Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1846-12-08
JOLIET SIGN AL.
JOLIET, ILL.
Tuesday, December 8, 1s4G.
THE EXPENSES OF THE WAR.
] OLIE T, Ill


we would be brought TO the conclusion
that the United States would actually be
srained" by its tremendous" expenses
An empty treasury is held up to view,will
all its disastrous consequences. We are
told that should the present war continue
six months longer, that our nation will be
involved in debt entirely beyond its re.
sources. This is indeed horrible picture
to behold. A nation which has ever
been able to meet all its engagements, and
has never been delinquent in single in.
stalment of interest since its organization,
to be thus Involved would be terrible
catastrophe.
But let US examine this view of the
question, and see ifthis debt will amount
to such a mammoth sum. We were
compelled to engage in this war by
Mexico, when this government was in
possession ofover million of musISets
and swords, and due proportion of other
equipments, which were contained in our
arsenals. The arsenal at Washington.
alone, is said to have contained powder
and balls enough to have supplied our
army with shooting material Cor mum.
Der of years of war with Mexico. Our
government is bountifully supplied with
all the other implements Of destruction.
such as bombs, ''peaee MAKERS" pistols,
cutIasses, rockets, &C., in sufficient guam.
titles for war of several years, with eve n
Great Britain herself 1t is stated that
there has been none of these weapons or
implements purchased since the com.
meneefnent ofthis war, and probably viii
not be during its continuance. 1t is no
more than reasonable to conclude that
the only additional expenses, of much
consequences, will be those oftransporta.
tion4ad substance. The expenses Of
Of the navy will not exceed that Of former
years.
We have endeavoredt to find the neces-
sity for these "repor;ed'' expenditures. but
we confess that we see nothing that is
alarming. True we see daily their mag.
nitude held up in glaring capitals, which
would lead one to suppose that the nation
would be irretrievably ''luined'' before
the termination ofthe contest. We have
seen some statistical calculations which
were made by the Philadelphia Ledger,
that appearto be possessed of great de-
gree of accuracy. 1t estimates the nun.
Der OF Troops alreadyin service, at about
twenty thousand; and contemplates the
probability of twenty thousand being re-
CURED for the next six months, but it is not
likely that SO large number will be need
ed by our government These twenty
thousand men and officers will require,
according to the estimate, during that pc.
Rod, for substance pay, clothing, &C.,
about $3.50 each, which will amount to
$3,0O0s000. Their transportation will
probably be about s 400. 900, which would
be allowing $40 TO each. Five huadred
baggage wagons Willie required, which
will cost $3.50 each. or $4,000; one hun
dred mules at SIS each 1000 horses for
wagons, at $50 each three Hundred tents
$40 each; three thousand horses and
equipments for dragons, at 800 each
Tor he purchase and hire of steamboats,,
DC, and for other necessary expenses,
about S2,o00,080. These several amounts
make an aggregate of near S6,0oO,000.
fhen admitting that there viii be forty
thousand men in the field for the next six
months, and allowing the same ratio of
expenses to each man, it will be found that
the whole expenditures foroae year, if the
war should last so long, will not exceed
$4,000, 900. 1t viii be recollected that
S1oG0a.o00 were appropriated atthe last
session of Congress, for the war, beyond
the ordinary expenses in time Of peace.
It win be perceived that but a portion Of
this sum bas been expended. Taking all
these things into consideration with a
revenue Of over twenty-five millions of
dollars, We dolnot believe that we will. on
the termination of this wlr, (which we
hope will soon be- be so terribly in debt
aaer all.
aRUIS. - We see il stated that tbe
demand for girls TO work in the Lowell
factories is 50 great in consequence ofthe