The Dolores star., 1914-10-09
WAR IS EXPENSIVE

the waste Of international conflict -
the excess OF waste In time Of war
over that In time OF peace. A Quanti-
ty ID" may be deducted from . guam.
tity "a" and the difference will be "a
b" on the superstition. however. that
the Quantities are composed Of identi-
cal units.
Nov. while the same human beings
are concerned both In peace and war.
these two states bear no resemblance
to each other. In one. reason and So
Der sense. . feeling Of safety and de-
sire to do justice prevail: in the other
these beneficial Influences are weak
ened, and folly. fear and greed assert
themselves. War changes individuals
a. well ~ values.
"A true appreciation Of the enor-
nous losses which are likely TO result
from this unprecedented calamity can
only be gained BY taking into account
It's effect on all phases and conditions
OF Individual and national existence.
Stated In the order Of their magnitude
these losses may be enumerated -
follows:
First. temporary or permanent
shrinkage OF wealth Of nations - dis
tinct from negotiable securities. Tho
total wealth of the countries involved
ID about three hundred billions Of dol
lars Assume only moderate produc-
ton Of ten per cent and suppose fur.
Their that the val should last from six
to seveu months or about two hundred
days, q forecast BY experts. then the
daily shrinkage will amount 70 $780,
OO0. 900. To be sure such depreciation
Of physical possessions 10 mostly due
to igporancs and fAintheartedness Of
the people. for the properties are there
and some ara indestructible. But Just
the same the warning nations will lose
credit and purchasing power and viii
BE- subjected for m indeflnite period 10
sufierinGs and privations. all Of which
must be interpreted ~ ioss Of % much
money.
.second-All losses. individual and
collective. caused by interference Of
war with the wheelwork Of manufac-
ture. INDUSTRY and commerce. These
reflect particularly on the market
value Of negotiable securities. which
constitute from twenty to thirty per
cent OF tho whole national wealth. For
obvious reasons they arc apt to bs
very large. and the shrinkage may
easily amount for the above period 70
500. 100000 day.
"Third-specific losses due To Do
struction q existing private and pub
lie property. including implements and
materials Of war. These will greatly
depend on the circumstances. but may
be placed At from nifty TO seventy.fivs
million dollars . day.
"Fourth-Loss Of life and disahling
through wounds and disease. judging
from the data OF the Balkan war. the
casualties cannot be taken at less than
fifteen per cent. making the total Of
100000. Assuming an average Of
Tt2. 500 per individual. this waste will
be nearly fourteen million dollars .
dav
"Fifth-Daily cost OF military opera.
tions. which may amount from twenty.
i've to thirty million dollars"
According to this rough estimate the
total waste cannot be much less than
seventy billion dollars, making almost
twenty-five per cent Of the total wealth
OF the countries In tho world. In the
best circumstances Il will take from
forty TO fifty years TO repair the imam.
cial damage. not 10 speak Of the injury
to the races and retardation Of social
progress In all directions.