A Journey Through France in War Time Part 18

Of course, I have at once communicated your report in French to the Chambers of Commerce and I was pleased to place such a useful and well established doc.u.ment at their disposal.

I trust to hear from you soon, and with very kind regards.

I beg to remain, Cordially yours, MAURICE DAMOUR.

Depute de Lands.

Bordeaux the 29th November, 1916.

Dear Mr. Butler:--

I beg to tender you my very best thanks for the copy of your report on French Steel Industry in war time you so kindly sent me.

I learned a lot by reading it, and it is comforting to know that on the other side of the Atlantic, we have friends not sparing their time and their energy, for helping us through the tremendous struggle we are fighting.

Your flag is made of the same colors as our flag, both are the same symbol of human rights and Liberty.

Yours very truly, D. G. MESTREZAT.

Joseph G. Butler, Jr., Esq., Member of the American Commission to France, Youngstown, Ohio, U. S. A.

11 Ironmonger Lane London 31st January, 1917.

J. G. Butler, Jr., Esq., Youngstown, O.

My dear Mr. Butler:--

I have received your lines of the 29th ultimo, and your most charming verses which accompanied them; also your report on the French Steel Industry, which I read with very much interest.

The people on your side do things in a very thorough manner. For instance, I do not think that we have sent a deputation to consider the state of trade in France, but numerous committees, dealing with various important trades of the country, are conferring in regard to "trade after the war conditions"--I hope with advantage.

I trust that out of all the trials of war time there will emerge a period when the angel of co-operation with healing in his wings will again have a chance of being heard.

My wife sends you her kindest regards, as I do also. I have most pleasant memories of my visits to the United States and of the hospitalities which you and your hospitable brethren invariably extended to me.

Believe me, Yours sincerely,

WM. R. PEAT.

Lyon, Nov. 23rd, 1916.

Ministere de la Guerre Inspections Generales 5e Arrondiss.e.m.e.nt Lyon

9, Rue President Carnot

My dear Sir:--

I beg to thank you sincerely for that reprint of your report on the French Steel Industry, which I have read through with great pleasure and most interest.

Besides, I am glad to take such an opportunity to remember the time we spent together so agreeably in Lyons, and remain, dear sir,

Yours very truly, A. D'AMAND.

Paris, Dec. 27th, 1916.

Mr. J. G. Butler, Youngstown, O., U. S. A.

Dear Sir:--

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letters of November 6th and 9th, in which you send to me the text of the report of your trip in France and an interview that you have granted to a representative of a newspaper before landing.

I thank you very kindly for this information and I wish to testify to the pleasure afforded me by the good impression which you brought back of your trip. I beg you to be so kind as to excuse me for delaying so long in answering your letter--a delay caused by the work that we give to the intensive effort toward the production of war material.

As you have made the request of me, I shall tell you very frankly the few observations which have been suggested to my by the reading of your report.

First of all you have noted the lack of any safety apparatus in the factories and the lack of placards by means of which, in the United States, the attention of the laborer is called to the probable dangers of his profession. The last part of the observation is particularly well founded, but you must not forget that working conditions in France are quite different from those existing in the United States. In our country, the metal workers are taught more slowly; as a rule they start their apprentices.h.i.+p earlier and their professional education wards them against the dangers of the plant.

As to the safety apparatus, perhaps they have been neglected in some workshops erected during the war, but they are required by law and always installed in times of peace.

I can tell you that as far as the Schneider's establishments are concerned, special safety regulations were established twenty years ago, with such care that they are actually in use almost without modifications up to the present time.

I have had looked up, some records on the fatal accidents in the French and in the American metallurgical factories. I notice that, according to the report of conditions of employment in the Iron and Steel Industry in the United States, the percentage of fatal accidents in America was 1.86 for 1000 laborers in 1909 and 1910, while in France it was only 0.6 for 1000 laborers.

The comparison of these figures will show you the accuracy of what I have just indicated to you. As to wages it is certain that the French wages have nothing in common with the American prices, but the cost of living is much less.

One cannot therefore compare the figures according to the report which gives the exchange between the monetary units of the two countries.

Finally, in the chapter "Collaboration between the Manufacturers"

it is shown that the production of which the French industry has been deprived, consisted entirely of Thomas, or Basic (Bessemer) Steel and acid Open Hearth Steel.

In reality the East and North departments of France, which have been invaded, were producing chiefly Basic Bessemer pig iron and steel. Open Hearth, Acid and Basic steel figured only as a relatively small tonnage.

As you take an interest in the social question, I thought I was doing right in having addressed to you, by the same mail, a copy of our pamphlet on social economy.

I trust that the materials which you will find in it will allow you to complete the data that you have been able to gather in the course of your trip.

Yours very truly, SCHNEIDER & CO.

H. COQUEUGNOT

Paris, December 2nd, 1916.