Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-28
RECONSTRUCTION IS RAPlOl|
FRENCH TEXTILE ::iLLS IN
DEVASTATED AREA RESUME
Delicate Machinery Found in Ruins
BEING REPLACED and 10000
People Are ut Work.
/ ny Assn ia tetl P-oss.

LllLl5. FRANCE, Dec. 2;-Forty
thousand persons are at work in tho
french textile mtlle, which only fow
months ago were RACED or looted by
the Germans OF thor wonderfully doll
cate machinery.
fhe correspondent was given the
fncte with reference 10 this industry
today by Fronch authorities, who have
arranged trip to show him tho strides
made by the nation in reconstruction.
Within year, government officials
and manufacturers agree. production
OF textiles will reach half OF tho pre-
war total. and within two years, these
men forecast, tho 1914 output Will be
surpassed.
Wool Industr! Fast Gaining.
Tho wool industry is said to be re-
covering most rapidly, with cotton in
second place. Linen weaving is. re-
10 normal because Of the shortage Of
fax, formerly obtained from Russia.
In Lille and TIC adjoining cities OF
tile manufacturers are conferred. 1t Is
estimated 10000 men, women and chill
dren now arc busted with combing,
n ma.ay 10000 a%% sre sed tho
smaller mile OF surrounding towns.
where progress is s,owar but is being
pushed with equal vigor.
Statistics compiled by the govern
mcnt from necessarily accurate state.
mrnts. upon which factories are paid
reconstruction indomnitles. show that
IN the Lille district on October last
there were $6.3S4 persons working in
oss employed before tho war in aG5
OF the liberated region there were en-
ploycd In August OF this year only o1.-
OF OF tho 159,ois persons at work four
ycars ago.
Conditions Cknnxe Quickly.
Reconstruction Of tho textile indus.
try was declared by manufacturers O
few months ago 10 DO almost n hone
less taSl: AZ least they said It wonld
world trade In toxtilns Now, h i
brighter view liz being taken. s,nd
government iigures show the industrr
uoction. '"' P'o'
Manofattnrers thcn1srlve, concede
ma ma the out nut Is AZ least one-third Of
, ,nhs , 6e,o.e the war. an asreo that
idi! each month. as the looted machin-
cry Is being returned from Germany
81 nam 'na al ,,, arc comm. from
some OF tine equipment Was not re.
moved. but merely damaged H.. No
"crr IMAM anu this is ho!ng repaired.
seemed m u iniuns,riai recovery. which
made through the combined efforts OF
inc government and plant owners
sS"'HSt u!Hicu!ttcS that QDpcar moro
Formidable tho closer they are CT
aTlned.
Damage co.ooo.ooo. 900 Francs.
Direct damage to the textile indus.
Representation at 10000. 600. 900 francs.
In this section of .Hrance, tho heart
or the industry. mills for tho most
rest were damaged. All OF the cleo
.,ic machinery, betting, shutting and
similar equipment were taken by the
dies, looms and combers. which nos
sesstd almost human. deXtcr!ty, we're
either shipped 70 Germany or rounded
INTO utter uselessnees.
%o out OF every 100 machines were
.stt intact. packed and tagged for
SHIPMENT but were abandoned by the
Germans IN their strategic retreat.
These, machines which were not re-
moved were stripped OF all br1ss and
copper parts and delicate pieces were
place.
Tic ex.remely. thorough stripping Of
copper parts from tho machines ,s an
important factor In delaying work. an
X might al'nos: be said that the french
use copper and brass except when such
Metals VIII not possibly answer the
Labor Problem Not Difficult.
me labor problem Ia not a this time
manufacturers. The task OF rrr,iac.
ing the remarkably skilled workers
many OF whom are among Frances
l. 5000 OF dead war heroes. ia said 70
DC In the way OF solution, because
"omcn always wero largely employed,
SUCH well-pa work, since many OF
them arc widows.