New-York tribune., 1918-06-17
ReAexes Of War

A noteworthy increase took place in
1917 in the utilization of Italian water
power. Most of the concessions were
made in the provinces of Lombardy
and Piedmont, with smaller conces-
sions in Umbria and Calabria. The
total power of all concessions in June,
1916, amounted to 100000 horse
power, and in December, 1917, there
were 2l8 requests for concessions !
estimated at 816,147 horsepower in
course of examination.
The hardware business in England
has been very good during the war, the
demand for goods having been far
spite of failure to have in stock very
many articles frequently called for,
sales generally have been very large,
as there has been an unusual amount
OF ready money in circulation. One
London firm doing a wholesale and re-
tail business has stated that, though
business has been very good, they have
had to turn away an even larger
amount of trade by reason of inability
to get the articles desired. The de-
partment doing the most business has
been that handling engineering tools,
though domestic hardware, such as
razors, scissors, pocket knives and
kitchen utensils and appliances, has
been in very great demand. The gov
ernmental restriction on private build
ing has caused some reduction in the
demand for builders hardware, but
the erection of factories and other
buildings devoted to work of national
Importance has partly compensated
for this.
According to the Danish livestock
census taken as of February S, 1913,
there were 511 900 horses and colts in
the country, as against $4,000 in Feb
ruary, 1917, and $4,000 in 1916; q,
142 1000 cattle, against 3,45S,o00 in July,
1917 when the number was about the
same as before the war; $4,000 swine,
against $4,000 in December, 1917, and
247 1000 sheep and lambs, against $685.
900 in February, 1917.
One of the Christiania newspapers
has published the following informa-
tion concerning the increase in the use
of nitrates Us fertilizer during the past
two years in Norway. 1t is stated that
previous to the war the annual con-
sumption of nitrates as fertilizer in
Norway amounted to about 5000 to
5000 tons. During the year 1917 the
total amount of fertilizer used was a
little more than 10000 tons, and this
year between 55, 900 and 10000 tons have
been used. The total consumption of
nitrates as fertilizer has therefore in
creased considerably since the begin
ming Of the war. This remarkable in
crease is said to be attributed to a
more intensive cultivation of the soil,
an increase of the area under cultiva-
ton, and to the increased use of salt
petre as fertilizer. The manager of
one Of the large Norwegian concerns
that manufacture fertilizers has given
statistics concerning the amount of
appears that up to May 1, 1918. total
of 1880 tons had been ordered by the
Norwegian farmers. Of this amount
41 600 tons had been delivered previous
TO May 1, 1915, and it is expected that
the remainder will be in the hands of
the farmers before May 20, 1918. There
have been slight labor troubles in sew
eral of the factories, for which reason
the delivery of the outstanding orders
may be somewhat delayed. The amount
that has already been delivered is more
than sufficient to meet the immediate
demand. That which is required as
fertilizer for potatoes, ETC., will not
! be needed before the spring ploughing
has been completed.
Public opinion in Japan toward the
increased trade restrictions on the part
of America is for the most part marked
| by moderation and conciIiation. Bust
ness interests assume a calm attitude
toward the measures, evidently waiting
to see what Will come next; nor was
the stock market seized with extreme
nervousness--all quite different from
what happened q year ago when the
steel and gold export embargoes were
declared. These, in general, are the
views of the "Yomiuri," while the "Jiji''
not only offers no criticism against
Americas trade restrictions, but rather
admits that they are necessary steps in
the successful prosecution of the war.
The "Kokumin" points out that Amer
leans likewise will suffer many incon-
veniences by the interference of the
washington government with trade
The "Asahi" reminds its readers that
Japan Joined in the war in pursuance
of her pact with England to keep the
peace of the Far East, and that she will
suffer in no small way from the Ameri-
can trade restrictions. However, the
paper continues, the suffering must be
borne checrfully, and with full re-
alization of what a Teutonic victory
would mean.
Planning for post-bellum trade, the
Yamashita Steamship Company, Of
Kobe, Japan, has announced the de-
cision of its board of directors to in
crease the firms capital from 10000
600 yen to 30,000,000 yen. Part Of the
capital will be used to replace old ships
with modern vessels and for the open
ing of new service touching at the
principal ports of India, China, Japan
and America. 0p""