The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-08-06
ECONOMICS IN FRANCE.
a short wheat Crop and Demand
for Steel SHIPS.

"a short Wheat Crop ana "a de ma u IL
for Steel s1,iDs.
According to a report received at the
State Department from Albion ". Tourgee,
Consul to Bordeaux. there will be a large
deficiency this year in the wheat crop in
France. In his report Mr.. Tourgce says:
During the past two weeks two very
significant economic statements have been
attributed to the Minister Of Agriculture
and the Minister of Public Works of the
Republic of France. Both are said to have
been made from the tribune in the Cham
Der of Deputies and are reported in ali the
daily journals.
'sThe former is said to have declared that
the deficiency of the present wheat crop in
France. In excess of the surplus remaining
over OF the crops of 1898 and 1899. VIII
amount 20 about 5G.0e0.000 bushels.
This is. OF course. matter of import
ance 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:
IL the reliability of the estimate OF the
surplus still on hand of the last two tar
vests; (2) the reliability of the forecast
with regard to the amount of the def
cheney of the present crop. There are not
lacking those who question the accuracy OF
the III DobH 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 number of Baldwin locomC-
tives for the use OF the state railways of
France. His defence was that al the metal
working establishments of France had or
ders for several years to come, so that the
only means by which the roads could be
supplied with traction power Immediately
necessary was by purchase from American
builders, who alone were able TO fl such
orders without delay
IF this statement Is true, it reveals an
economic condition that may be of interest
to American metal workers. While France
has an immense surplus Of unskilled and
agricultural laboTers, whose wages range
from 10 to so cents per day, it seems from
this statement that the supply of skilled
maehinists and constructive metal workers
is far below the actual demand or else
that the employment OF capital in this di-
rection has not kept pace with the extraor-
binary demands of the last two or three
years.
1T is probable that both of these causes
have something to do with present condi-
lions. The increasingly urgent demand for
military service, which requires from one
10 three years of every able bodied mans
time between the ages of twenty-one and
twenty eight. has now prevailed for near
ly generation. and must have greatly re-
duced the number and ratio of such labor
ers. This reduction is naturally most
keenly felt in the higher grades of skilled
metal workers, whose preparation for con-
structive work requires a longer period
than any other. While the use Of mechdn-
zeal appliances has reduced the number Of
such workers required 10 meet a specific
-
higher degree of skill for the profitable OPP
GRAFTON Of such tools.
1T is not improbable that a knowledge
Of this fact has induced a sort of hesitancy
on the part OF capitalists TO engage IN
such enterprises. Added to this is the fact
that capitalists, not only in France. but III
all EuTope-exeept perhaps Germany-haye
discounted the present demands as not
only exceptional, but transit0Fy. They are
dreaming that former conditions viii again
prevail, and naturally hesitate 70 invest in
Constructive works sufficiently to meet
present and future increasing demands. II
present conditions continue to anything
like the extent now indicated, it is evident
that in the line of heavy constructive
works France must for a considerable pc
Rod lag behind other countries and become
a consumer OF imported goods rather than
an exporter Of domestic manufactures OF
this class This will proba bly, be enhanced
by the fact that that maEIy of her public
WORKS are under control Of the General
Government or Of municipalities which are
able to secure a remission of import duties,
and so reduce the cost CT such imported
work and make the public funds yield bet
ter results.
This view would seem to be sustained
by an experiepcs of this consulate. Dur
ing the last two months, an effort has been
in progress TO Induce an American ship
builder of reputation TO establish a branch
shiPyard 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 II it
self very attractive. The prices offered
by parties desiring to cwn ships were mucn
in advance Of what is paid in other coun-
tries. The parties Interested stood ready
to guarantee contracts enough at the cut
set 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 profes-
sion and not lacking financial backing
came, looked the matter over, and said:
There is but enc thing in the way:
can / get the steel required for such an
amount of work, delivered in such guam
titles and at such terms as to justify me
in contracting to deliver finished work al
If required, but I doubt if I can import
steel with a duty Of SIG 10 SIS a ton and
build ships al a profit If can get French
sleel delivered on time in the quantities
required, / am ready TO conclude a con-
trf-ct at any moment
I am not informed as to the result of
his Investigation of the matter dc not
even know that it is completed. I only
know that the contract is concluded. and
that English. or perhaps German. builders
are being solicited to establish branch
yards here TO build French ships IN France
CAS- it is a matter of many millions, I
was naturally anxious that an American
builder might see his way clear to make
the venture; but if he cannot, I trust an
other may be induced to come, for think
the immediate future viii make no more
pressing demand on France than for more
ships
BIG COAL PLANT PLANNED.
EnteFprise to Cost 100000 in n