The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-07-04
HUMAN LIFE THE PAYMENT.
The Conquest of Advancing Civi1iza-
ton Have Strewn the Earth
with the Bones of Men.


Nations have been baptized in hui
man blood, and each foundation stone
of progress has crushed the life out
of some mortal. We daily read the
story of deaths that come through dis
ease, deaths that we call natSral, and
then we read the startling accounts of
deaths that come suddenly and uneX-
pectedly, to the well, strong, vigorous
and active mortals who are busily en-
gagged in the work of the world, says
the ST. Louis Republic.
These latter emphasize the terrible
fact that every human advance, every
evidence of progress, every improve
ment that means a higher civilization,
every wonderful machine, every great
engineering feat, every towering build
ing and every work that has form
stands as monument to some life that
has gone out that it might exist.
Digging and delving among the dry
bones of statistics has resurfected fig
ures full of interest in showing the
value of a human life, not spared to
disease and old age, but taken in the
accomplishment of some work of hu-
man progress.
These figures show that through
fierce war each square mile of terri
tory gained or maintained by nations
of the earth has cost a human life.
Some have cost more, some less; but
taking the world over, since history be-
gan, the records show a charge of one
antimely death against each $40
acres.
Each pair of church spires that point
toward the clouds stand for monu-
ment to grave somewhere. Since rec
ords of deaths by accident have been
kept they show that the life of one
mortal has gone out with each two
churches reared. All buildings have
taken part in the same work. Apoorly
constructed scaffold, an insecure
fastening, parting rope, a swinging
timber, a loose board and scores of
other things that tell of human fallibil-
ity have contributed to make this rec
ord.
Men have burrowed in the ground
and dug their own graves-their first
temporary resting places, where they
were to lie in death--where q moment
before they were in active life. Every
Eve miles of tunnel blasted from the
rocks and dug from the earth re-
luires the life of one man
We gather heat, light and power
rom the sun-made coal that was stored
for US centuries ago, and each million
ha1 Of 4 re
life before it>passes from it's ancient
bed to the surface of the ground.
Since man has delighted in what is
bright and lasting, he has sought for
gold and made from it the great lever
that moves the world; but it has had it's
price. Each 100000 of gold has
asked for a human sacrifice and re-
ceived it.
Since before the dawn of history
ships have spread. their winglike sails
and carried man from shore to shore,
and recently harnessed steam has
passed them in the race; tat from the
time when shipwrecks were first re-
corded until to-day the ships have de-
manded human toll. and at the end of
each $4,000 miles that each one sails it
drops living soul into never-resur-
recting sea, or casts it dead into the
arms of the shore.
Where boats would not do man has
suspended his bridges, and each one of
these that spans navigable water
marks the spot where man was
brought to his death through an acct
dent.
So on the steel highways, where,
through the energy of steam, we rush
with the speed of the wind, the law says
that one life must be given for each
| 100000 travellers, and the law is
| obeyed.
Look where you will. these accidents
confront you. Life with its require
menfS DavS IFS vav with life