coal mea-
sures of France aro scant, she manages
to avoid importation from England to
any great extent. The domestic fuel
of France is wood, burned with an
economy that makes one shiver on O.
cold day. Trees are
AS CAREFULLY PLANTRD AND GROWN
in France as beets or wheat. or anv
other product. France grows nearly
all the wool required for domestic con
sumption and export, in the shape of
cloths, except certain coarse varieties
used to mix with the native fine fleeces,
and purchased cheaply in Australia
and South. America, in exchange for
gimcracks and toilet articles.
The French produce their own
liquOrs-winesa and brandy-and export
tens of millions of dollars worth to
other nations. CThey drink no whisky
and but little beer; they call the for
mer American poison, and the latter
nasty German-:.:add, and neither of
them ct for the human stomach.)
The skin of every beast and four
footed animal is converted into leather.
They utilize the hides of all the horses,
asses, mules, cattle, calves, deer, sheep,
lambs, goats, kids,
HOGS, DOGS, CATS, RATS,
foxes, wolves, rabbits, and other ami.
mails, wild or domestic, and sell the
products to all the world in the shape
of French calf and kid boots and shoes,
and morocco wear, and gloves by the
million gross. They make sparing use
of these articles for themselves, but
wear wooden shoes, more generally
than anything else, through the rural
districts and among the poorer classes
of the cities and towns.
The imports of France consist
ALMOST WHOLLY
Of raw materials, purchased to be con-
verted into fabrics, mainly for exporta-
tion abroad, except tobacco, which is a
government monopoly, and is sold at
an enormous profit, whereby a very
large revenue is derived. The chief
article of import are raw cotton from
America and cotton-yarn from Eng.
land raw and floss silk, wool, timber,
coal, coffee, tea and tobacco.
THE BALANCE OF TRADE
derived from foreign commerce, be-
tween 1850 and 1860, averaged $40, 600, =
600 per annnm. Since then it has av-
eraged 500, 900, 900. This is exclusive
of the profits made on goods sold at
retail to the multitudes of foreigners,
including Americans, who swarm over
France, and the profits made on COM
merce, which the tables of imports and
exports never state OF indicate.
The English loan the greater part of
their net profits on foreign trade to the
various nations of the world that is,
they put their money out on interest
where they can get the best security
and highest rate of usance. The
French loan abroad comparativ vely little
of their surplus capital. The national
tendency is to invest it at home OF
hoard it.
l think it has now been explained
how the French were able to spare
nearly 81, 100, ,OOO, 900 in coin to pay of
this German fine in two and q hall
years, without impoverishment or even
serious Inconvenience. Bismarck
thought he had inflicted wound on
France that would weaken her for de.
cades to come. But the blow
HAS NOT PRODUCED
the anticipated fatal effects. The mon
ey is paid the territory liberated.
France is free, powerful, and burning
for revenge. The pride of the nation
has been chastened egotism has re-
cieved terrible tall vanity has beer
pricked F.; and France now comprehend
her own strength and resources with
out blind exaggeration, 4nd those of he
enemy without stupidity undertaking
them.
Every dollar of the debt of France
which now exceeds that of Great Brit
ain, is held at home, in the hands O
her own citizens. The Rentes are diff
fused all over the nation. Almost ever,
farmer owns some of them, and hoardl
them with the same tenacity will
which he cliugs to his gold Napoleons
The Morgan loao" Of 500, 600, O00
taken by the English to help tht
French out of their troubles, has al
been bought up, and is now held ii
France. It is true the war has increas
ed taxes by Is per cent, and diminish
ed revenue in the proportion the two
captured provinces of Alsace and Lor
raine borne to the whole nation bu
this loss can be borne. Before tn.
war, the necessary revenue of France
was something less than $500, O00, ,O0l
per annnm; the taxes now produc,
1910, ,OO0, 600, and there is still a def
cheney of nearly $36, ,OO0, 600 to be pro
vided by additional taxes. o. e-half o
the total revenue is required to pa,
interest on the enormous debt but, q
the Rentes are owned and held b,
most of the taxpayers, it is much tn
same as taking money out of one pocke
and putting it into the other.
One would suppose that, with thl
addition of nearly 800, 600, 600 a yea
to the annual budget, the French Ad
ministration
WOULD INACCURATE ECONOMY:
retrench at every point by cutting O.
thousands of sinecure Offices, dischare
ing surplus employees, and, above all
by reducing the army to peace foot
ing. But nothing of the kind has bee
done or proposed. There are on th
pay rolls of the army to-day more tina
SOC, 900 armed men, stationed in CARR
sons all over France and Algeria, c
whom 80, 600 garrison Paris, and 65, on
are kept in Algiers. The cost of th
War Department for 1873 will be 800
600, 900, and of the Navy Department
$31 ,OO0, OK, making together 1921,
600, 900 as the cost Of the standin
army and navy in time of profoun
peace.
THE PRUss1AN MILITARY SYSTEM
has been adopted, to make every ma
over 20 years of age serve four years i
the active army; then they are sent t
the reserve of the active army for fiv
years then to the territorial army fo
five years; then into the reserve OF th
territorial army for six years Longer
making twenty years active or passiv
service. No substitutes are now a,
cepted, and no bounty is paid. Th
object is to nave every man in Franc
over five feet high, and fit for servic,
between the ages of 20 and 40, on til
army-rolls as disciplined soldier.
; ready for offensive or defensive oper.
tions. The French calculate that, IN