Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-25
WOULD SAVE LIVES
Conserving Life Subject for
indianapolis Congress.
VALUE AS MONEY MAKER
Different Phases of Question Will Be
Considered.
OPINIONS HELD BY EXPERTS
Some Place Value as High as
$1,000, While Others Give
Lower Figure.
AS MONEY MAKER
OPINIONS HELD BY EXPERTS

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, August "a
Eminent men from all parts of the
United States and Europe have been in
vited to discuss the question of conserv-
ing human life at the fourth annual
meeting of the National Conservation
Congress in Indianapolis. October to 4.
inclusive. Present indications are that
the largest number of notables ever as
sembled on the American continent will
be present and that the scope of the dis
cussion will be broader than ever before
attempted.
The question of conserving human life
in all its different phases will be con-
sdered Especial attention will be di
rected to the money value Of increased
vitality. Estimate of the money value of
preventable wastes. experts declare. de-
ponds on the valuation of human life, of
which several different appraisals have
been attempted.
Prof j. S. Nicholson estimated that in
Great Britain human labor capitalized
was worth five times all other capital.
Engel computed that each child cost
100 marks at birth, 10 marks the first
year. 12O the second. and so on. At twen-
ty he will have cost 2,31O marks, or $3.50.
But one-half die before twenty. therefore
each person who reaches the age of
that $500. possibly as high as $1,000, if
Engel's estimates are correct
Prof. Mayo Smith estimated that men
and women between the ages f fifteen
and forty-five averaged $1,000 in value.
Depends on Earning Power.
In a report issued recently on national
vitality, Prof. Irving Fisher of Yale Uni
versity declared that the best method of
estimating the economic value of life and
it's increased duration is by the captaliza-
ton of earning power
DIR. William Farr of England las ,esti-
mated that a baby born to an English ag-
ricultural laborer is worth in capitalized
earning power about $25. This is the
discounted value of It's future earnings
estimated on it's probable life, less the
discounted value of the cost Of rearing
1t during the period of dependence and
of maintaining 1t when helpless through
old age In the same way he estimates
TIE value Of a life at other ages 49,
With the present population OF the
United States, statistics show that there
are always more than 100000 persons
on the sick list. For the most part these
persons are older than the average In
vestigation shows that morbidity IN
creases with age in geometric progress
sion. BY means of simple arithmetic and
assuming that average earnings in the
working period are $780, and that only
three ourths Of the 100000 potentia!
workers would be occupied, 1t is found
that more than $J0O,OO0,OOO is lost in
earnings.
Computation on Illness.
Statistics compiled by the commissioner
of labor show that the average expendi
ture for illness and deaths amounts to
SGT per annum. This is for workingmen S
families only. But even this figure, if
applied to the 10000 600 families of the
United States. would make the total bill
for caring for illness and death 100000
900. The true cost may well be worth
more than twice this sum. The sum OF
the costs of illness. including loss of
wages and cost Of care. is thus $46o. o,oGO
plus $500 OOO, 600 or $3.50, 100000.
The cost of the care of the insane and
feeble minded is estimated by Charles
L. Dana at SS5.OOO.O 600 annually. Experts
say that what fraction of these costs is
preventable it is difficult to say. The
economic loss due to alcohol has been
variously estimated OF the billion dol
lars found to represent the cost OF III
ness, by far the major part is avo1dable
This is the belief of the best observers.
There are no exact statistics of pre-
Variability.
1t is safe to conclude, however. that at
saved from the present cost of illness.
This does not include the losses from
inefficient work due to drunkenness or
other vicious habits. 1t also does not in
clude the cost of undue fatigue, which
there is every reason to believe exceeds
in its effect on efficiency the loss from
illness.