FRANCE! PARTS.
25
both The warrant and the receipt to the buyer, who ran then himself
arrange as to leaving the goods or taking them from the warehouse.
The holder of a warrant who has lent money on deposited goods
can sell the goods after eight days’ protest—i. e., if the loan is not
repaid at the time stipulated, the goods can be disposed of by the
lender as if they were his own. The company is responsible for all
irregularities, and therefore assures itself that goods deposited are in
the condition stated in the documents. Any merchant holding a bill
properly made out can call at the offices of the company and give
instructions for the delivery or acceptance of goods. He may dis
count the value up to 70 or 80 per cent, or he may have them deliv
ered to a third party and discount his invoice.
STORAGE OF GOODS.
Americans do not make much use of these warehouses, and the little
use they do make of them is principally for agricultural machinery.
No distinctions are made as to nationality; indeed, one of the provi
sions of the concession to the company is that no exception or favor is
to be shown to anyone.
Goods remain in the warehouses for any period from ten days to
two years, but the company calculates that on an average the ware
houses are full for six months in the year. Sugar is often deposited
for ten days because of the special facilities accorded, thus enabling
a merchant to realize immediately on his stock.
The goods generally stored in the warehouses in Paris are sugar,
coffee, grain, coal, wood, stone, wine and spirits, chemicals, hardware,
dry goods, oils, raw goods. In 1908 as many as 4,500,000 sacks (of
100 kilograms [220.40 pounds | each) of sugar were stored with the
company in Paris at one time, and over 1,000,000 sacks in the ware
houses of the same company in the provinces. About 9,000,000 sacks
°f sugar alone passed through the company’s hands in the course of
the year.
CHARGES.
The tariff varies according to the kind of goods. Thus sugar (raw)
pays hut 1 franc ($0,193) per month per 1,000 kilograms (2,204.0
pounds), with 1.50 francs (29 cents) per 1,000 kilograms for cost of
handling when goods are received and sent out. Tobacco pays 2 francs
per 1,000 kilograms per month, with 3 francs (57.9 cents) per 1,000
kilograms for handling. Machines, packed, pay 2 francs per 1.000 kil
ograms per month, with 75 centimes ( 14.5 cents) per hour for the time
occupied in handling. Coffee pays 1 franc only, with 2 francs for
handling. Crain pays 10 centimes (2 cents) per sack of 100 kilograms
(220.40 pounds) per month ; handling, weighing, etc., according to
special tariff supplied by the company. Vanilla, being a valuable
commodity, pays 10 francs ($1.93) per 1,000 kilograms per month,
with 4 francs (0.772) for handling.
HANDLING OF GOODS.
I he cost of removal of goods is fixed in the tariff of the company.
1 lie work is undertaken by the company itself wiJi its own wagons,
barges, and locomotives.