Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-09-13
French Planning
Reconstruction of
Devastated Region

Washington. Sept 10. American
| manufacturers who plan to supply ma
| ton of northern France should pre-
pare for co operative selling, for re-
evolutionary change in French methods
| of buying is to follow the war.
A small number Of central purchas-
| ing agencies, representing groups oil
French manufacturers engaged in re-
lated industries and assisted by the
credits of the French government. Will
deal with those supplying the material.
Scattered American efforts will no.
be able to meet the requirements or
! the huge buying power ~of several
thousand French consumers, in the
opinion of Pierce G. Williams Amer
lean commercial attache at Paris, VINO
reports that unless American manu-
facturers prepare for cooperative sell
ing that they will be laboring under
a serious handicap.
The Central Bureau of Industrial
Purchases for the Invaded Regions.
a French stock company composed OF
many manufacturers, has emphasized
III Il report tHdl the ldSh VI ISotoi MS
the destroyed industries is too large
i for individual and competitive buying.
Its directors are reported as equally
certain that ii will be out of the ques-
ton for isolated American firms, no
matter how large or well equipped. to
meet the demand. 1t is with groups
of American manufacturers each
group being able to supply certain
industry with all materials and special
equipment for it's restoration-that the
Central Bureau wishes to establish re-
! lations.
Although the French manufacturer
in the past has been regarded as most
individualistic among the business
men, the size and compleXity Of the
task of reconstruction has caused him
to accept such radical change in his
| business methods as collective buying
The industrial reconstruction in
France alone is more than one nation
can properly attend to. 80 the pooling
Of American interests involves solution
of the question whether american
manufacturers will be able to hold
their own in competition with other
nations.
HSCC0PtSO r$Vcd VOTNSHop.
Although the area occupied by the
Germans in France the last four years
is small as compared with correspond
ing regions in the United States. north
ern and eastern France with Belgium
were in 1914 one of the busiest work
shops in the world. Nearly $4,000 fac
tories and industrial establishments
were in the invaded parts Of France.
and their output was more than thirty
per cent of all France. These facto-
ries' output in proportion to the coun-
:l,y's total production follows:
Iron ore, 80 per cent; pig iron, 50
per cent; steel. IS per cent coal. 20
per cent: combed wool. "a per cent;
linen thread, 80 per cent; sugar, 50
per cent.
Owners of the factories of course
have been shut off from normal COM
munication with their properties. but
! workmen, engineers and others caught
in north of France when the German
army rolled thru there have gradually
worked their way to Paris as their
repatriation has been accomplished by
| the allied arms. In many localities
and in almost countless industries,
ing remains.
Coal mines have been flooded. and
years will pass before coal will be
hoisted from them again. Electric
power stations and the transmission
| lines have in many places been dis
mantled. the machinery being carried
off by the Germ;Vs. and the copper
wire sold at auction. Practically all or
the equipment in the metal working
plants all the cotton. linen and wool
spinning machinery, together with
wool combing and textile looms, have
been systematically pillaged.
Repatriated workers report that
machines have been skilfully taken
apart and all the alloy and copper In
the bearings sent into Germany for
,remelting. In many instances after
this was DONE. tho iron frame was
broken up and turned over to Ger
man scrap dealers.
Steel structures have been taken
down, and the sheet iron roofs and
steel columns and beams have either
been sent back into Germany or nsed
in the war zone Sugar refneries and
breweries are reported to have been
completely destroyed. Machine shops
finished just before the beginning OF
the war have been RACED, and II, in
the rear Of the battle line the enemy
has continued in operation certain
plants that would serve his purposes.
it is believed that these will be destroy
ed before retreating.
The cost Of replacing these industries
today is estimated to DC about three
times the original cost, which would
amount to millions.
Land values are not considered In
the foregoing tabulations, nor that OF
buildings, except for coal mines. blast
furnaces and steel works. Many other
industries were in the invaded districts.
including ice making plants. glass
works. public works. gas iand water
works, potterics, oil rcfneries. flour
mills, printing plants. dying and
bleaching textile plants, food conserv
ing factories. and chemical and ferti-
lizer works. Their building. tools and
stock represent an enormous expendi-
tire. &,
| French Plans For Rssonstruetisn.
French. plans for reconstruction be-