Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1915-03-31
SELLING ALLIES
BILLIONS AYEAR
in MUNITIONS
Great Stream of Business Flows
Into United States as Re-
suit of War.
PLANTS TAXED TO UTMOST
Most of the Contracts for Supplies
Run for Two Years or Longer
Goods Sold for Delivery Here
shipment at Buyers Risk.

New York.-A common estimate Of
the wars length is three years. In
the first six months of the conflict
the United States sold about $400,-
100000 in war supplies, not taking
into consideration foodstuffs designed
for civilian populations. By August 1
our trade will reach 100000; and
unless something occurs to check this
phenomenal business $4,000, 100000
will have poured into the United
States before the treaty of peace is
signed
Even if the war should stop right
now our trade in the materials of war
would soon reach a billion, for most
of the great contracts are written to
be fulfilled without regard to the
course of the war and run for two
years, or even longer.
Our gain would be even larger
could we supply both sides. AS it is,
almost nothing is going to the Teu-
tonic allies.
The United States government Of
ncials are unable to give anything
like correct figures of the trade in
war supplies. A large proportion,
how large it is impossible to say.
goes to Canada first and is shipped
from there to England, France, Rus
STA or one of their allies.
There is no penalty for misbilling
exports. Much gunpowder is going
out in cases marked sugar or salt, es-
pecially through Pacific ports to Rus
STA by way of Vladivostok.
In the most authoritative circles it
is estimated that the principal items
in the four millions of dollars worth
ordered here in the first six months
were: Motor cars, $25,000,000; arms,
explosives and the like, sos, 100000;
iron and steel, $65,00O000; uniforms,
socks, sweaters, ETC., $30,000,000;
chemicals and hospital supplies, S.
100000; soldiers shoes, harness and
other leather products, $18,000.000;
miscellaneous, including food sup
plies known to have gone to the
armies, $160,000,000.
Plants Run Night and Day.
1t can be said without fear of con-
tradiction that the allies have not
contracted for the entire output of
the arms and ammunition factories of
the United States, while scores of
concerns are enlarging their plants
and running three shifts day to full
fill their foreign contracts.
Many of these companies do not
know they are turning out goods for
a foreign power. They may surmise
it, but they do not care. They dealt
only through a broker or agent and
with great secrecy.
Goods are sold for delivery here,
and shipment is at the buyers risk.
The buyer enforces secrecy, because
the goods are contraband. The man
ufacturers surround their plants with
high fences and troops of armed
guards in order not only to cooper
ate with the buyers in maintaining
secrecy but also to prevent meddling
by agents of governments hostile to
the buyers.
The rs firearm and ammunition
factories in the United States ordi-
narily employ 10000 persons. Now
their forces number $4,000 and are
increasing.
The enormous demand for high ex-
plosives, has forced prices to high
levels. Picric acid, used in making
explosives, has risen from Is cents to
$3.50 a pound and the entire supply
on hand has been bought up. Those
who still have guncotton on hand
which can be delivered within 80
days are asking rs cents a pound.
The usual price is 20 to 25 cents In
February the French government
tried to buy 24,00O,OOO pounds of gum
cotton, offering 65 cents. 1t war un-
obtainable, so contracts were placed
with a number of mills running over
two years.
More than 10000 automobile trucks
have been shipped to England and
France since August /, but from the
way new orders are coming in. this
hranch of trade is only Just begin