The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-12-19
KEEP EYE ON
FRENCH ~. TREAS LIREs
Including the Monuments 81
as Not TO Let Any Of
Them Get Away.

I.ttkiot 'Dec. 'lf~-tFFOntlnS DY lnG
lesson taught by the mysterious theft
or the famous painting, .'La
Jocende." from the Louvre Art
Museum, the flnesarts officials have
determined to take no chance with
the great historic French monu-
ments. They do not exactly fear
that'any one will carry on the monu-
me.atS, but it has been thought id
visaDie TO take an -hyentoryof them
along with other French treasures,
and to enl st all with the approx
mate values in permanent cata-
logue.
II has been found difficult to make
ia financial estimate OF building ike
the great Chateau Of Versailles, but
the appra sers have finally put 1t
down at $l44.OO0.000. This in
eludes the Tr!ahon Palace nearby.
The famous column in the place
vendome, which. has been admired
by SO many Americans. is appra 'sed
at sSoO,oO0. The Arch Of Triumph
in the Place de fEtolle is held 10
be worth $4,000, 900. The Egyptian
obelisk In the Place de Ia Coaeorda.
is estimated aat $4,000 and the
Louvre itsslf1at $SB,2o0jeoo.
2t.t ~ n ssPS.n:. III
10 the regret IL many who sca-.
joyed the spectacular sight 5 N. Dell
casse, minister Of marine, has de.
creed that IN the, future French
warships shall not be launched in
the o!d-eashioned way with a: plunge
into the waters. They will Be built
IN dry docks and thare await tho
waters that win float them out.
This decision "a due TO the mis-
hap which attended the Launching o.
the "Danton'' in 1910. The battle
ship refused to move down the ways
though the most powerful screw
jacks were used. 1t was necessary
to delay the ceremony for two
months. wiea the spring tide. camo
to the help Of the builders.
NJ. Deicasse has ordered the con-
structioh Of two huge dry docks, one
at Brest and the other at ai'orient.
capable OF accommodating vessels OF
the dreadnausht type The idea is
not altogether new. as the Japanese
have constructed ships in dry docks.
Ss&h%
Speculation in Belgian five franc
pieces, which are current in France,
has become SO liveiyg that the Bank
OF Belgium has mentioned the mat
ter in its official reports, and French
financial newspapers have orered
suggestions for resisting the prac-
tice.
Because Of Belgium's unfavorabla
trade balance. that is because she
imports more than she exports. rates
of exchange are against her in the
money market. The long continue
ton Of such "a discrimination has led,
professional money changers to buy |
checks on Belgium banks or belgian
banl; notes in Paris and to collect or
change them through agents % Bel= /;
GUM, into such Belgian coins as are
current in France. particularly tiyo
franc pieces, which arc shipped back
to Paris.
The rate OF profit IS never high, 1
but capital employed in such an I'M
can be turned So quickly
because Of the shortness of the dis
lance between the two capitals that .
within year an exceedingly large
income may be had on funds thus
employed.o Tho result. rs that the
Belgium government simply coins
Ave, franc pieces for the profit OF
French money changers and for the
uses Of French circulation, The adj
vaiatages OF having Its coins current
in France are SO great that Belgium
can not AFFORD to sacrifice that con-
venience in order to destroy the
money changers
In 1911 the Bank of Belgium was
obliged to obtain and bring back
into the country 129.OoO, 900 francs
from France in, order to restore her
circulation, process which cost, the
bank about 100000 francs. French
bankers resent the necessity for,
such drain as much as do the Bel
CLANS since much oft comes out Of
the Bank OF France.
aeRlPnIItltP RInr