The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1919-01-23
IN FRANCE THESE DAYS
] PIG Is A FORTUNE

eson, who has ranch near the Mai
heur Butte, George Arneson tells OF
condition in France and Belgium that
would gladden. the heart OF stockmen,
IL they could ship to that market with
present prices there. He says: for
example that pig is worth 5000, APP
pies are selling at $50 per sack, and
poor ut that, and L half of beef would
make a man rich. His lotter is as
follows:
Commercy, Meuse, France,
Dec. II, 1913
Dear Pa:
Just read in the American paper
which is printed in Paris, that the
Nevada, Lloyd's boat is on the way to
New York and Ia to pass In review up
the Hudson the day before Christmas,
40 no doubt Lloyd will eat his Christ
mas dinner, in or around New York
City. He's lucky to be in the Navy.
Am anxious to get back, but II looks
as though Il will be four months at
least and Il may be eight or ten. The
French are supposed TO take over the
u. 8. roads, engines. etc, but there
don't seem TO be any great rush about
IL. We are working the same as be-
fore and there In even extra work on
this end, owing to the fact that wo
are busy accepting, inspecting, etc,
part OF the 5000 locomotives that
Germany has 10 fork over in good con-
dltion, an well as 100, 900 freight cars.
How ever II IN only part OF these
that we are looking after According
10 tho terms OF tho draft, etc. every
soldier IN TO be mustered out within
four months after peace Is signed ANA
peace may not be signed before June.
and then II is an easy matter for them
TO change no an to keep us here In
definitely. II IN costing some OF these
fellows a lot OF money TO stay over
here. especially such men az engine
ers, machinlsts. mechanics, etc, that
get S33 n month who would earn bet
ter than 5000 month back In the
states on the present scale OF wages.
but those fellows In washington don't
seem to look at that, lwould cheer
fully hand over every cent OF army.
pay I have received, TO be sent back
any time within month from now.
Believe I told you In my last letter
Just where am stationed, etc, and
that l had seen Verdun and some OF
the former scenes OF the fighting TIL"
Division 10 stationed here nni !
every night for the past week have
been putting on vaudeville show |
here In an old French building aud |
they have some good stun sure
enjoy these shows great deal ani |
then there Ia a YMCA located in an |
old French picture show and they put
on little entertainments there, These |
places are always crowded to capacity |
and the best Jokes they put over are
about "shayetaIls" end Lieutenants.
which is the lowest commissioned Of
ficer in the army and the most hated
by the men. and any Joke on a shave
TAIL no inaNNtl INV AilAiAhh ~ ""'N w
bring a roar from the crowd. Then
they will also spring some Jokes on
the Quartermaster Department, which
ia may back behind the lines and new
er sees any fighting. They call 'em
the Jewish Infantry and then another
one IL 'where did the NJ, P.'s go over
the Top" These military police are
in every town and cross road here and
one can't get far from his billeting
place without pass and naturally the
men hate the NJ. P.'s.
II you had your ranch over here
and all the pigs. cattle, etc, you would
only have TO sell one pig and half a
COW year to make fortune, basis
of present prices and a sack OF apples
out there that go TO waist would net
at least $50 one little scrubby apple
the size OF hens egg costs 10 cents.
On poultry there is supposed TO be a !
fixed price by the French govern
mont OF sl,00 a pound. A FIVE pound
chicken. $500 and pork the same
way 600 10. pig selling Tor 1000 {
can you imagine that? Somebody
told me once In the states that 10 I
cents would buy over here what n 3
dollar would back there. but he Il
twisted Il is other way round
So far have been good soldier,
never having been in the guard house
or received any punishment, have not 4
had the coolies and almost everyone
gets them over here and have been .
on the sick list only once. However
I'm ANXIOUS to get back home and out
on the road again and have little Q
freedom.
Please write once in a while and let &
me know how you are getting along,
GEORGE