Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18
transportation facilities accessible from
the Rhine.
Commerce Near Paralysis.

What the conditions of this traffic
will be after the war is a problem with
the Holiander. Certain it is that Ger
many's industrial position could not be
reduced without causing serious losses
10 the Netherlands. OF this some
10000 men, women and children suf-
fering from unemployment are the evil
dence. Formerly about 900 seagoing
vessels entered the port of Rotterdam
below thirty-five, and most of these
are said to go with half cargoes. River
and canal traffic is all but paralyzed,
and the railroad receipts are dwindling
constantly. As a memb of the local
chamber of commerce reIuarked: Our
railroads are kept busy hauling coal
for themselves" He might have added
that when not doing this they are
obliged to handle one-tenth of the
Dutch army back and forth, the men
under arms being entitled to one day
with their families every tenth day
Much has been done by the govern
ment to avert disaster, employ the I'M
employed and lessen the suffering of
those unable to find work. The gov
eminent has issued "zilverbons''-sc-ipt
calculated to replace the actual cur
rency which disappears from circula-
ton as soon as threatens. The
cities, too, have been given the right
to issue such money, backed by the
municipal property. This has had the
tendency to restore confidence, and re-
Gently much silver has been taken out
of hiding, SO that now conditions are
fairly normal
Public work which had been delayed
for one reason or another has been
inaugurated by the national govern
ment, and most cities are having their
sewers given a thorough overhauling
In Rotterdam, for instance, many
streets have been torn UP from one
end to the other, and large force is
being employed in lifting black, evil
smelling ooZa from the canals by means
of wire baskets at the end of a long
pole-a primitive way of doing things,
out one which helps to keep people
in bread. if not in butter. Then, too,
the artificial advancing of food prices
has been given much attention.
Proclamations and announcements
everywhere direct that this or that be
sold at such and such price.
Money for the Poor.
Money is being collected for the sup
port of the poor. The fact is that Rot
terdam. like all port cities. has a sub
stratum of Inhabitants to whom bare
feet, ill-clothed back and empty stom
ach are of greater concern than all
else Already the policemen patrol in
pairs, and where formerly it was 4
crime to spend a night sleeping on a
bench in the park, this no longer
arouses even the slightest attention.
What will come with the advent of
winter is something of which men
think but do not talk. There will be
an end even to the amount of money
the better classes of the country can
spend in charity work. Realization of
this was signalized when, a few days
ago, the chamber of commerce and
other civic societies decided to bring
collections to a definite basis Contri-
buttons are made in certain amounts
and at stated intervals, but their con-
tinuation necessarily depends upon the
economic conditions of those who make
them.
With business almost at a standstiIl.
there is no telling when that time will
be reached. With the coming of win
ter, too, the demands are bound to
become heavier and needs more press
ing. All this is best understood when
one sees and hears that the better
classes are taking the wise precaution