The age-herald., 1901-02-26

Paris, February 12.-(speclaD-The crisis existing in French coaling districts, with several of the most productive mines entirely inactive from strikes and the fever spreading until general strike Is feared, is causing dealers here to turn sn envious eye on the vast American coal fields, with regrets that more of the pro- duct is not coming their way.
 Even when the mines on which the country depends for home supply are working. France imports annually 25 per cent. of the coal consumed; and with full complement of miners, and asking from $15 to sl9 ton, the companies can scarcely meet the demands Now that English coal has risen prohibitively. and that the French production is becoming more and more deficient, the great man. ufactories representing all industries find themselves face to face with the serious problem of keeping their furnaces ablaze when the wherewithal Is not forthoom- ing.
 The two countries from which France imports most at present are England and Belgium. The strained relations with the former instilled repugnance to be- come absolutely dependent upon It's con- tributions; and Belgium cannot very greatly increase its quota. There still remains the almost inexhaustible re- sources of America and on these a call will certainly be made.
 Relations are Pleasant.
 There are several reasons why Ameri- can coals should succeed on the French market. First, the United States stand better with France than any other na- tion, since the Russian alliance was worn threadbare. Emotion plays an important part in French political and daily nfe the fact of there being no bones to pick With the producers of coals casting a. genial glow on the hearth or causing a cheering hum in the factory, would add materially to their sale. Furthermore, American coal would stand a better chance here than 1t did in the recent ex- pertinent of exporting it to London. No true-hearted nglishman could by any possibility be brought to acknowledge that there is respectable coal obtainable elsewhere than at Cardiff or Newcastle. But the Frenohman Is quite willing to accept substitutes for Montean, Merytlle and Charleroi, provided the said substf- tutes are equal to the originals. And the general impression here is that Ameri- can coal is superior to all other in heat ing qualities. There will not be any ne- cesstty for underselling; fair competi- ton Is all that Is required American pro- 6t1naTa 1rhn ol
 facilities enabling them to sell in Paris at the same price as the French; that is varying between BIO and SIP ton on an average, will have an assured fortune.
 Between the equally disastrous dilem- mas of turbulent workmen and short sup- plies, 1t has become so evident that soon CT or later France must depend upon i,n- portation There Is a projected bill be- lore the Chamber of Deputies to abolish the existing entrance duties of 20 cents a ton on foreign coal. This reduction of expense would render fair competition. native and foreign more easy than ever, The English and Belgian supplies would not stand out against the American, and 1t Is believed in well informed circles here that the French trade itself would be seriously menaced.
 An Epidemic of Strikes.
 The gravity of this American competi- tion, if fully appreciated, would lead to the suppression of the labor agitation in France At the present moment, there are some twenty odd strikes on, com prising miners, builders, mechanics, tail orS, weayers workers in wood and rnea fl and divers other interests. These have not even waited for rational motives for striking; they have made pretexts of the merest details. Some have wanted five cents a day added to thir wages; others have demanded the reinstatement of men