Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-10-30
WAR IS EXPENSIVE

the waste OF 1ntern8tlOnal CONNECT u
the excess Of waste in time of war
over that in time of peace. A Quanti-
ty "b" 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 90
Der sense. feeling Of safety and do
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 a. values. I
"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
its 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 a. dis
tinct from negotiable securities. The
total wealth Of the countries involved
IL about three hundred billions Of dol
lars. Assume only Q moderate prodnc-
ton Of ten per cent and suppose fur
Their that the war should last from six
to seven months or about two hundred
days, a., forecast BY experts. then the
daily shrinkage will amount to $780,
100000. To be sure such depreciation
Of physical possessions il mostly due
to ignorance and faintheartedness Of
the people. for the properties are there
and some are indestructible. But just
the same the warning nations win lose
credit apd purchasing power and will
be subjected for an indefinite period to
sufferings and privations. all Of which
must be interpreted - loss Of 20 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 the whole national wealth. For
obvious reasons they are apt to b
very large, and the shrinkage may
easily amount for the above period to
500. 000. 900 . day.
'Third-Specinc losses due to do
struction Of existing private and pub
lie property. including implements and
materials Of war. These VIII greatly
depend on the circumstances, but may
be placed 1t from nifty to soventy-nve
million dollars Q day.
"Fourth-Loss Of life and disablins
through wounds and disease. judging
from the data, Of the Balkan war, the
casualties cannot be taken at less than
fifteen ner cent making the total q
100000. Assuming IN average Of
$500 per individual. this waste viii
b nearly fourteen million dollars q
day.
"Fifth-Daily cost Of military opera
tons. which may amount from twenty.
nve to thirty million dollars."
According to this rough estimate the
total waste cannot b much less than
seventy billion dollars, making almost
twenty-five per cent Of the total wealth
Of the countries In the world. II the
best circumstances It WIN take from
forty to nifty years 70 repair the fnan-
cial damage. not to speak Of the injury
to the races and retardation Of. social
progress in al directions.