The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-02-01

COLD GOLFERS
0VERFLOW OWING
More Cash In Country Than
Ever In History AS Re
suit of War.

Amsterdam, Netherlands, Feb. l.
Not the least curious of the many
strange incidental effects produced
by the war is the fact that the small
country of the Netherlands probably
contains more gold today than ever
before in its history. In the past
year, for instance, a continual steady
inflow of gold from the European
Continent and oversee has doubled
the stocks Of the Netherlands Bank,
and with Hollands foreign exchanges
continuing their ever downward
course there is no saying to what
figure they may not reach if the war
lasts much longer and is still kept
out of her borders.
With long queues standing daily at
the banks doors. the government at
the outbreak of the war had to re-
duce the compulsory gold covering the
banks callable liabilities from 40 to
20 per cent; those liabilities of $780,
100000 florins or $258, $4,000, are
now covered to the extent of SO per
cent; the gold. stocks amounting to
430,000,OOO florins or $179, 900.
On the other hand, review of the
year just closed shows that the bank
note circulation has been a record
one, reaching the figure of 576,7Oo,-
900 florins on November 2 last, or
$240, 900.
Other evidence of the favorable
factors which the war has brought
with it for Holland is found in the
new years speech of the Chairman
of the Amsterdam Chamber of Com
merce, in which he shows that a num-
Der of businesses and Industries have
been able to make considerably in
creased profits. although the risks
were abnormal. The Dutch shipping
companies have been making enor-
nous profits, while Dutch shipbuilding
RI xrySk h
orders can only be placed for very dis
tant deliveries.
It may be noted Incidentally that
the considerable rise in the prices of
American Industrial securities was
one of the principal factors that aid
ed in a rapid liquidation of the mass
Of stock loan transactions that had
to be compulsorily suspended when
the war crisis broke out, as the Dutch
public took advantage of this rise to
realize a large quantity of their
American holdings and obtain the
ready money they needed.
There is, however, another side to
the medal, for the feverish activity in
some economic departments is more
than offset for the nation as a, whole
by the big rise in the cost. of living
and the burden of the mobilization
costs. The war loan of some $115,-
100000 has long since been eaten up,
and at the end of the year, the float
ing debt of the Treasury had again
grown to $54,eO0,000, so, that another
big loan seems inevitable in the COM
ing spring, while large taxation in
creases are already before Parlia-
ment =
The export of cut and rough dia-
monds to the United States amounted
in the first three quarters of the
year to 49, 100000 florins or $5.745,-
500, against 12.781,00O florins or ST.
325, 400. The demands. for rough dta-
monds, which was small in the begin
ming of the year, increased consider
ably, especially in the third quarter of
the year, while prices remained firm.
Amsterdam merchants have been es-
tablishing more Representatives in
America than formerly, so that the
increased stocks in their possession
should be taken into account in con-
nection with the foregoing figures.