Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-28

On thu other hand. the system OF dis
tributon adopted Is severely criticized
! AT ppsent the citizen buys many food
stunt ut less than the actual market
priC1 and Will sooner or later have IN
pay the balance In taxes. The ar
raiSement has been made for the SAKE,
'he poorer classes, but critics arpu,
thu the government is out to achiey,
asSreat II INSTRUMENTATION OF economic
I've az they can at maximum cost
PREPARATIONS are being made TO intro.
iuce Il universal brcad-card system
I"ith Il view to economy. The soldiers
rations have already been cut down.
IN order TO save the stock of beef
mutton is being issued TO the army
once week. This is quite a revolu-
ii"n In Holland. where mutton has
hitherto been almost unknown as an
arpcI" OF popular diet. albeit the war
ana the articles comparative chcapuess
is bringing IL more into vogue. There
has been no export Of cattle for some
tune. The allies appear to be permit
ting freer import of grain. presum-
ably in consequences of the arrange
mcnt made for the export Of large
quantities of agricultural produce to
Britain.
DUTCH SHIP OWNERS
ARE VERY PROSPEROUS
Despite the governments reuuisi-
iioning OF ships for the transport OF
grain and other products. and the in
roads Of mines and torpedocs on the
mer. liant feet Dutch shipowncrs are
very prosperous. and high dividends
may again be expected. The shipping
movement at the chief Dutch ports is
still only fraction OF it's normal
volume InllDp q h.l
paring for n brighter future. A bill
has just passed the Second Chamber
for the deepening of the waterway
leading from Rotterdam to the sea.
while n measure introduced n day or
two ago provides. among other extern
sions at Amsterdam, for the construc-
ton Of Il new harbor TO meet the de-
mand for wharfage facilities for ships
Of deep draught. The mail steamship
services TO and from the Netherlands
East Indies have now returned to tho
much shorter route through the Suca
Canal.
Industry. and economic life generally.
Is suffering considerably from a short
age in the supplies OF coal and iron
from Germany. The coal scarcity has
led To such phenomena as the early
closing Of shops and reduction Of their
lighting. revision of factory hours
IN sOUle pldCcS, IIlCE"dScu gas anu clec-
tricity prices, and the cutting down OF
the already reduced railroad passenger
services b. 81 per cent. together with
raising of fares Meantime, ships
have been repuisitioned TO rush coal in
from England, and the Dutch mines are
being exploited to their utmost ca
pacity.
Germany is understood to demand the
surplus of Hollands sugar crop under
threat OF refusing all supplies Of bSet
seed and lime for this industry. Hol-
land is between two stools, for what
Germany wants is precisely what Brit
ain, the mistress OF oversee comInuni-
cations does not want the Netherlands
% export The last has not even yet
been heard Of the struggle over Hol-
lands fish catches. for Germany is now
asking the Ymuiden fishermen for the
same privileges they agreed To extend
20 Britain. and is meanwhile Selling 81
per cent Of the catches OF Dutch trawl-
crs that happen To get taken into a
German port. on the ground that this
portion is destined for England and is
therefore contra band.