The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-10-06
PROD|C|OUS COST
OF EUROPEAN WAR
Divine FOreSaW Great Conflict
Two Years Ago.
HIS PROPHECY FULFILLED.

One Year Has Cost More Than Esti-
mated Value Of All Property of
United States West Of Mississippi.
Would Pay National Debts Of All
Nations.
Philadelphia.-Rev. DIR. j. Henry
Smythe, editor, author, traveller. lee
turer, chancellor OF the American uni
versity, Tennessee. two years ago last
February made the following startling
prophecy while speaking at Knoxville:
"One hundred years or more ago Ma
poleon, In the fiery flush of manhood's
morning. was master Of all France.
The Egyptian and the Austrian cam
paigns were over Russia was invaded.
England was threatened. Spain was
s~ubjugated.
THE whole continent OF Europe was
PROSTATE and paralyzed. Millions of
armed men were In the field, and con
fiict and carnage ragged from the Tiber
to the Thames. But Nelson pounded
Napoleon on the sea. and Wellington
pounded him upon the land, and to-
gether they pounded him to pieces.
Elba and Waterloo were but the blood
stained stepping stones to st. Helena.
IF you will stand with me tonight
at the hinges OF history and look along
the sky line OF current events you will
see that war is simmering in every
arsenal of Europe and every wave that
hrAalwa rpnn tkn ukNrc L. - x-lkl
blood. Yet Tientsin and Port Arthur.
Havana harbor and Manila bay were
but the shifting scenery. moved by the
hidden hand OF God. In the awful and
unending tragedy of time
"We estimate the cash cost OF the
European war to Aug. l. 1915, at ST.
0O0,0O0.OO0." says DIR. Smythe, while
other known losses will amount up to
make a grand total OF $4,000, OO0.O
No n can have even the faintest con.
ception OF what SAC, 600, 900 may be.
Ii IN four times all the coin In the
world. II this sum were measured out
in twenty dollar gold pieces and they
were placed side by side on the rail.
way track, on each rail, they would
cover with gold every line from New
York to the Pacific ocean, the two
Canadian lines included. There would
be enough left yer to cover each rail-
OF the Siberian railway from yladivos-
tok to Petrograd. There would still
remain sufficient to rehabilitate Rel.
GUM and to buy the whole of Turkey.
at her own valuation. wiping her finally
and forever from the map.
"0r we may figure In some other
fashion. The average workingman in
America earns $51S per year. 1t would
take 90,000.o00 years work TO pay the
o s OF the war up to date. or 9O.000.0o o
American laborers might pay 1t Off in
one year IL all their living expenses
were paid.
The cost Of a year OF the great war
is a little more than the estimated
value OF all the property of the United
States west of the Mississippi river.
1t is nearly equal TO the total value OF
all the property in Germany, $4S,O00,-
100000. as estimated I'm 1906. The
whole Russian empire, 1876. 900, 900,
could have been bought for a less sum
before the war began. II could be had.
on a spot cash sale. more cheaply now.
This sum would have paid for all
the property In Italy, S13.0O0,OOO.000,
Japan. $4,000 1000; Holland. $780,
100000; Belgium, $7,0O0.OOO,0 900; Spain,
5000, 100000, and Portugal, $500. 000,-
600. 1t Is three times the entire yearly
earnings In wages and salaries OF the
people OF the United States. $15. 800
100000.
"'The first years cost of this war
would pay the national debts OF all the
nations In the world at the time the
war broke out. II all the farms, farm
ing lands and factories In the United
States were wiped out OF existence the
o $ OF this war would more than re-
place them. III all the personal and
real property OF half our nation were
destroyed or II an earthquake Of In.
credible dimensions should shake down
every house from the Atlantic to the
Pacific the waste would be less than
that involved In this war up to date.
And such an elemental catastrophe
would leave behind 1t no costly legacy
Of hate.
And then the aftermath-good God
the Aftermath"