ar the question of an adequate French coal supply has
been acute. Indeed, for a while the country faced a real crisis. Many of
her mines are in the hands of the Germans and she was forced to turn to
England for help. Not only has the English price risen, but to it must
be added the high cost of transportation, the heavy war risk, and all
those other details that enter into such negotiations.

France had to have coal and various enterprising Americans got on the
job. At least, they thought they were enterprising. Before they got
through, they wished that they had not been so headlong as the following
tale, now to be unfolded, will indicate.

A group of New York men made a contract to deliver three shiploads of
coal at Bordeaux at a certain price. _After_ they had signed the
contract, freight rates from Baltimore to the French port almost
doubled. This was the first of their troubles. When their vessel finally
reached Bordeaux, the dock was so crowded with ships unloading war
munitions that they could not get pier space. In France demurrage begins
the moment a ship stops outside of port. The net result was that these
vessels were held up for nearly two weeks and the high price of
transportation coupled with the very large demurrage practically wiped
out all the profits.

Another group of Americans made a contract to deliver coal to a French
railway "subject to call." Without taking the trouble to inquire just
what "subject to call" meant in France, they signed and sealed the
bargain. Then they discovered that the railroad wanted the coal
delivered in irregular instalments. Meanwhile the consignors had to
store the coal in French yards where space to-day is almost as valuable
as a corner lot on Broadway. They were glad to pay a cash bonus and
escape with their skin.

Still another group made a contract with the Paris Gas Company for a
large quantity of coal. They discovered later that the company expected
the coal to be delivered to their bins in Paris.

"But the American plan is to sell coal f.o.b. Norfolk," said the
spokesman.

"We are sorry," replied the Frenchmen, "but the coal must be delivered
to us in Paris. The English have been doing it for forty years, and if
you expect to do business with us you must do likewise."

When the Americans demurred the company held them to their contract.

This last episode shows one of the great defects in the American system
of doing business abroad. We insist upon the f.o.