Mohave County miner., 1916-12-23
RECONSTRUCTION OF VITRIMONT VILLAGE
 NOW IN PROGRESS

NIIRIMONI, France (via Paris) Dec. 2O.-This village, which, like it's neighbor, Gerbeviller, was destroyed early in the war, will have the honor of being the first town reconstructed in France, and this is due to Ameri- can enterprise and generosity. The rebuilding is already under way, the cornerstone of the first group of houses having been laid Sunday by the American ambassador, William Graves Sharp, who had been invited to participate in the ceremony by those interested in this distinctly American undertaking.
 Mrs. William H. Crocker of San Francisco, who has furnished the funds for reconstruction, was unable to see the practical realization of her work. She was represented by Miss Daisy Polk of San Francisco, known in the community as Mile. de Chez Nouz, or Miss One of Us," who is superintend- ing the work. Old men and youths un- fit for military service are being en- ployed. Miss Folks task is not with out difficulties, such as often confront American building contractors. She has had her first strike in the last
 week, that of masons, who sought higher wages, but she succeeded in the matter.
 The cornerstone laying was an event in Vitrimont. Grouped about the ruins and the foundation of the first structure were the inhabitants and soldiers on leave of absence. The American flag, besides the tricolor of France, was in evidence here and there and despite the gloominess of the sit nation of the destroyed villages, there was a manifest feeling of joy that its restoration after original plans would be seen soon.
 Leon Pobe, mayor of Vitrimont, and M. Mirman of Nancy, perfect of the of Meurthe el Moselle, spoke, thanking the American people through the ambassador for their gen erosity toward the rebuilding of the ruined places of France and the aid which the United States had given in so many ways.
 Replying, Ambassador Sharp said it had not only given him much pleasure to see such highly useful work begun by his own countrymen for those who had been made homeless by the for tunes of war, but he)was greatly in- 5erested in the possibilities to which this work, so auspiciously begun, might lead. He hoped earnestly that this beneficient aid might be extended to other villages in the province of Lorraine, upon which like destruction mad been visited.
 The ambassador was gratified es- Decially in that in addition to building homes for the people of the village, all the money for the con- 5truction of buildings would remain among the people who so sorely need ed it. In fact, he said, what he saw about him only confirmed him in the belief that for economic reasons, if for no others, the reconstruction of at east the smaller towns and villages 1f the invaded territory must be the work of the home people, out of home material like that from the original buildings had been con- Itructed.
 In conclusion he complimented those for the work and referred 'eelingly to the fortitude of the afflict- l d people under such trying condi- ions.
 The little girls of the village, who ,xcel in the art of embroidery, were presented to the amDaSSadOr ana gave Jim handkerchiefs, examples of their york, as souvenirs.
 On the return trip to Paris Ambas- iador Sharp stopped at Rheims and inspected the cathedral, the ruins of he Archepiscopal palace and the de- sections of the city. Only the light before 50 shells from the Ger nan guns had been thrown into ! Rheims.