The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1911-11-16
WAR EXPENSES.
{ By G.. w. Avery.

(By G. w. Avery.)
Competent authorities estimate
the worlds annual expenditure fol-
war armament at $2,25O.OOO,OOO
a figure beyond the power of human
brain to grasp. The stupendous
work of digging the Panama canal
challenges the admiration Of the
world, but this figure of money
wasted on war equipment would
build six canals like the Panama ev-
cry year. It would build seven rail-
ways across the continent OF Amer
lea. or $1,000 miles Of railway.
The annual expenditure for war
armament and maintenance in the
United States is $4O0,OO0,OO0, equal
Ing four-tenths OF the total nation
al revenue. To put the question in
a different light, if a citizen had
an annual income of $1,000 per an
mum. and spent $4,000 of it for
guns, ammunition, watchmen and
other lines Of protection for his home
he would be in the same line as the
nation. Our war expenditure in
time of peace just equals the nation
al expense for public schools.
$500. 100000 for war and our ma
tional wheat crop worth $58O,OOO,-
900. Dat crop worth 1885. 0O0, 900.
Total production of lumber $685, 900
600. These few figures, in COM
parison will enable the human mind
to grasp and compare the national
war expense.
Perhaps these enormous expendi-
lures for war are necessary. Per-
haps We are not near enough to a
perfect civilization to be able to
keep the world at peace without
big guns and navies, but the time
Is surely ripe for strenuous trial to
accomplish something along these
lines,
This tremendous expenditure is
Just that mach lost energy and leaves
the world no better off at the end
of the year than if the same amount
CT energy had been expended in
moving a pile of stones from one
corner of yard and then moving
tnem back again. Nay more it is q
very heavy loss Of good material
that ought to be used in legitimate
industrial pursuits. Whatever faults
we may find with President TAFT, he
Is surely right when he tries to Sc
cure a broader and more liberal in
ternational treaty with Great Britain
and France. By the same course of
reasoning the senate is as far
wrong in their refusal to pass and
approve OF these treaties.
Only ~ percent of the farm land
OF the United States is improved. 81
per cent is reported as uninformed.
Figure If you can the tremendous
change that would come over the
condition of the people If this vast
sum could be used to irrigate and
reclaim the millions of acres of rich
agricultural land now lying idle.
We talk about the cost of living
and wonder what is the cost of it
oelng so high, but If we would lust
stop a few minutes and think we
would see that it is misdirected en-
'ergy that Is the cause of nearly all
OF our troubles.
We look with pity on the conden-
satlon OF poverty in the great cities.
out we would have another Thought
coming If we could provide means
70 move millions of these poor peo-
PIE onto the land where nature in
tended they should be.
Sometime, somewhere,we will nm
derstand. Up the steep of time the
old world slowly moves. Sometime
we will reach level Of civilization
where men will cease making great
engines OF war with which to XIII
the fellow men. The same rules
OF law and arbitration that gov
ems individuals in the settlement
OF their disputes ought to be used
TO settle national difficulties. for
what y a nation but a group OF in