The copper era and Morenci leader., 1915-05-28
SELLING ALLIES
BILLIONS
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.

Goods Sold for Delivery Here
shipment at Buyers Risk.
New York.-A common estimate .
the wars length is three years. Il
the first six months of the confiic
the United States sold about $500
OOO,OOO In war supplies, not takini
into consideration foodstuffs designe,
for civilian populations. By August
our trade will reach $1,000, 00O, 900; an,
unless something occurs to check thil
phenomenal business $4,000, 0OO, 90,
will have poured into the United
States before the treaty Of peace Il
signed
Even IL the war should stop righ
now our trade in the materials Of wal
would soon reach a billion, for mos,
of the great contracts are written tc
be fulfilled without regard to the
course Of the war and run for two
years. or even longer.
Our gain would be even large,
could we supply both sides. AS II is
almost nothing is going to the Teu
tonic allies.
The United States government Of
dcials are unable to give anything
like correct figures Of the trade IL
war supplies. A large proportion
how large 1t 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 misbilline
exports. Much gunpowder is going
out in cases marked sugar or salt, es
pecially through Pacific ports to Rus
STA by way Of V1adivostok.
In the most authoritative circles II
Is estimated that the principal items
in the four millions of dollars worth
ordered here in the first six months
were: Motor cars. $25,0OO,000; arms
explosives and the like, $105, OOO, 900;
iron and steel, $65,000,000; uniforms
socks, sweaters, etc., $40, 900 900;
chemicals and hospital supplies, SO,
100000; soldiers shoes, harness and
other, leather products, $1s, 200, 600
miscellaneous, including food sup
plies known to have gone to the
armies. $160,0O0,00o.
Plants Run Night and Day.
It can be said without fear Of con
tradfction 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 a day to full |
I'LL their foreign contracts.
Many Of these companies do not |
know they are turning out goods fol !
a foreign power. They may surmise
II. but they do not care. They dealt |
only through . broker or agent and
with great secrecy
Goods are sold for delivery here
and shipment IL at the buyers risk
The buyer euforces secrecy. because
The goods are contraband. The man
lfacturers 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 meddline
~ agents of governments hostile tc
he buyers 5t3a-f T97psDO 30. 1
The rs frearm and ammunition
actories I'm the United States ordt
,arily employ 10000 persons. Nov
heir forces number $4,000 and are
--.. II
The enormous demand for high ex
,losfEes has forced prices to high
eyels. Pfcrfc acid, used in making
Explosives, has risen from rs cents tc
ESQ pound and the entire supply
N hand has been bought up. Those
Who still have guncotton on hand
which can be delivered within 80
lays are asking rs cents a pound
he usual price is 20 to 25 cents. In
"a binary ha
ried, to buy $4,000, 900 pounds of gun.
otton, offering IS cents. 1t was un.
btainable, SO contracts were placed
With number of mills running over
wo years.
More than 10000 automobile trucks
ave been shipped to England and
rance since August 1, but from the
yay new orders are coming in. this
ranch of trade is only just begin
ling. The French war authorities
gure the aver ge life of an auto
ruck is only seven days.
Thousands of Buyers.
There are thousands Of buying
gents for the foreign governments
IL over the country, but the two
argest blocks of contracts are com.
ng through Charles Schwab OF the
bethlehem Steel company and ]. Pier
ont Morgan, head of the great bank.
ng firm.
Schwab has made two visits to Eu.
ope since the war began and has OBJ
aimed contracts amounting to more
han $50,000,000. His Bethlehem
forks are making even 12-inch guns
Or the allies, but in addition to what
J turned out here he has sublet or.
ers in dozen different cities. Nor.
an is now the general purchasing
gent of the British government and
II orders go through his firm.