Era Of Progress And Peace, Say Noted Germans.

New York Times 100 years ago today, June 8, 1913:
Arthur Von Gwinner, the Eminent Financier Writes of Germany's Economic Advance and Alfred M. Fried the Peace Advocate Writes of the Kaiser's Determined Stand Against War.Herr von Gwinner, author of the article printed below, is one of the most eminent of Germany's financiers. He is a Director of the Deutsche Bank in Berlin and President of the Bagdad Railway Company.
By Arthur Von Gwinner,
    THE year 1888 saw three German Emperors: First, the old Emperor William I., whose passing away marked the close of an epoch that brought to the German people long-missed and hard-fought-for national unity.
    Second, the unfortunate Emperor Frederick III., who reigned, alas! 100 days only. One of his last utterances, written when he could no longer speak, has remained a mark of his heroic character and death: "Learn to suffer without complaining."
    Third, in June, 1888, twenty-five years ago, his son and heir, William II., ascended the throne. His reign will be memorable in history for achievements of peace and progress. At the head of the strongest army the world has seen, William II. has kept peace during a quarter of a century, while all his big neighbors, without any exception, have been warring and conquering. The achievements of the present Emperor's reign must be sought, therefore, in comparing the figures of the German Empire's population, wealth, and trade; its industrial, agricultural, and social progress: the nation's savings and peaceful increase.
    Let us look at some figures, comparing 1887 with 1912.

Progress During Kaiser's Reign.
    Population increased from 47,000,000 to 66,000,000. The emigration of Germans to foreign countries dropped from 66,000 to less than one-quarter of that figure; it practically has disappeared, the number of foreigners immigrating into the German Empire having come to exceed the number of emigrants. The hundreds of thousands of people which German ships carry to America every year are Russians, Poles, Hungarians, &c.
    The number of persons employed in the industries, mining, and trade has doubled — it is now about 15,000,000.
    The production of hard coal has trebled; from 60,000,000 tons it has risen to over 177,000,000 tons. The production of pig iron has more than quadrupled, from 4,000,000 tons to nearly 18,000,000. Of the former figure little more than one-quarter was steel, whereas now about seven-eighths of the iron produced is made into steel.
    Foreign trade has trebled; from 6,000,000,000 marks it has gone to over 19,000,000,000 in value.
    At the beginning of Emperor William's reign there were 39,000 kilometers of railways in Germany; there are 60,000 now. This figure of about 36,000 miles will appear small to Americans; but you must consider that the State of Texas is larger than any one of the so-called European great powers, Russia excepted.
    The German railways were earning about 500,000,000 marks net in 1888; though their length has increased only about 50 per cent., their net earnings, under Emperor William's reign, have doubled, and the tonnage has trebled.
    Letters forwarded by post have quintupled; from a total of 1,000,000,000 in 1888 they have increased to nearly 6,000,000,000. The length of telegraphs has increased threefold, that of telephone wires ninetyfold.
    The shipping increased from 95,000 ships sailed and returned to nearly three times that number, and the tonnage of ships from 18,000,000 to over 60,000,000.
    In the field of social work Germany has been at the head of all nations. The sums paid for insurance of workmen and employes, begun by Bismarck, has developed under the present Emperor's reign to about ten times the figures of 1887. Receipts for social purposes increased from 98,000,000 marks annually to nearly 1,000,000,000. The sick alone received payments in 1910 to the extent of 386,000,000 marks. The accumulated capital fund of the social insurance institute has increased from 66,000,000 marks to 2,521,000,000.
    Travel in Germany and you will hardly find such things as filth and misery such as you see in London, in Paris, and in most other capitals and countries. Travel there for some weeks and let me know whether you met with beggars. The streets of the poor quarters in Berlin and practically all other German towns are as well paved, cleaned, and lighted as those of the wealthy. Compare it with other European capitals which you are in the habit of visiting!
    Deposits in savings banks have increased about fivefold; they now exceed $4,500,000,000. Figured on every German man, woman, and child, they exceed, per head, the savings of any other nation in the world.

The Public Debt.
    There is one field where the increase is notable like-wise, but where such increase is unwelcome. The public debt of the German Empire has increased from about $150,000,000 to about $1,200,000,000. But remember that the railways owned by the Government produce more net than the total charge for interest and sinking fund of the entire debt of the Empire and Federal States. Practically, therefore, and from the standpoint of national economy, Germany has no public debt.
    The above comparisons might be multiplied almost indefinitely. But let these few figures speak for themselves. Whoever writes against Germany's ever-increasing army and navy budget ought to travel up the Rhine and study a little of history. The ruins on every hill and a lesson on every page will explain to him why Germany is arming and must continue to be armed after having kept the peace during forty years — ever since she conquered her unity and independence.
    To have preserved peace, though prepared for war, is the highest honor and brightest glory of Emperor William II.'s jubilee.

ARTHUR VON GWINNER.