The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-07-13

proXlmately s5oVi UM3N U11EEG2kNk
100000 for rural
/ nee delivery. and Gibson GARDNER
$3u0, 5000 Tor
public buildings and grounds, whlle
our total expenditures during the
sa>rS period on account OF the navy
and army have run above $2,SOo'-
100000.
II these sums had been expended
upon roads, bridges. harbors, rivers
rural routes and postal improvements,
they would have furnished the Uni
ted States with greatly increased "a
cilities for increased production and
transportation. Expended as they
have been. there is little TO show.
During the past 80 years, the navy
alone has cost 81 100000 600. Half
OF that sum applied to road construc-
ton would have built 100000 miles
of roads at $4,000 mile.
A small part of these governmental
expenditures would have furnished
opportunities for homemakers who
are anxious TO make living from
the land.
An expert In the agricultural de-
partment has expressed the situation
this way:
"a 40-acre farm of irrigated land
comfortably supports a family OF hve
persons. II costs $4,000 TO make
l2.inch gun. The money that goes TO
pay for this gun would reclaim l,57l
acres OF land, providing homes for
1876 people When all the guns on all
dur battleships are shot at one time,
the government blows in noise and
smoke $3.50 ,000 This would reclaim
more than 1000 acres of land, giving
homes TO more than 500 farmers and
their families. The money consumed
in powder Is lost 10 all the future.
The farmer who buys the reclaimed
land, must pay the government back
in 10 years, so II does not cost the
government anything to build up the
country by helping the farmer We
should make more homes, and not so
many lighting machines
Another expert has made compare
cons with battleshp building and In
dustrial uses as follows:
The cost OF a battleship would
build a macadam road Of approved
construction between the cities OF
Chicago and New York. Fifty man
ual training schools could be built
and equipped with necessary. tools
and appliances for the cost OF
battleship, teaching the rudiments OF
trade to $4,000 young people each
year
THE congressional library at Wash
ington, the finest library building
in the world was built for but little
over half the cost of battleship, and
IS maintained for three-fourths the
cost of keeping a battleship afoat.
"The proposed White mountain for.
est reserve, containing 100000 acres
OF burned-over and unproductive lands
could be purchased and planted for
the cost of one battleship.
"The price OF two battleships is
only 100000 less than the estimat-
ed cost of making the proposed six
foot channel in the Mississippi river
from ST. Paul to the mouth OF the
Missouri river.
THE investment OF $9,000,000
(three-fourths the cost OF a battle
skip used in construction OF irriga-
ton works in Salt River Valley, Ariz..
will reclaim 240, 900 acres, provide
homes for 5000 families, and increase
the value of taxable property not less
than $24,000,000."
The late Justice Brewer once named
six reasons why congress provides
grudgingly for great industrial inn
provements, while spending the peo-
pies money with such lberality for
military uses These are the reasons:
First-Seyen hundred and twenty
seven retired, and active navy and
army officers live in Washington, and
are fast making II an army and navy
center They are clamorous for more
ornaments. Second-Ccrtaln pow
erfrl vested interests want contracts
for ornaments. They maintain lob
byists at the capitol, and influence a
goodly portion of the press. Third
The taxpayers do not know that
Uncle Sam spends 20 cents out OF
every dollar=appnopriated on account
OF past wars, or in preparation for
future wars. Fourth-The man who
hangs on the car straps, and reads
scare headlines. and nhammatory
speeches, concludes at once that we
are on the eve OF war, when this war
exists only in the Imagination OF
flamboyant orators, or subsidized writ
ers. Fifth--An ambitious navy league
disseminates fustian about maintain
Ing our prestige, and the consequent
necessity for multiplying costly and
. short-lived machines for killing men
Sixth--Many members OF really pa
triotic societies look backward, In.
stead OF forward. Glorying in dread
naughts, and parades, they ignore the
real force OF that quiet and patriotic
craftsmanship which in different
lands has secured 100 arbitration
treaties in six years. and averted who
knows how many wars.