The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-09-05
HALF CENTURY
REQUIRED TO
REPAIR THE WAR
Noted Inventor Believes Conflict
Will Cost Seventy Billions

New York. Sept. talking issue
with other statisticians more moderate
i'm their estimates, Nikola Tesla. inven-
tor OF electrical contrivances, said the
total cost of the general war now going
on probably will not be less than $40
coo 0000 900
THE present war may easily involve
2O000000 combatants." said Mr.. Tesla
Il have seen an estimate Of a total cost
of S50,O0O,00O day. This is too low.
The number OF those disabled through
wounds and disease was recently
placed at 100000. This, also. is too
moderate. II would be less than two
and one-half per cent, and II must be
remembered that in the most recent
great war preceding this, the Balkan
struggle, the casualties were ten times
greater, or 20 per cent
observe that it is reported Belgium
lost $500, 100000 in two weeks fighting
while there were no large cities in the
path OF the Germans
Military Operations Small Part.
The difficulty with most statisti-
clans Of was losses is that they simply
consider the cost OF military opera
tions. This is a small fraction Of the
whole waste.
ITO measure the losses due TO war
merely by statistical standards is alb
surd. An example will make this clear
The strain imposed upon country in
a state of siege is compelling Of strict
economy. The savings thus effected 20
to offset the drain OF war. Theoretical
~, it is possible for a nation. by liv-
ing on bread and water and curtailng
all expenses, TO accumulate enough
for not only meeting the cost of mill
tary operations, but leaving surplus
besides From the point Of view OF
the statistician such a war, far from
being costly, would be the very means
Of creating wealth.
1t is equally reasonable TO define
the waste of international conflict as
the excess Of waste in time of war
over that in time Of peace. A quality
b may be deducted from a quantity
a and the difference will be ABB on
the supposition, however, that the
quantities are composed Of identical
units.
Now, while the same human beings
are concerned both in peace and war.
these two states bear no resemblance
10 each other. In one, reason and sober
sense feeling Of safety, and desire TO
do justice, prevail; in the other. these
beneficial influences are weakened, and
folly, feat and greed assert themselves.
War changes individuals as we'll as
values.
Daily shrinksge s15ooooooo.
a true appreciation Of the enor-
nous losses likely 20 result from this
Unprecedented calamity can only be
gained by taking into account its effect
on all phases and conditions Of indi-
yidual and national existence. Stated
in the order Of their magnitude these
losses may be enumerated az follows:
Temporary or permanent
shrirkase Il wealth Of nations as dis
tiuct from negotiable securities. The
total wealth q the countries involved
is about three hundred billions Of dol
lars. Assume only a moderate pro-
cuction OF 10 per cent and suppose fur
Their that the war should last from six
20 seven months. or about 200 days, as
forecast by experts. then the daily
shrinkasc will amount 70 $4,000, 900.
To he sure, such depreciation II ply
steal possessions is mostly due % ig-
norsrce and faintheartedness Of the |
people. for the properties are there and !
some are ludcs,ructible But just the !
same the warning nations will lose
credit and plrchasiu- power, and !
viii be subjected for an indefinite PEE
riod To- suffer.E2s and pri.atons. an Of |
which must be- interpreted as loss ot so |
much money.
Losses in Industrial Pursuits.
"SecoEd-Au losses, individual and |
collective. caused by Interference Of |
war with the wheeIwork ~ manufac-
turc industry ana commerce These re-
fleet particularly on the market value
OF negotiable securities. which cousu-
tute from twenty Co.. thirty per cent II
the whole national wealth. For obyl-
Gus reasons they are apt 10 DO very
large, and the shrukagc may easily
amount for the above period To- 500
100000 a day
Third Specific losses due 20 de-
struction of existing private and public
including implements and
Of war These viii greatly
depend on the circumstances, but may
be placed at from $5OO00,oo0 to $50
OO0. 600 "a dag.
"Fourth-Loss 81 life and disabling
through wounds and disease Judging
from the data Of the Balkan war the
casualties cannot be taken az less than
l. per cent making the total Of g.
100000. Assuming an average Of $500
per individual. this waste will be near
" S1A000.O0O a day
"Fifth-Daily cost Of military opera
ions. which may amount from &25,-
300 600 to s30.OOO,OOO.
According TO this rough estimate
he total waste cannot be much less
han $4,000. COOS 900, making almost %
,cr cent OF the total wealth Of the
4 ..f. i