Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-12

@ARIS, Oct. 12.-(Special Core
spondence OF The Bee)-I ex-
- pected to tell you how America
@&fNaM feeds Paris, but find that Paris
~ is feeding herself, She has the
greatest and best markets of the world and
the most of the goods sold IN them are
raised In France. The countr. about Paris
is one vast garden, which prod -es as much
to the acre perhaps as any other land In
the world. Some Of the farms rent as
high as $3.50 per acre and 1t is estimated
that there are 1000 acres of this kind
about the city, which not only supply Paris
with enough vegetables. but furnish a large
amount for export to London. The same
productiveness exists in the farms. 1t Is
only in bad years that France has to import
wheat, and its scientists claim that within
another decade 1t will not only be raising
all It's own food, but will export more than
1000. 900 tons Of wheat per annum.
But let me give you some idea Of what
the French eat! We shall find out by taking
a walk through the Halles Centrales. These
are the chief markets OF Paris and they
are by far the biggest markets of the world.
Covent Garden, London, does not cover half
so much ground and the markets of
Berlin, Vienna and New York are small
in comparison. And still these are not the
only markets of Paris. There are smaller
ones scattered here and there over the city
each OF which has It's own trade.
The Halles Centrales are right in the
heart OF Paris. They are ten minutes walk
from the opera house, not far from the
Seine and within a stones throw of the
Louvre. They consist of ten great pavilions
made Of iron and glass, each large enough
for an exposition building, They cover all
told more than twenty-five acres and have
AA..A o mn ataA,a,N .NAII, AkanN NkAp,
during the day 8 5000 market wagons are
to be seen and at the wholesale auctions
more than 500, 900 worth of goods are daily
sold. The daily sales or bread, wine and
meat at retail and wholesale are more than
5000, 600 and the sales per annum are con-
slderably over 5000, 900, 900. The vegetables
and fruits probably cost as much more, SO
that at least 81, 900, 900 a day is taken in on
this spot.
The National Library at Washington,
which is one OF the finest buildings Of the
world. cost $4,000. 900; our national capitol
cost $12. 900, 900, and the state, war and navy
department about the same sum. These
markets are mere shells, but they are so
large that they have cost &c. 900, 900 or
almost as much as any one OF our great
est national buildings. The Halles belong
to the Paris municipality and the market
people pay rent for their places in them.
/ have before me the amount of food
which Paris daily consumes. 1t is enorm-
Gus, the annual average per head being 1926
pounds Of bread. 1888 quarts OF wine. 1877
pounds Of meat and twenty-eight pounds of
fish, or for the whole city 1924. 900, 900 pounds
OF bread. 456, 600. 900 quarts of wine. 53S.
900, 900 pounds Of meat and 1000, 00O
pounds OF fish.
And with all this is there no opening for
our American products? Not at present,
and not until We have a better reciprocity
treaty with France. The truth is this re-
public puts a tariff on everything that
comes into 1t, and 1t protects itself quite
as we'll as the United States. France goes
on the principle. you tickle me and II
tickle you, and II you don't, I won't"
So far Uncle Sam has not tickled the fail
French maiden, and as a result she buys
only what she cannot raise from other coun'
tries, taking from us only when she is II
straits and cannot be supplied
In 1900 she imported about tlbO,OOO.OO GOO o.
food stuns, and Of this only 10000. OO'
worth came from the United States.
There is an impression In our country tina
a vast amount OF American wine is shipped
20 France and then sent back again unde'
French labels. This Mr.. Edward Green
the secretary OF the American chamber o
100000 hare falIa ma "a a mistake, NH