The Detroit times., 1916-08-03
Germany Also u s e s
Part of $4,000 to Keep
Up Industries
LABOR SHORTAGE
is OVERCOME
u. S. Consul Say s
Banks and Railroads
Haven't Suffered

WASHINGTON, Aug Sin a sur.
vey, in detail. OF financial and com.
mercial conditions in Germany, Uni.
ted States Consul General J. G. Lay.
at Berlin, says approximately $50.
600 prisoners OF war now are EN-.
ployed in farming and industrial pur
suits in Germany. and that the short
age in labor has been overcome
largely in that way and by the use
Of women. Railroads and banking
houses have not suffered materially
from the war
The total profits Of the Reichs
bank, whose operations, he says. are
criterion OF the financial affairs
Of the empire, amounted 10 more
;han $65 100000 as against S3l,725..
600 for 1914, and the war tax and
other charges paid to the govern
ment for the privilege of doing bust
ness exceeded $4,000 600 as against
Sl0,362. 900 in 1914. The gold re-
776, 900 CASE, 100000 marksl during
the year, making the entire accumu.
lation during the war $3.50 $50, 600.
This was despite the considerable
amounts OF gold sent to foreign
countries in payment for foodstufis
and the like. The total metal money
reserve on Dec. 81, 1915, was $3.50,
526 900.
Big Gain in Bank Deposits.
"A remarkable feature OF the
year" says Mr. Lay, was the grad,
ual development OF the German
banking institutions into deposit
banks and the gradual elimination
OF their stock exchange and com.
mercial features" The deposits in
the savings banks were 1896, 100000
more than the Withdrawals: and the
total flow ofcapital into the savings
banks in 1918, net counting sub
scriptions Of depositors to war loans
was 1892 100000,
The subscriptions 10 war loans by
depositors have amounted to s1,07l,-
100000, all but $50, 100000 of 1t in
1915. During the year the govern
ment floated two war loans-$2 So
$4,000 in March and s2,SSO, 03s, 600
in September.
The production Of hard coal and
coke was II per cent of normal, but
that of soft coal was above nor
NAL.
Iron and steel were produced in
much larger amounts than usual
Machinery did well The Potash
Syndicate's sales were S25, 900,
as against sS6.s90.O0O in 1914 and
si5,696. 900 in 1913.
Under government encouragement
much land is being put into flax.
Though a substitute for cotton In
explosives was found and used vast
ly. the textile mills were short OF
raw materials Lace and embroid-
cry industries were al standstill,
while manufacturers OF porcelain
and glass suffered greatly
The large German chemical indus
tries. by adaptation to war condi-
lions. declared larger dividends In
1918 than in 1914 The total chem
ical production OF Germany is about
s42s,000. 900 a year, one-third 10 one
half Of which ordinarily goes 10 for
eign countries. Not able to import
raw materials, the companies have
had 70 invent substitutes, chiefly for
rubber. albumen. fertilizers and oil.
Crops Below Normal.
The German crops In 1913 were
poorer than for the past ten years,
but hidden or unsought stores OF po-
tatoes. held by small farmers and
dealers. became available In such
quantities at the end Of the year. Mr..
Law says. that the careful distriou
ton Of potatoes and grain and the
Limitation OF their consumption has
enabled the government 10 over
come. In part. the obstacles present
ed by the small crops and made
uuate imports.