A French " Under ground."

This year, curiously enough, the Frenoh and English Budgets were intro duced into Parliament on the same day, and, though Sir William V. Harcourt's production was not a very exhilarating one, and notwithstanding the fact that much has been said of late about the departure of English trade to the Con tinent, the financial position of France is quite as bad as that of Great Britain. Still, the volatile and hopeful side of the French nature is asserting itself, and they have a scheme on foot which promises to land the country in an enormous expenditure, is to have its underground railway. The traffic of the streets ordinarily is greater than can be easily managed, and in view of the Universal Exhibition of 1900, it is regarded as absolutely necessary that relief should be made possible. There are some beautiful open spaces in the French capital, and it is understood that the Minister of Public Works has declared that the whole of the works are to be carried on underground, so as not to interfere with the beauty of these. This will, of course, increase the difficulty of carrying out an enterprise which would be difficult under any circumstances. Ihe cost is estimated at one hundred million ftancs, in which the State, the City of Paris, and the railway companies will participate. The sum will not seem large to a people who paid off the German indemnity in such a short time.
HOURS OF LABOR.
