The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-02-26
TAKE FIRST STEP
 TO RECL AIMLAND
 WASTED BY WAR
Thirty Five Million Persons Need Homes and U. $.
 Has Opportunity.

Paris, Feb 26-The first practical step taken in France toward the re- construction of the millions of homes destroyed in the war is the organiza- ton of 8 sreconstruction exposition, to be held in the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, during May, June and July next. Tue homes of 35.oOO, 900 peo- pie, with factories and public builo- ings. have to be rebuilt in northern France. Belgium, Serb Montenegro. Poland and western Russia.
 Exhibits needed are building ma terial, model homes, farms and fac- tories machinery, tools and agriculZ turaI implements. It is hoped and believed by the organizers that the United States, IS the, greatest indus trial and agrioultural country in the world not directly affected by the war will supply the main mass of the ex !, hilh1t. ss
 Henry C. Long of Boston, who is taking a leading part in the organiza- ton of the exposition, which is under the patronage of the French govern ment, said today;
 ''The vastness of the need for all kinds of building material and ma cllinery can best be illustrated by de- scribing the conditions of some of the wtar-ravaged towns ip northern France.
 .'In a typical city, the streets are pftted with great holes and blasted out of all recognition. The water works, gas works, electric lighting plants and sewers are all ruined. The city. has to be entirely rebuilt. with out much regard to the old lines Of its planning. The expenditure on public utilities alone will probably reach s1z0, ,o0a, ,ooo.
 ''I know of another city where the cost Of this work will be $50. GOO, o0O. and a third where it will reach $3o.- oosooo- There are thousands of smaller towns where the reeonstruc-. ton of public utilities will necessitate an expenditure proportionate1y lower. but fotalling a. stupendouS sum.
 The country around the cities is equally devastated, Every barn, farm house, highway and fence is destroyed and must be rebuilt. It is a splendid business chance for American uaanu- lecturers, and every one who cares to come here with evidence of his soundness can get contracts for as much of his output as he can spare for the ensuing three years, at least. Every factory in America. turning out road building machinery, rock crush CTS, cement, water and sewer pipes or the machinery for making these things can be represented.
 Europe will be very short of labor when the war is over, owing to the wastage of human lives, so that up to date American labor-Sav1ng machinery will be urgently needed. That is why the committee of the exposition makes a strong appeal to American architects, engineers and manufacturers to come forward with suggestions and plans.
 Take another instance of Europe's needs. France will want tens or thousands of portable houses of every conceivable sort that can be put to- gether in the shortest time and will mi al iT ov9f habitations can be built. Furniture and kitchen utensils will be needed on a corresponding scale.
 stOne French city I have in mind will urgently require new factory ma chinery, particularly that used in weaving, It looks to America to fur nish the latest looms. These great machine shops must be furnished with lathes, boring machines, ma chine tools of every kind and all sorts ing, ceilings, laundry and dairy ma- chimes, to say nothing Of all the us- ual farming implements.
 "A point to be remembered is that, as tens of thousands of city and coun- try workers will have to quit the bat tated. there will be need for factory and farm machinery that such men can operate. / 'sIt is a somewhat too common re- mark among Americans that Europe will have to buy our material after the war, because no other is available This is a gross mistake; unless Amer ioans bring their products over here to show them and sell them on terms that accord with European custom, they will not sell their machinery in Europe. Let me add that the amount of had debts likely to be in cured in Europe is extremely small. Americans will find their money safe enough.
 ''The reconstruction exposition will