The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-13

1iOur HlIIs, printing plants, dying ana bleaching textile plants, food-conserv- ing factories and chemical and fer ulizer works Their buildings, tools an stock represent an enormous ex- penditure
 French plans for reconstruction be- gan soon after the invasion, the gov ernment in December, 1914, declaring that damage caused by the war should be charge on the nation as a whole. This principal means that the French manufacturer looks to his government for the means of resuming industrial activity.
 Regardless of what indemnities or reparation may be exacted from the enemy, the indemnity desired by the manufacturer is materials with which he may renew manufacturing activi- ties. Cash indemnities to the manu- l facturer, the Paris Chamber of Com merce declared in May, 1915, are un- sound. for with the money in his hand he would not be assured of materials 1 necessary to reconstruct his plant.
 French government officials quickly 1 realized the objection to the state un-
 
 l ials. Accordingly the manufacturers organized the Central Association for | the Restoration of Industrial Life in l the Invaded Regions to be conducted without profit and serving as a proxy of the state. Its membership is di- vided into four sections; First, the tex | tile industries; second, mining, metal luRgical machine and electrical con- | struction industries; third, agricultur- 1 al industries, such as sugar Yef1neries, distilleries, breweries, flour mills and food-conservation plants; and fourth, miscellaneous industries, including all not falling within the first three sec- 1 tions.
 The Central Association is further divided into regional or trade sub- committees, the purpose of these be- | ing to assist the Association in the | studies of the restoration of individual | industries. The Central Association, under the general law governing its operation, was unable to concern it. l self in such enterprises as the pur- chase and distribution of merchandise, and this defect was corrected by the organization in August, 1916 of the stock company known as the Central l Bureau for Purchases.
 1 Without the support of the state, the Central Bureau could not begin operations so the French Chamber Of Deputies enacted g. law, August 6, 1917, providing a preliminary credit of 50,000,00O francs to be used for making purchases. Directors of the | Central Bureau and the Ministers of Commerce and Finance made a for
 nal agreement on October 4, 1917, that definitely committed the French government to the principle of col lective buying of reconstruction ma | tertals.
 By the agreement the Bureau buys and distributes materials and equipment after proposed purchases have been approved by the Ministry of Commerce and its accounts are subject to audit by the Inspector General of Finances. Other provis- ions of the agreement make the Bu- reau under. strict government con- trol.
 Purchases are not now being made by the Bureau for before the work Ot I0pdL 1nS CuG WdI 5 udIudS0 Cdn be undertaken, the war must first be won, and tonnage Is too valuable for Ieven the import of material neces- sary before industrial reconstruction can begin. Meanwhile the Bureau is preparing estimates of materials that will be needed by each industry Of equal importance in the prepara- tion is the work of establishing con- tact with prospective supply, so that all will be ready for the signing ot contracts with the signing of a peace treaty.
 The Bureau, according to advices received here, is anv1ous to get ir