The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-08-04
THE Evaporation OF FRANCE.

quo #rplexlng problem to Bis
MAJ he tone of leading German
sta1e' nn indicate degree of uneas
mess st to say alarm, which it i.
Veri eSy to understand. The unex
au' power to rebuild, which thu
Ffehcoflation has shown, will soor
gam awhich was lost, although the
posisiea of France after the war. was
some@iag appalling to the average
hnanca mind. Yet setting aside the
eporDus amount required to pay
the ferman indemnity, the people
hayeaot spared themselves.
Ih productive power of the coun-
try oes not appear to have suffered.
forxample let US take the taxation
OF Mnce for the current year. They
nav increased the assessments of
iorxer years nearly 1924 100000,
sote of the taxes are collected in a
waseful and uueconomical manner.
lt@ highly probable that the bur
dies of their war fall more heavily
Jpn the people than need be. Yet
tG government reports that it's in
cue for the current fiscal year will
N$515, 100000. There will be a
sEplus above the government de-
fRnds of 100000. To be sure this
mot very great amount, but it is
Wuable only as the evidence that
te income is larger than the outgo.
3 that could probably be added a
am of $3o,O0o,Ooo, which was used
repay that amount of the princi-
Rl Of the national debt which was
prrowed from the Bank of France.
As this sum repro Fents SO much of
he National debt paid, il should not
enter into the calculation of the in
fnence between income and expense.
1t is most healtlful sign of the
confidence of the people in their ru-
lers, that the government can in
crease, without q murmur from the
people, an annual tax of S4S5, 900, 900,
s3o,o00,000 more to pay off part of
the debt which was not funded, and
could not well be owing to the condi-
lions under which the loan was OBJ
tanned. This is not the first time
this policy has been pursued. In
1872 and the following year, the prin-
,ipal of the national debt was reduced
Sl20, 100000. In the next two years
The Government propose on the above
plan to reduce the debt $9O,OOO,00O
and in the two years following there
will be $4,000, 900 more retired.
The reasons for the unexampled
prosperity of France are varied. !
France seems to be the great receiv-
II into which the gold of all the civ
LIKED world is now being emptiel. !
During the first three months of the
present year, the imports of the pre-
,iOus metals were something above
rs, 100000, fve-sixths of which was |
,old. This sum was derived from
Yearly all civilized nations, the con
ribution of the United States being
5000, 600, and the United Kingdom
little less than $40, 000,- |
700. The productive power of France
s great, beyond that of any other
country under the sun. The manu-
acturing resources of the French ma
ion are vast and of the greatest vari-
ty. France now ranks next to Great
Britain as manufacturing country,
md is far ahead of any nation in
in those branches of in
lustry and manufacture requiring
aste and elegance. French silk for
Instance holds u most prominent
,lace among the sources of wealth,
nd nearly all her production of this
lass OF goods is exported. In the
of the precious metals into
ewelry, in surgical instruments and
hose for scientific Investigations, she
8 pre-eminent.
Part of the rapid recovery of the
french is due to their thorough till
lge of the soil. All the land fit for
arming is utilized. Very few of the
,reat landed estates possess extern
i've tracts which are withheld from
ultivation, as is so frequently the
ase in England, Ireland and Scot
and. The whole farming country is
ivided into small farms, and the
illage of these is very thorough.
Out of q population of 100000,
1000, 600 are engaged in agriculture,
nd 100000 in manufactures.
'hese statements and facts go far
oward furnishing some explanation
t the recuperation of France, which