The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-12-23
From the Report Of Hon David A. Wells, Spe.
Cial Commissioner of tho Revenue.
Tstni Cost OF the wnr.

TGiai Cost Of the Wnr.
1t would seem TO be desirable at this
point, now that all feeling in regard to
the subject from its bearing on political
questions has apparently passed away,
TO place upon record the exact cost OF
the war, as nearly tho same can be de-
termined. With this object, attention
is asked to the following exhibit:
Tie amount of outstanding ma.
tiOnal indebtedness March, T.
1851 was SIC .t55, ,2'9 %
During the four years of war which
terminated in April, 1863, april |, 1861,
TO April |, 1852 the actual receipts OF
the Treasury were as follows:
From Internal Revenue .S3l+ 331 ,3l7 Ol
From Customs $50 s1l ,6i5 -
From Land Observation-Disclosures. l,sl2,OS3 ~
From Direct Tax ..............-. 4,6tc,2 81
From Miscell IpcOus SOutces..--. 7l,l2J 4l3 81
Total receipts. sG75, 799 COL "a
The receipts of revenue from April !,
1855, to June 30 1869, inclusive, during
wtiyh period the larger portion of the
expenditures has been directly in conse-
quence of the war, were as follows:
From Internal Revenue. ....... 1907 2'r7, 22i Al
From Customs. I2l 99l ,cI5 ~
From Lands. ds...-.-....-.......-. I,lJ2 lcc -
From Direct IaX.........-..... 9OlT 2l7 81
From Miscellaneous Sources. 1874 9ig l2l l3
Total receipts. 900, ,567 ,C2J o.
The amount of outstanding in.
dsbtcdness. less cash and sink
isG fund in Treasury, June 80
lsO9, was. 8, ,4s9 COa 40 IS
Deducti9e from this the snsunt
OF outstanding Indebtedness
at the outbreak of the war,
$50 - ,2Jy y - we have as the
sun borrowed for war purpOs-
e., and not repaid out OF the
receipts above Indicated ..-.. 2,4l2 81 lsl 30
Making the total expenditure
luans and receipts in eight
and a quarter years Of war
and its effects .............si,9c9i44o 4os 80
Deductiug the amount which,
but for the war, might he
taken as the average sNpendi.
tuIe OF the Government dur.
Ing this period, say one hun.
dTcd millions per annum. SIS, 600 900 90
we Email hlEo.----- --.<f lHl lyli fJJ ~
Which sum represents the cost of the
war to the United States Government
down 10 June 30, 1862
To this sum should be added the value
OF the pensions now paid by the Govern
ment on account of the war, if the same
were capitalized. This, ut eight
years purchase Of the present annual
payment, would amount TO about two
hundred millions.
But this aggregate, however large,
must still further be increased by other
items, if we would re ich the true cost
of the war to us as a people, the above
representing only the expenditures of
the National Government.
These additional charges are substan.
TALLY as follows:
Increase of State debts. mainly on
war raCconnt...........-- 81 3 600 600
county, city and town Indebtedness
increased on account OF the war
te.timatedJ. ........................ OOOOO, ,O,o
Expenditures of States. counties
cities and towns, on account of the
war; not represented 10y funded
debt testimatedJ J................... 6ao,OoO,coo
Estimated loss To the loyal States
from the diversion and Suspension
industry, and the reduc ion of
the American marine aud Carving
trade rade-.;::............;:.....:....I2 Il 2oaooO, 100
Estimated direct expenditures and
loss of property by the Confeder.
ate States by reason of the wa. 9 700 001 900
These estimates, which are believed
to be moderate aud reaSopable.,.how an
aggregate destruction Of wealth. or di
version of Industry which would have
produced wealth, in the United States
since 1861, appro1inating nine thoq-
saud millions Of dollars-a SUN Domi-
nally in excess of ths entire increase Of
wealth, as returned By the census. for
the whole country from l55O to 1860.
What does it measured 1t is substan-
TALLY thousand millions a year for
nine years. or, at the wages of Eve hun.