The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1917-11-02

The Increasing activity Of her rail-
way system Is similarly demonstrate
able. In 1860, there were In France
1913 miles Of railway track In 1912,
there were 3i5i0 miles.
Bctwccn 1860 and 1912. inland nnyl-
CATION Increased 100 per cent? while
the traffic of her mercantile murine
has amazingly expanded The tonnage
entering French ports IN 1900 T. set
down Ms 100000 tons. In 1919
this had been Increased to 530QOOOO
tons.
Leaders In American finance asrlbe
this solidarity Of the French republic
to three influences; ilrst, thoroughly
sound banking sysiem. centralized In
one Of the greatest banding institutions
Of the world, the Bank Of France Sec
ond. the lngralncd thrift aud frugallly
of the French people ns whole, to-
gcther with national economic ylgor
not elsewhere surpassed; third, wise
supervision. and patriotic cooperation
by The government With banking and
business interests
The government does us part to war
rant and retain the confidence Of the
holders OF its securities. One OF rs
wise policies Is to impose new taxes to
defrny the interest rlurros on new se-
curliy issues. II began this practice
nfter the Frnnco-prusslnn war and Is
today following the same rule In regard
to securities issued to finance the pres.
ent conflict. This continuity Of pur-
pose, doubtless. will prove rcassurlng
10 MI holders Of French government
securities.
The Frnnco.prusslnn war Of 1870
1871 taught the French people tho
meaning Of thrift and economy So
well did they learn this lesson, that
the whole sum Of the indemnity de-
mnnded by Germany, sl,00O00000o,
was rnlsed within the republics con
fines by lis own inhabitants and paid
on more than one year before the time
stipulated by the Germans.
The habit thus acquired has never
been forgotten by the French, and to-
day the aggregate number Of investors
purchasing the French war loans Inns
reached the amazing total Of i50O,OO0
individual subscribers. Perhaps no 9th.
er country, In proportion to lis populu-
tlon, can make so good showing.
France Is particularly fortunate In
that her small investors prefer "safe"
Investments rather than offerings
which promise hgh returns. Govern.
mcnt rentes. In France are perpetu.
nj. and this characteristic seems to oh.
tain for these government bonds In.
cronslng fnvOr In the eyes OF the
French people.
The points Of sympathy between
France and America are too many to
cnumerate, but the spirit Of liberty and
lis resultant democracy are, today rs
always, the major Ideals OF both mn.
lions. Seeking no victories but those
Of peace. no territory except their own,
no sovereignty except sovereignty over
themselves - the independence and
equal rights Of the weakest member Of
the family Of nations are to the people
Of the United StQtes and OF France en-.
titled to as much respect as those OF
the mightlest empire. In defense Of
these principles, France Is engaged In
a death struggle with mlllinnt autoc.
facy and ruthless aggression, and II Is
not surprising to learn that she has
loaned to her allies aud to other friendly
states 7,0O0,0O0,0O0 francs with which
to further the cnusc Of democracy. II
is in keeping with Americas traditions
that since the date on which we for.
mally aligned ourselves with France
$3.50 -" 1900" - N'N afN'-N 'e-NHH'Nf