The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-23
War Cost Will Be Seventy
Billion Dollars, Says Tesla
Famous Inventor Says Other Statisticians' Estimates
Have Been Too Moderate-ASSerts 1t Will Take
Forty Years to Repair the Damages.

position, however. that the quantities
are composed OF identical unities.
Now, 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 sober
sense, a feeling Of safety and desire TO
do justice prevail: in the other these ben
efCial influences are weakened. and folly.
fear and greed assert themselves. War
changes individuals as well as values
A true appreciation Of the enormous
losses which are likely to result from
this unprecedented calamity can only be
gained by taking into account its effect
on all phases and conditions OF indiyid-
ual and national existence. Stated in
the order OF their magnitude these losses
may be enumerated as follows:
ShrInEaEe of Values.
First. temporary or permanent shrink
age of wealth Of nations as distinct from
negotiable securities. The total wealth
of the countries involved is about $3nO.-
OJ0.On0 Assume only a moderate pIduc-
ton Of 10 per cent, and suppose further
that the war should last from SIX TO
seven months, or about 200 days. as fore
cast by experts. then the daily shrink
age will amount TO Slj0OOO.OOO. To he
sure. such depreciation Of physical pos
sessions is mostly due to ignorance and
faint-heartedness Of the people. for the
properties are there and some are indP-
structible. But Just the same the war
ring nations will lose credit and pur-
chasing power and will be subjected for
az indefinite period to suferings and nri-
vatiOns. all Of which must be interpreted
loss Of so much money.
Second, all losses. individual and COL
lective. caused by interference Of war
Mil ha 10 n al If IA.
industry and commerce. These reflect
particularly on the market value of Nc
gotiable securities. which constitute from
20 TO 81 per cent Of the whole national
wealth For obvious reasons they are
apt to he very large. and the shrinkaze
may easily amount for the above period
to Sl0o.0o0. Oh a day.
100000 Casualties Daily.
Third specific losses due to destruc-
ton of existing private and public prop
erty. including implements and materials
OF war. These will greatly depend on
the circumstances. but may be placed at
from S5O.o0oOOO to S75,OOOO0O a day
Fourth, loss OF life and disabling
through wounds and disease. Judging
from the data OF the Balkan war, the
casualties cannot be taken at less than
Is per cent. making the total of 300. OOO
Assuming. an average OF s2,5Oo per in
dividual. this waste will be nearly sl4-
100000 a day.
Fifth. daily cost of military opera
tons. which may amount from $25.NOO,O Oo
to 100000
According to this rough estimate the
total waste cannot be much less than
$40 900. 10000. making almost > per cent
OF the total wealth Of the countries in
the world. In the best circumstances II
will take from forty TO fifty years TO re-
pair the financial damage, not to speak
of the injury to the races and retardR-
ton of social progress in all directions"
Negroes own 1888 farms. valued at ST.
16S 80 in Missouri.