davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
AN AGRICULTURAL EMPIRE,
WITH READY MADE CITIES,
AWAITSCOMING OF SETTLER
Population Alone Is Needed to Realize the Vision Which
Inspired the Building Of Splendid "Plan for the Develop
ment of Western Provinces of Canada

taxes now amount TO S4,000,000, or
nearly one and half times the total
tax levy in 1916. Interest, sinking
fund and redemption fund charges
in connection with the city's debt
last year required nearly one-third
of all the taxes collected. Single
tax, which has been depended upon
for several years, is TO be abandoned,
and the city is contemplating an APP
plication TO the provincial Legisla-
ture to eb freed from the obligation
Of providing sinking fund and de-
probation appropriations for its
public utilities. The city feels that
it can pay out Of current revenue for
the upkeep Of those utilities and
meet the interest charges, but that,
under present conditions, it should
not be required to pay off any part
of the principal as well. The situa-
ton in other Western cities differs
from that in Edmonton only in de-
gree.
The collapse was felt most severe
~ where the advance had been most
pronounced. Prices of many com
modities were reduced in some cases
by one-half or even more. Houses
which. in the "boom" days, rented
for $45 or more per month are of
fered to tenants to-day for $50 to
$25. II is the same story all over
the West. Many cases could be cited
of rents which to-day are only one
third and in some instances but one
fourth of those paid during 1913.
The war augmented the reaction at
ter the "boom." but it also paved the
way for a revival Of prosperity. At
the first call for men to join the col
ors there was gathered into the army
a very large proportion of those who
had lost their Jobs. The voorhees,
enlisted in hundreds and even thou
sands, and that explains, TO some eN-
tent at least, the very noticeable lack
Of English-speaking laborers in the
West to-day. In part, the shortage
has been met with Oriental labor
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
Bars Foreigners
from Water Power
Norway Proposes to Retain Con
troll of Such Resources

A special committee Of the Nor
wgian Storthing has recommended that
concessions for the acquisition Of
waterfalls shall not be granted TO for
eigners or foreign companies except in
exceptional cases. rs when, for in
stance. a going concern is DESTROYS of
obtaining possession of or regulating
waterfall.
For Norwegian citizens a concession
is to be necessary in cases of water
falls capable of yielding more than
5000 natural horsepower. The capital
of companies or syndicates wishing TO
secure such concessions must be ex
clusively Norwegian. and they must be
domiciled in Norway and have an en-
tirely Norwegian board Of directors.
The duration Of the concessions is to be
limited TO sixty years. The state is to
be entitled 10 secure the waterfall at
latest in the fortieth year after the
granting Of the concession. Its option
of purchase applies 20 waterfalls above
5000 horsepower, while for smaller
ones the option rests with the corpora
ton or municipality. The amount OF
power 10 be ceded TO the state and mu-
inequalities by the possessor Of con.
cession is 10 be per cent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
Currency OF
Many Varieties

At present in the South China
trade field (Hong Kong, Canton and
subsidiary ports) the currency con-
sists Of (a) the Hong Kong stand
ard silver dollar, otherwise known
as the British dollar; OBJ Hong
Kong paper currency, which is n
promise from certain authorized
banks TO pay such standard silver
dollar on demand; (c) Hong Kong
subsidiary coins, including particu-
larry 50-cent pieces, 20-cent pieces,
Io-cent pieces and copper coins; cd
the Canton silver dollar, which is a
comparatively rare coin; (e) the
Canton paper dollar, which is a
promise from the Chinese govern
ment. usually the provincial govern
ment, TO pay such silver dollar on
demand. but in practice redeemable
in small silver coin; and % Chinese
subsidiary coins, notably Chinese 20
cent pieces, l0-cent pieces, copper l.
cont pieces and brass cash.
II il impossible IN give any fixed
ratio Of value between any OF these
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18

coins or between them and gold. In
Hong Kong subsidiary coins former
~ circulated at discount compared
with the standard silver dollar, but
recently the continuous retirement
Of silver coins by the Hong Kong
government has brought the sub
sidary coins to substantially par
with the corresponding standard dol
lar. At times, however, the rela-
tion of the silver dollar to the paper
dollar has varied in most remark
able manner. For months during
the last year, for example, the paper
dollar, which ordinarily might be at
a discount compared with the silver
dollar, was in fact at a high pre-
MUM over the standard silver dol
lar; that is to say, the banks prom
Use to pay was worth more than
the silver dollar itself, this premium
rising as high as II per cent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
S4,000,000 Unpaid
| axes in Edmonton

Some idea Of the magnitude Of the
boom" development is afforded by
a study Of the situation with which
Edmonton, the capital city Of the
Province Of Alberta, now finds itself
confronted. With a population Of
about $4,000 people, the city could
house comfortably within it's present
municipal boundaries population
Of at least 100000, or nearly twice
the aggregate population Of the
three provinces Of Manitoba Alberta
and Saskatchewan Such widening
Of the city's limits. with the extern
sion ~ services which was involved,
II responsible for the financial con-
d!tion Of Edmonton to-day. Unpaid
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
A Constantly
Varying Ratio

In Canton the relation between
the paper dollar and the silver dol
lar constantly varies, the paper dol
lar usually circulating at discount
compared with the silver dollar. As
a matter of fact, there are very few
silver dollars actually in circulation.
The great mass Of the money of the
people consists Of Chinese subsidiary
coins, notably 20-cent pieces, l0-cent
pieces, copper l-cent pieces and
brass cash. These subsidiary coins
circulate usually at a premium over
their corresponding value in paper
currency. At present the 20-cent
pieces and l0-cent pieces circulate
at 20 to % per cent over the Canton
paper dollar. Further, all this Can
ton currency varies in value in its
relation to Hong Kong currency.
For example, according to the Hong
Kong morning papers to-day the
Canton 20-cent pieces circulate at
1893 per cent discount and the Can
ton l0-cent pieces circulate at > per
cent discount, compared with the
Hong Kong standard dollar.
In the midst of all this variation
the relation Of the Canton copper
currency to the l0-cent pieces and
20-cent pieces, as well as to the pa
per dollar and standard silver dol
lar, constantly changes; likewise
that Of the brass cash to the copper
currency and to the subsidiary sill
yer currency. In ordinary dealings
Canton workmen are paid on the
basis Of the brass cash or copper
currency, and it is only in the larger
transactions that the subsidiary
coins come into play. Only the larg-
oat transactions require the use OF
the Canton dollar. In the ordinary
purchase OF goods for export in
Chinese territory it is usually speci-
fed that payment shall he made in
Chinese subsidiary silver currency.
while all this variation between
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18

and manual workers drawn from
the very large foreign element west
Of the Great Lakes.
Western Canada to-day is on
safer development basis than 1t has
been at any previous time in the last
decade. 1t is making a splendid re-
covery from the depression which
left it's people chastened and wiser
but still intensely optimistic and en-
thusiastic about the future Of the
vast country west of Winnipeg. The
West has few munitions plants, but
it has felt the stimulus of war prices
for agricultural products. High
priced wheat has been the dynamic
factor in stimulating trade and I'M
proving general business conditions.
Labor has been scarce. The crop is
considerably below the average and
only about one-half the yield last
year. But war prices have more
than counterbalanced these handl-
caps in most parts of the West. The
farmers to-day have money, and they
are spending it with free hand.
Everywhere. in fact, there IS evil
dence of prosperity and OF easy,
reckless expenditure. The West is
growing rich on the war quite as
much as is the East. There is little
thought of the future, Of the days
when war prices for agricultural
produce will no longer prevail.
1t is frankly recognized that the
war has had farreaching effects, and
that Canada will find much more
competition for immigrants than 1T
las had in the past. The offer OF
free homesteads and the inducement
Of ownership will no longer be sufh-
Gent TO secure a large and contlnu-
Gus influx Of settlers of a desirable
tvpc. The Dominion and the provin-
cial governments have been warned,
and they are needing the warning,
that if the Dominion is to be sue
cessful competitor for agrlculturlsts
it must provide. in addition, facilities
and social conditions as attractive as
those which go with tenancy IN other
countries. An advanced land pro-
qramme is being urged, including
not only the offer of free homeSteads
but also attention TO secure improved
planning of new territory, the set
Element of lands adjacent to rail
WAYS and manufacturing centres be-
fore those more remote are opened to
settlers. the development of village
industries and provision of agree
able social conditions and coopera-
tive facilities of various kinds. THIS
would neceSsitatc important changes
in the present settlement policy.
Business methods must be applied to
the situation. The settler must not
he left to shift entirely for himself.
There must be a closer relationship
than in the past between the gov
eminent and the settler.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18

HINA'S currency system Is as IN
~ tricate and complex to the unini-
tiated as the proverbial Chinese
puzzle. China might well be called a
nation of money changers. Astranger
in the country is fairly bewildered at
the varieties of money thrust at him.
Silver, gold, copper, brass and paper
circulate from hand TO hand, at con-
stantly shifting ratios Of value.
This makes it extremely trouble
some for the inexperienced merchant
who undertakes commercial rela-
tions with the Chinese. To smooth
the path for such, George +. Ander-
son, the American Consul General
at Hong Kong, British China, has
prepared an outline of the Difficult
ties arising from currency complica-
tons in that country, which is as
interesting as it is instructive to
the prospective trader with CHINA.
The money of China and of the
British colony of Hong Kong, he
points out, is based, at least for
larger transactions, upon silver,
whose relation to gold-that is, the
ordinary market price of silver in
the markets of the world-deter-
mines the international value from
day to day of the country's or col
Cnys entire monetary circulation.
In China proper the old standard of
money was simply tael, or Chinese
ounce Q1-3 ounces) of silver, to-
gother with copper or brass cash
that practically never had fixed
relation to silver. In recent years
most business in the open ports Of
China has been transacted in terms
Of the Mexican or Chinese silver
dollar, whose value has depended
upon the actual amount Of silver it
contained.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
SCIENCE BREAKING
CERMANY'S NATURAL,
CORNER IN POTASH
Mineral Much Needed by Farmers for
Fertilizer Is Now Obtained from Blast
Furnaces as By-Product of Pig Iron

average amount lost in this mann.
to be about 20 per cent OF the to,,,
potash charged.
Practically all Of the remaipi,,
potash is carried out of the tso -
the furnace by the gas current 1.
the form of an exceedingly fine fun.
The gas (about 100000 cubic r.,
per ton of pig from, which is WI.
liable as a fuel, is led down from IN.
top of the furnace in steel main,
through a dust catcher, which "a
moves the coarser particles Of ora
coke, ETC., carried over mechanical,
by the gas current; thence through
a primary wet washing plant which
removes most of the remaining dirt.
then it is sub-divided by appropriate
mains and delivered TO stoves. boil.
ers and a part through secondary
washers to gas engines. The stove,
Of which there is a battery Of fou,
or five per furnace, are enormous
steel shells, practically cylindrical n
shape, partially filled with a mas
of checker brick, which the gas, ate,
burning, pre-heats in two or thrs
vertical passes. After stove has
been heated for a sufficient time he
gas is cut Off, and the air blast i
passed through in the reverse diree.
ton. thus being pre-heated on its
way to the furnace.
The fine potash-bearing fame,
leaving the top of the furnace in the
gas current, passes through the dus
catcher, where only a small amour.
is deposited, due to its iineness, and
into the primary wet washers, where
the greater part at present is WASHED
cut and lost.
However, a considerable amount
is carried forward into the stoves
and boiler settings, where much q
it deposits at the bottoms Of tn
passes. Periodically this materisl
which is in the form Of a fine, ligti
gray or yellowish powder, is re
moved, loaded in bulk in cars and
sold as fertilizer. 1t will average
about 10 per cent water soluble pot.
ash content, and is in admirable cor.
dition for direct use as fertilizer W.
less the dealers wish TO dilute ltpi
lower grade product with inert SS-
stance or by admixture with otter
fertilizing materials.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
Getting World
Trade by Cable
New York Export Firms
Spend Large Sums Every
Year to Keep in Close
Touch with Customers
BY II. X. NOLh,
Chief of Cable Department, American
Steel Export Company

n INDICATION of the scale
n upon which the large export
firms in New York are dong ousi-
noes abroad is furnished by the fact
that some of them are paying the
various cable companies for service
at the rate of $4,000 year. not
withstanding every effort to keep
down expenses by an extended use OF
deferred and cable letter service ana
Of nine standard and eleven private
codes. BY using the private codes
the cost of cabling is often reduced
70 tenth Of what 1t would
he were the message sent IN full.
Previous to December %, 1916, all
cables to Japan were permitted WIN
9, registered address, which saves the
cost of a signature. Since that date
the Japanese censor has made 1t nee
essarv to sign all cables with the full
name of the sender. and at $l.33
word this materially adds to the
cost of cabling.
In order to economic to the full
est extent, condensers are resorted
to; by their use two expressions or
sentences in a standard code can DC
combined in one word of ten letters.
Various forms of condensers are
used. some of which use the twelve
figure system. which gives a great
range. due to the greater number OF
figures it gives. OF course, this can
be condensed into a word of ten let
ters which complies with the cable
companies regulations governing
full rate code messages.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18

pcrt clerk, familiar with all the de-
tails of transmitting messages by
cable and in constant touch with new
developments. The present regula-
items and restrictions in regard TO
cable codes require considerable care
in the matter of the cable text itself
and especially the address. in order
&c avoid delay or refusal. As an eX-
ample. when cabling to Spain, the
censor will not permit the text to De
written in anything but plain Eng
lish or French. 1t would naturally
be assumed that Spanish would be
permitted to a country where Span
ish is the national language, but
such is not the censor's ruling.
Very strict regulations apply to all
cables to Europe. The same regula-
tions that apply to Great Britain are
IN force in all British possessions
and great care has to be exercised
that the full address and signature
is on all cables. For instance, if one
were cabling to Bathurst, British
West Africa, the cost is sl.O3 a
word. If the address was insult
ficient you are notified by the CEN
sor and service charge of one
word is made, besides all neces-
sary words to complete the address.
IF six words were necessary the ad-
ditional cost would be S6.lS. Or
course. this would have been charged
in the first place had the cable been
properly addressed, but the most Sc
rious part is the annoying and costly
delay.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18

pie. with a population probably not
in excess of $4,000, owns its electric
light and power distribution systems,
its telephones, water works and
street railway, the aggregate invest
ment amounting TO $9,65O,879, and
the net deficit TO date to nearly
100000. 1t should be said that,
with very few exceptions, the public
" owned utilities of Western Cana
dian cities are being operated with a
high degree Of efficiency and econ
omy. AS population increases they
will gradually become self-sustain-
ing, and later yield considerable
revenue or make possible a reduction
in rates. The best proof that the
franchises now held by the public
are valuable, even although they are
not now paying for themselves, is
the fact that private interests are
endeavoring to gain possession of
them. Indeed, there seems to be a
campaign on foot to discredit public
ownership enterprises in the West,
which has as its purpose to secure
control of those enterprises by pri-
vate companies. Population alone
is needed to put these utilities on a
sound economic footing.
The utility services under provln-
cial government control are in a
somewhat similar position. The
prairie provinces have their own tel
ephone systems, and although the
political administration of the latter
has not been above criticism, in
creased settlement of the areas
served should overcome many of the
economic difficulties. Then, too,
there are the provincial universities.
Alberta and Saskatchewan both have
splendidly equipped institutions, and
the only lack is students. The at
tendance was increasing until the
war drained the West Of so many
Of it syoung men, but it will be many
years before the maximum utiliza-
ton of these universities will be
possible. In the mean time, the
overhead charges must he provided
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
Quick Thinking
Means Economy

1t is necessary TO keep library OF
the various codes used, together with
a list of the customers cable ad-
dresses and the various codes they
use. Standardized forms facilitate
transmission and the computing
and checking of charges. The cable
clerk must also know exactly the
time Of day in all the principal cities
SC that he can say whether cable
will reach certain point during
business hours, or whether a de-
ferred or week end rate could not be
used instead. At Denver, for eX-
ample. the clock is an hour slower
than New York, at San Francisco
three hours. at Yokohama ten, at
Hong Kong eleven. At Rio de Janeiro.
however. it is two hours faster than
New York; at London FIVE, at Rome
six, at Petrograd seven, at Bonn
lay ten.
In these days it takes quick think
ing in order to save time and keep
down expenses, and it has in several
instances become necessary IN order
to reach a nearby point speedily yet
economically to cable right around
the world. For instance, when the
deferred service was suspended via
Pacific and long cable, which be-
cause of its technical nature could
not be put into code, was to be sent
to Australia. the route selected was
from New York to Gibraltar via
London. and on through Suez to
Sydney. The answer, of only a few
words. continued the trip around the
world. coming at the full rate via
San Francisco to New York, and was
duly delivered at the American Steel
Export Company Offices, an all wire
route of 10000 miles.
All this is possible through the
splendid system and cooperation OF
the American cable companies. Their
courteous and competent employees
aid very materially in the fast and
accurate service furnished the sub
scriber. AS an instance of this, IN
connection with the sending of an
Asiatic cable, it was received by the
cable receiver with the sender'S full
name as a signature. Knowing that
this was an error, as the cable car
lied a registered address which does
away with the signature, the cable
man erased the signature, dispatched
the cable and notified the sender OF
the error. This saved some very val
liable time.
Looking into the future, there is
one thought that strikes home with
the greatest force. Just think what
it will mean to the worlds business
when the supermarine, transcontI-
rental, globe girdling telephone is
developed to the point Of commercial
application.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
Use of Private Codes
Effects Big Saving

With the use Of private codes,
which often take years of palnstak-
ing effort to compile. it is possible to
condensc into one Word the name OF
your customer. the material wanted,
full specifications. months in when
the goods arc to be shipped and the
prices.
BY the larger export companies a
special cable department is main
aimed under the direction Of an eX-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
Electricity Promises
To Solve Problem

Although many carloads OF sucI
potash-bearing dust have been re
covered annually for the last few
years at the plant previously re
ferred to, and a lesser number iron
certain other plants, the amount
actually reclaimed has been show
to be only about 2 per cent Of IN
total charged into the blast furnace
About 10 or II per cent escape
through the stoves and boiler hou'
stacks as a white fume OF M
palpable fneness. It was found By
calculation that about So per cent o.
the potash was lost by solution u
the primary wet washers.
However, within the last few yean
an electrical method for the preciF
tation Of fine dust particles has BED
developed, which promises event
ally to solve the problem of reco'e
ing this dust on a large scale. ~
liminary tests have shown that pI'S
furnace dust can be preclpltateo D.
most perfectly by this mef.od'
A few points Of scientific lnp@'
tonce may also be Of popular lnN'
est. In contact with hot coke D
the furnace, potash tends to i''p
potassium cyanide, a deadly p0'''"
This compound is nearly always :
composed before escaping from y
furnace, though occasionally " /.
carried over by the gas clrren" :"
instance is on record where s0a'
f1ue dust containing cyanide iron
blast furnace in Syria was dump
into a river, and a great guam
of fish was killed. The fiue ~
which is collected in the stove 90 =,
boiler settings is so impalpaole ~
when examined under a mlcrOs''.
up to 5000 magnification some =
ticles are still almost invisible y.
fine fume. when in sufficient GO
tity. has the peculiar property Of :.
stricting the combustion Of the :.
under the boilers, sometimes
w:;sAing the flame completely .,
also attacks the brick WORK 10
stoves. tending TO erode and n !, ~
Any method Of retaining ." "A,
dust will simultaneously inerssss =
value of the by-product and 'n'F
the furnace operation.
After the war it is prae'lca,l, W,
tain that shipment OF potash
ing salts from Germany will . 4
sumed. The present high prlc', .,,,
consequently be lowered nv nv d.
il has been shown that the o''' I'D
mace is a heavy producer Of p ','',r
processes for retaining a re''a s
small norton at practicaiIl
pense are now in operation a. n -
Der Of plants. and doubtless W" ....x
tinue. Methods for a n'u'" q
recovery have already prove ,ss
cessful on a small scale, anu y 81
less will be developed in %. rs
/ future; hence the bla" lis
promises to augment the hss
sources as q potash producer
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-18
American Goods Imported
AT a Profit from China

Considerable quantities Of American
piece goods, it is reported, have been
bought In Shanghai. China, and shipped
TO the United States at profit Some
Of these goods had been in China for
a number OF years and were bought for
much less than II would cost to replace
them.