The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-26
AMERICAN MACHINERY

Possibly all kinds of American machin- cry are not to be spoken of as the best in the world, but the French commission be leves that on the whole there is no bet ter machinery or apparatus than that
 which represents the invention and inge-
 nuity of American manufacturers. One feature of modern American machinery
 and apparatus which especially appeals to France is that it is regarded upon the whole as the best labor saving rnachin- cry It may not spin any better than machines built in countries across the sea, but 1t does not require so much hand iaoor as these foreign-made machines do. A WORK OF PREPARATION The French commission. like that which
 China sent to the United States some
 months ago, is to be wholly occupied with
 a study of American industrial conditions ana also some features of our agricultural life. It will make as exhaustive an inves-
 ugation as the Chinese commission did
 and if 1t finds that these things which it
 expected to discover in this country are
 exactly as it expected to find them, then
 France will be ready at the earliest pos slble moment to place large orders in the
 United States. One significant feature of this commissions visit is the fact that 1t points to a continuation of our export trade after the war is ended. although many of the commodities exported will represent peaceful pursuits.
 The United States is now represented and is in little while to be more fully represented in countries across the sea where heavy orders for American machin- cry, tools and industrial apparatus will be given as soon as peace comes. Just at this time 1t is impracticable to accept some proffered orders, especially of steel and iron, since these American industries are now occupied to their capacities. But speedily the United States will supple ment. for instance, the work of prepara- tion which Is now in progress in France preparation for the days following peace and not for war.
 France is putting men who are of ex- pert authority into all available parts of the republic so that there may be gath cred information which will be of avail as soon as the war ends. This informa- tion will show how many machines and how much of various apparatus France will need for her industries. Further more, these experts will be able to report approximately how many men are needed in the factories.
 WHAT IT WILL AMOUNT TO
 When the French commission first ar rived in the United States some two weeks ago, report was widely circulated that it's investigation might result in France placing orders in the United States which would aggregate a billion dollars in money value. There was. however, no good authority for that statement The orders may. before France has obtained all that she needs amount to consider ably more than s10O0, 0O0,O 600, and, on the other hand. not so large a sum as that may be sufficient. Furthermore, the pur- chases will extend over a series of years, not being concentrated into a few months. as the war orders necessarily have been.
 The visit of this commission is spoken of in this city as something that gives abundant promise of the continuation of our heavy export trade after the war is l ended.