The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-10-10
GERMAN MARK IS CONSIDER
Ed VERY GOOD GAMBLE
WALL STREET is BUSY
Number Of Bank Clerks Think
They Can Make the Big
"Ciean Up"
UNITED Press Dispatch.]

New York, October 3.-People who
want to make money-there being
several of them in the vicinity of Wall
Street and elsewhere in this city
scruples with possibilities of clean
ing up on the low exchange value of
the German mark.
Marks have hit the bottom in their
spectacular drop, it is felt by many,
who have followed tho tumble in val
ne Of the German unit of exchange
from twenty five cents to three and
a quarter cents. Much exchange on
German banks is being bought at the
low price.
Most OF the purchasers are bank
employees, people connected with bust
ness houses, and those who play the
game" on the outside looking in at
Wall Street. Many bankers consider the
mark a good buy. but cannot pur-
chase except as individuals, since re-
liable and conservative banks cannot
speculate on unproductive values.
Considered Good Gamble.
Specializing on the mark is consid-
cred purely a gamble but usually a
good one since the exchange depends
largely on trade. and it is thought
trade will begin gradually. 1t is
thought by many that the mark
should rise to ten cents in value in
side of two years, enabling trebling
of money invested. However, con-
servatives point at the Russian ruble.
in which many people invested and
which is now down to practically
nothing in value. Many people who
invested in the marks last spring
when they We're around eight cents,
are rueing the drop of three cents.
The system Of buying most in vog-
ue is TO purchase exchange in Berlin
banks. The receipt can either be
kept here, and sold later, or can be
sent to Berlin, where the marks can
be on deposit at interest 1t is said
the Germans are not averse to the
enormous buying of marks even at
such low prices, since it WI enable
them to secure raw materials on the
dollars they thus secure in American
exchange, and will stimulate trade.
Furthermore, demand for marks will
send their value up
May Come Back lndustraIIy.
There is a very general feeling, de-
spite the low price of the mark, that
the Germans will come back industri-
ally very quickly, perhaps more so
than the French and Italians. due to
the ~; III. s@.-. (.
sfdiered pretty well under control,
especially since the new German re-
public has at its disposal at least a
million fighting men under the name
OF ~Noske Guards"
Some who would otherwiNa "take
a fling" at the money mraket, her:
tate because Of anti German feeling.
The idea of abstaining from buying
anything German seems to have been
pretty generally forgotten however,
in the tumble or new popular prob
lens which have arisen.
Buying of French exchange is al
most as spectacular as the German
The French franc has dropped to
about half of its original value, with
relation to American money, and
many people are acquiring money of
France, as speculation. In most
cases, the French exchange is sent
to Paris, to be held on deposit until
the franc sees better days. The Ital-
ian Ira is low, hut is not a popular
buy at present, perhaps due to lack
of confidence in the Italian govern
ment. or else lack of familiarity with
Italy on the part Of the public.