The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-02-02
MUNICIPAL FORESTS
OPENED TO POOR
Vienna People Allowed to Cut as Much
as Could Be Borne Away on the
Back Three Times
Weekly.

NltIiHd- Etus 49, ne dHl UbiiliEE IC'
Gently authorized the population to cut
and take from the municipal forests
that surround Vienna as much wood as
could be borne on the back three times
weekly. The plan was meant to meet
the pressing need of people who could
not buy or obtain from the public ra-
ton enough fuel To cook with.
A fortnights experiment showed
that, with the complete destruction of
one superb forest park of $50 acres,
only fraction of the wood went as
intended. while organized bands of
profiteers cut and sold 20,O00,000
crowns worth.
The incident is typical of profteering
conditions in this capital, The papers
daily report the frustrated or success
full smuggling out Of the country
OF contraband articles and eommodi-
ties A band of Spanish smugglers re-
Gently were caught on the southern
frontier with large quantities OF gold,
Slver and platinum which they were
living to take out in automobiles. The
low exchange value of the Austrian
crown makes smuggling tempting
game and men take desperate chances.
The frontiers are guarded closely and
everyone searched, but the left-hand
trade is unchecked.
Money can still buy any necessity or
any luxury here While the mass of
the people are hungry and cold and liz
clad, the splendid hotels and restau
rants continue so crowded that it is
impossible To be served unless reser-
=, a.. taLl Ia Ia,
the prices are fabulous. A simple meal
costs the months salary Of an office
man, vet profiteers and alien specula-
tors throng them, as we'll as the cab
arets and night amusement places Of
all kinds
On the one hand is luxury and reck
less spending and on the ot her starva
ton. The swarms of street beggars in
crease. men women and children, wit
their insistent appeals. The cheaper
coffee houses are filled from opening 70
closing with those drawing their l.
crowns daily of out-of- work subsidy.
Strikes and threatened strikes bring
enormous increases of pay, and. pros
trate under it all is the middle cIas
the professional and clerical ranks, VII
have neither organization nor resoure
They are not entitled to out Of woi
pay nor enabled in any way TO increa-,
their incomes
Vienna presents curious contrast
Nearby is a shop once famous Tor is
delicacies Its windows are dresscs
with timed salmon. a few sardinc
both TO be had only on fat ratiul
card, some imitation liquors and seaiy
looking bonbons.
In the great shopping streets OF -
inner city the windows are filled W.
magnificent furs, works of art. tailolt
costumes. dainty silks and other wo
ems wear, Jewels and other articles q
luxe. But Tor sturdy clothing, for shoes
and woolens for those things that a
populace needs in a hard winter cline,
for fats and flour and sugar, one can
search Vienna in vain A diamond or
rare painting, tapestry or sable coat
dainty glassware or exquisite Leaf her
and porcelain things can be found in
the karnestrasse or the Graben or the
smart shop streets that radiate from
them, but the owner OF any one OF
them will sell you more readily Tor ba
con. -four or sugar than for crowns.
Recently many shops have refused to
sell except for established foreign mon
eys. although such a procedure Is in
direct violation OF the law.
The government daily quotes the Of
fetal rate of exchange at which foreign
money will be cashed IN is own hn-
rcau. but this means nothing as affect
ing private transactions in banks aud
with money changers. some days these
will give from 10 70 20 points more Or
less than the official rate. according to
their own Judgment of conditions.
There are daily raids on Illicit money
changers in cafes. hotel corridors and IN
the side streets Of tho Bourse, often
netting millions Of crowns, but the
game goes ON.