Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-25
HAS TASK IN STEEL
AND IRON INDUSTRY
Frances Engineers Figure 1t
Will Take 8 to 10 Years
to Restore 1t.

TALENC!ENNES. France. December
"a Nhy the Associated Press) -
Frances steel and iron indus 'ry. viz
tuanv cut to half by wars ravages, is
faced by what engineers estimate to
be an eight t" ten year task of recon
struction. Details of the problem were
related today 20 the correspondent "i
the Associated Press who is Visiting
the devastated regions of France by
special government diSpenSation.
Engineering experts, however, say
the country'S steel and iron 'roduc-
ton may b. much quickeEed by the
mineral mining and metal treating
plants of Lorraine. returned to france
treaty. The seriousness Of the loss 10
the industry by war, neverthf less, Is
heightened by the great necessity tor
metal construction throughout I'D
Grated districts and the dependence u
nearly 10000 inhabitants Of these
regions on the blast furnaces and
metal mills for u livelihood.
9S Per Cent Destroyed.
In Valenciennes. Denain. Trist st.
Leger, FresneS. Amin and other towns
of this district the destruction sui
Tered as Il result of the conflict is esi-
mated at 90 per cent, including the
obliteration of the Denain and Amin
works. which were the most important
n France
OF t.lc moro than five hundred small
metal treating and metal construction
plants of the devastated region govern
ment reports show A per cent have re-
sumed work, but with only Ia per cent
Of the pre-War force. This does not in
clude the large plants which alone are
said to be capable of meeting the coun-
try's chief needs in the way of struc-
tural material and important machinery
taken away or destroyed during the war.
No note of pessimism is intended, it
tS sold h,- In q N
eight to ten year period OF RECONSTRUCT
ton before the nation can regain her
former place in the iron and steel in
dus:ry. These men, in support OF their
position, cite the fact that the work of
clearing away the debris of war has
not yet commenced at the largest mill,
and they declare this is due 20 the
necessity of designing n huge plant, with
equipment to cost millions of dollars,
and to other preparatory considerations.
Actual accomplishments to this end,
they state. are being de'a yed also by
the general conditions holding UP all
construction projects. such as lack of
transportation facilities, labor troubles
and shortage OF coal and fuel.
See Progress as Certain.
It is asserted, however, that prog.
ress will be certain and steady with
the attainment of half production
within five years.
AT present many of the smaller
plants are said to be devot;nS their
output to the most needy fields. II
some instances several small concerns
have combined their equipment, in
adequate for separate operation, and
have thereby created u group of little
mills and shops capable of rapid ac.
ton and able to help in some meas
ure in supplying the crying needs fol-
machinery of all sorts.
Some of the bigger companies are
said to be acting deliberately because
of the high prices demanded for the
equipment necessary for their plants
The unfavorable rate of exchange
also, it is stated, has added to this
disposition to hesitate, together with
the hope that prices will come down
within two or three years
Housing problems at the plants are
demanding the attention of the own.
ers and promoters, because in most
cases the mills are located in small
/ towns where the buildings were
wiped out during the war.