The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1918-01-03
Natural Thrift and Economy
Promise Rapid Progress
EXPORT BUSINESS GROWING
Our Great Ally Possesses Reeuper-
alive Powers Which Justify Belief
That She viii Meet and Solve Tri.
umphantly the Problems Which Con-
front Her After the War.

With Paris boulevards echoing with
wives" for American troops our inter-
est In the welfare Of our ally vastly
increases, and the facts are not lack
ing to encourage the belief that she ls
already on the road to recovery from
the blow of invasion by ruthless en-
envy.
One of the most important doVel'
opments is the announcement that
,ne of the largest banking institutions
IN America concerned with foreign
trade, the Guaranty Trust company
Of New York, has opened Paris
branch to handle the rapidly increas-
Ing volume OF French business.
This action may surprise many per-
sons who had thought Of France as
bowed under a calamitous invasion.
The bank, however, gives figures indi-
eating that France is not only meeting
her military and civilian problems with
| q stout heart and never failing cour'
age, but is re-establishing her export
business with this country.
In 1914, the year Of the outbreak OF
the war, imports from France to this
country totaled $141 ,446,252. This to-
tai was reduced to SIT, 15S,740 in 1915
but last year the value Of French in
ports to the United States rose to
| s1c2,077,060.
"A nation that can achieve such 8
commercial recovery while her terri.
tory is being ravished by the invader
saws the Trust companys statement
possesses recuperative powers which
Justify the belief that she will emerge
from the present conflict prepared to
meet and solve triumphantly the PROB
tems which confront her."
The commercial and industrial rec
ord of France, following past wars, in
dicates that she should recover quickly
from the actual physical destruction
inflicted in the present conflict: The
reconstruction Of railroads, the erection
of factories to replace those destroyed
| and the replacement Of the mechanism
of industrial activity that will be re-
nuired and that is in part already
manned, offer a peculiarly inviting
| field to American capital and enter
prise. Tentative steps have airead!
| been taken by representatives OF Amer
lean engineers and business men in this
work.
i Aside from it's attractive business
aspect, the enlistment of American
money and effort in the great task OF
reconstruction that will remain at the
end Of the war will tend to cement sui
more closely the ties that bind the two
great republics together, and will en-
) nble Americans to discharge In par
the debt they owe to France for mel
friendly interest in the welfare anc
progress of the United States from
the beginning Of It's life as nation
In judging the industrial status OF
any nation, its production and con
s1..nption Of coal, iron, and steel ant
the growth Of Its transportation sys
TENS ere highly significant factors.
In 1869, French industries consumed
q million tons Of coal, Of which lS.'
millions were taken from home mines
In 1912, the consumption was 81 mil
lions, Of which Il million tons wer'
i ken from home mines.
In 1859, the French output Of cas-
) Ion was 100000 tons, and Of steel
100000 tons. In 1914, France pro
duced $4,000 tons Of cast iron ant
4,635,OO0 tons Of steel.