The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1920-12-17
French Commission Reports
Much of War Ruins Enaeed
and Industry Active.
RAILROADS ARE REBUILT
Merchant Marine RestOred-TwO
Million Tons OF Coal Being
Produced Each Month-Fur-
nishcs O2 Per Cent. of Pre-War
Production Wool and Cotton.

The French com mission in the
United States has just issued state
ment showing the progress which
France has made in the last two
years in her reconstruction worn.
The extent or recovery from uppaT- ,
ailel war ravages in the space OF two
armistice anniversaries is reflected
by the restoration of her textile
trades. the rehabilitation Of her mer-
chant fleet: by great strides in min
ing activities, resumption OF aSricuf-
turc. increasing railroad operation.
by her enlarged revenues and by the
progress of French foreign trade.
In foreign commerce France, dur
ing the first nine months OF the cur
rent year, has improved her trade
balance by over 1000, 900, 900 francs.
m" figures are: Exports. 1851
7ll.o"o francs; imports, ,2I189,071,-
600 francs. an excess ofdmports OF
l".6ou, 100000 francsh compared
to 17.Ss3 100000 francs excess dur
ing the corresponding period last
year Exports this year were 60,S
per cent of the imports, against 56.6
per cent in 1919. During august ana
So tember exports equaled 81 per
cent. OF imports, a ratio not pre-
! viously reached since 1910. The fig-
lrcs disclose an increase OF 116 per
, cent in exports of foodstuffs and a
| l.6 per cent rise in manufactured
| products compared with the same
! period one year ago.
Textile industries which, with the
/ coal industry. suffered most heavily
/ through the invasion of France, are
! leading in the national reconstruct
/ ,iou. Lille RoubaiX and Tourcotng
! in the invaded regions had furnished:
- per cent. of the pre-war total
French production OF wool, Gotten
ana linen textiles. Eleven billion
. francs. at present money values. rep
/ resrntS the war damage in these
centres. Armistice day this year;
found the ravaged textile industries
operating At from IS 10 "a per cent
oj their normal capocity. The
French government to March Is last
~peu, i5S.uoo.00O francs for the re-
coustructiun of these industries.
In the Lille region 400 Of the 47S
mills. employing twenty OF, moro
persons have resumed operation and
5000 out of IA $40 cotton looms are
a
ploN"d before the war. SS,SS4 have
been r"-"nEaCed In Ropbaix and
Iourc"ing seventeen wooden mills
ar" operating practically at n normal.
and out OF LOCO 900 spindles, es0.-
600 are in service
Nv" years ago France had lost. In
IN" destruction of coal mines. nora
IMAM half of the country's total coal
producing capacity, twenty-tw6
mines with pre-war annual out
pat OF 20.000.00O tons having beert
destroyed in the departments Of Nord
and Pas de Calais. One-half of tSosa
mines are now operating. Thew anr0-
d"ced in January s5,4S3 tonsN N
September. 299.Sl9 tons. Including
| Alsace- Lorraine. French coal mines
averaged 100000 TONS per month
for the first nine months of this year.
September production was e.4ls .01S
tons
On Armistice day, 1918. 7.o0d,oon
acres OF French agricultural land lav.-
pitted and SCARED beyond usefnf
ness Now all but 100000 aoroo
have been restored and will peyxiat
of sowing next spring Some A.o0A
600 acres of this remade farm go
are already under cultivatlou. -
harves's have been so good 4
France is virtually able to sutr s.
s"Hicient home grown cereals "a
The people. In 1919 II was neceo
to import 100000 hundredwl
of wheat 3
French railroads are shovinS -
provcment in operating efficfGd2
recent month thes daily
number OF freight 90 so01
3s.sls. compared x>3k -, r
May. When fh6s