The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-24


crease of the burdens of the nations
of the earth for war preparations,
which are growing heavier year by
year, with no prospect of relief.
According to this circular the aver
age annual cost of the army and navy
of the United States for the eight years
preceding the Spanish War was $751;
100000. The average annual cost for
the last eight years, 1902-191O has
been $1S5, 100000. This makes total
increase in eight years of $1,072,0Ov,-
600, or $50 per cent. This eight year
increase exceeds the national debt by
$15S, 100000. 1t is greater than the
entire budget of the United States for
1910. 1t is nearly three times the es-
timated cost of replanting the 56,000,-
900 acres of denuded forest lands in
this country. 1t is three times the es-
timated cost of the Panama Canal, in
Guiding the purchase price from the
French company. 1t is three times
the cost of carrying out the whole ir-
rigation program contemplated within
a generation. 1t is estimated to be
enough to Danish from the United
States within reasonable time, the
disease, tuberculosis, which claims
every year more than 100000 victims.
1t is $50 for every family in the Unit
ed States. 1t lays a yearly tax of IA
per cent. on the total wages paid in
this country, estimating an average
wage of $500 for each family. The
increase for 10000 is only $4,000, 900
less than all the gifts to charities, Ii
braIies, educational and other public
causes in 1909, which reached the vast
total of S1S5,000 900. Less than twenty
years increase, at the present rate,
will absorb the price of the Panama
Canal, complete systems of deep wat
er ways, of national forests, of irriga-
ton for arid lands, and money to pay
the national debt.
Several other striking comparisons
are made. The cost of 26,000-ton
battleship is given as $12,00000O and
twenty years upkeep at 100000 a
year brings the total to $2S,000,000.
For 100000 400 churches may be
built at $4,000 each 1000 farms may
! be purchased at $4,000 each; college
! education may be obtained for A.
900 men or women at $500 year for
four years.
An investment of $9000,000 (three-
fourths the cost of pattleship) used
in construction of irrigation works in
Salt River Valley, Arizona, will re.
claim 100000 acres, provide homes for
5000 families, and increase value Of
taxable property not less than $24,.
100000
The proposed White Mountain For.
est Reserve, containing 100000 acre:
of burned-over and unproductivt
lands, could be purchased and planted
for the cost of one battleship.
one million dollars less than the es
timated cost of making the proposed
6-foot channel in the Mississippi Riv
er from st. Paul to the mouth of thu
Missouri River.
Fifty manual training schools coulC
be built and equipped with necessar!
tools and appliances for the cost o
battleship, teaching the rudiment'
of trade to $4,000 young people eacI
year.
The Congressional Library at Wash
ington, the finest library building il
the world was built for but little owe
half the cost of battleship, and il
maintained for three-fourths the cos
of keeping battleship afoat.
The cost of battleship would builC
a macadam road of approved con
struction between the cities of Chicago
and New York.
Our Government cannot stop sud
denly the building and maintaining O
warshps, but there are many who be
lieve that the United States need no
attempt to keep up with England ant
=. Germany in naval construction. Ou
position is such that we might ap
peal powerfully for reduction o
ornaments without danger that W,
would be charged with weakness O.
cowardice. 1t is a wholesome thin,
to acquaint the people of this countr.
with the awful cost of our war ex
penditures and to cultivate a senti
ment in favor of international arbi
tration.
STRENGTH IN LEADERSHIP.