The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1912-12-14

that any one via carry on the monu-
moats, but it has been thought adj
visable to take an inventory OF them
along with other French treasures.
and to enlist All with the approx
mate values in a permanent cata-
IogIe.
1t has been found dimcult to make
a financial estimate OF building like
the great Chateau OF Versailles, but
the appraisers have finally put It
down at SI44.OOO,OOO. This in
eludes the Trianon Palace nearby.
The famous column IA the place
Vendome, which has been admired
by so many Americans, is appraised
at 100000. The Arch OF Triumph
in the Place de 'EtoiIe is held to
be worth $4,000, 900. The Egyptian
obelisk in the Place de Ia Coneorde
is estimated at $27, 900 and the
Louvre itself at $4,000, 900.
"""""
To the regret OF many who en-
joyed the spectacular sight, N. Del
case, minister of marine, has de-
creed that in the future French
warshfps shall not be launched in
the old-fashioned way with a plunge
into the waters. They viii be built
IN dry docks and there await the
waters that will float them out
This decision is due to the mis-
han which attended the launching Of
the .-Danton'' in 1910 The battle
ship refused to move down the ways
though the most powerful screw
lacks were used. 1t was necessary
RI delay the ceremony for two
months, whe1 the spring tide came
to the help of the builders.
{ NJ Delcasse has ordered the con-
struction Of two huge dry docks. one
at Brest and the other at I0rient
iIcanable Of accommodation vessels OF
! the dreadnaught type. The idea is
not altogether new, as the japanese
nave constructed ships in dry docks
Speculation in Belgian dive franc
pieces, which are current in France
lhas become so lively that the Bank
of Belgium has mentioned the mat
ter in its omciaI reports, AID French
financial newspapers have onered
suggestions for resisting the prae-
tice.
Because of Belgium's uufavorab bic
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 discrimination has led
professional money changers to buy
checks on belgium banks or belgian
bank notes in Paris and to collect or
change them through agents N Bel
GUM, into such Belgian coins as are
current in France, particularly five
franc pieces, which are shipped back
to Paris
The rate Of profit is never high
but capital employed in such 81 un-
dertaking can be turned So quickly
because Of the shortness of the dis
tance between the two capitals that
within year an exceedingly large
income may be had ca funds thus
employed. The result is that the
Belgium government simply coins
Eve franc pieces for the profit OF
French money changers and for the
uses of French circulation. The ad-
va.atages 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 100000 francs
from France in order to restore her
circulation, a process which cost the
bank about 100000 francs. French
bankers resent the necessity for
such drain as much as do the Bel
gians since much of it comes out OF
the Rank of France