Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
FRENCH METAL WORKING EsTAB-
L,sHnEsIs CROWDED WITH WORK.
Men Denr4ndeG for Military Service
Estimated tDenciency in the
5 wheat Crop.

Consul Toursee, at Bordeaux, has in
formed thss Department of State that two
very significant economic statements have
been recently attributed to the minister of
agriculture and She minister Of public
works ofssse rep&biic of France.
The former is said to have declared that
the deficieHsy fs9he present wheat crop in
France, ineexcess-ef the surplus remaining
over the crops of 1898 and 1890, will amount
to about 100000 bushels.
This isl the consul says "a matter of
Importance to the American wheat grower
as a factor in the price of his product Its
value as an element of the worlds demand
for the present crop depends on two things:
First. the reliability of the estimate of the
surplus still on hand of the last two har-
vests; second, the reliability of the forecast
with regard to the amount of the deficiency
OF the present crop There are not lacking
those who question the accuracy Of the
estimates in both respects.
The other ministerial statement. which
seems to me to be Of serious Importance to
American manufacturers. Is the declaration
made by the minister Of public works in
answer to an attack upon him for having
purchased a number of Baldwin locomotives
Tor the use of the state railways of France,
to the detriment and discredit of French
builders. His defense was that all the
Woodworking establishments of France
had orders for several years to come. so
that the only means by which the roads
could be supplied with traction power i'm
mediately necessary was by purchase from
american builders, who alone were able to
I'LL such orders without delay.
Scarcity of skilled Machinists.
IF this statement is true says Consul
Tourgee, cit recalls economic condition
that may be of interest to American metal
workers. While. France has an immense
surplus of nnskilled and agricultural labor
erS. whose wages range from 10 to 60 cents
per DAY, 1t seems from this statement that
the supply of skilled machinists and CON
StuctlVe metal workers is far below the
actual demand, or else that the employ
ment of capital in this direction has not
kept pace with the extraordinary demands
Of the last two@or three years.
Demand for Military Service.
at is probable that both of these causes
have something to- do with present condi-
tons. The increasingly urgent demand for
military service, which requires from one to
three years Of every able-bodied mans
time between the ages of twenty-one and
tWenty-eisht, has now prevailed for nearly
a generation, and must have greatly re-
duced the number and ratio of such labor
ers. This reduction is naturally most keen
ly felt in the higher grades of skilled metal
workers, whose preparation for constructive
work requires a longer period than any
other. While the use of mechanical appli-.
ances has reduced the number of such work
ers required to meet a specific demand. 1t
has made imperative p much higher degree
of skill for the profitable operation of such
tools Il, is, not Improbable that a know1-
edge Of this fact has induced a sort of hest
fancy on the part OF capitalists to engage
in such Enterprises, ,.--
added tOd4ns rs the fact that capita lists
not only in Grange but in all Europe. .ex-
cept. perhaRs Germany. have discounted
the present, rdemaads as not only excep-
ttOnAi MT
that formersfondolons will again prevail
and naturally hesitate to invest in con-
structive works Sufficiently to meet present
and future tpcreaTng demands. If present
conditions Continue to anything like the ex-
tent now indicat ed IT is evident that in the
line of heavy c9Rstructive works sFrance
other COUNTRIES aid become a consumer .'' Of
d importsd gSRes rSthse than an exporter of
will probablsbasi shhanced by the fact that
control Of ttne geheEal government or of
munieipalitis With are able to secure a re-
nas4 IN Of s, Import s1ies and 50 reduce the
thepubltc finds y1eld better results.
q Efforts. to Obtain a shipyard.
"This view would seem to be sustained By
an experience of this consulate During the
last two months effort has been in
progress to induce an "A rnerican shipbuiIdc:
vi iNputdteH 70 cSldDIisn fbrdnCh ship
yard here. There seemed to be no reason
why a profitable arrangement should not
be made French capitalists are eager 10
invest in steel ships. The bounty given BY
the government is in ftse,f very attractive
The prices offered by parties desiring 10
own ships were much in advance of what IS
paid in other countries. The parties inter
ested stood ready to guarantee contracts
enough at the outset to keep the works
fully occupied for ten years at prices quite
in excess Of those prevailing in American
yards. The .builder-a man Thoroughly
versed in his profession and not lackin.,
financial backing--came looked the matter
over, and said: 49,.
There is. but one thing in the way: Can
/ get the steel required for such an amount
of work delivered in such quantities and
at such terms as. to Justify me in contract
ing to deliver finished work at specified
times? l can import the labor If required
but l doubt If can import steel with a
duty of S1S to S1S ton and build ships at
a profit. If | can get French steel delivered
on time in the quantities required | am
ready to conclude contract at any mo-
ment.'
Il am not informed as to the result of his
investigation Of the matter do not even
know that it is completed. l only know
that the contract Is not concluded and that
English, or perhaps German builders are
being solicited to establish branch yards
here to build French ships in France
LAS it is a matter Of many millions / was
naturally anxious that an American builder
might see his. way clear to make the ven