Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
The Enormous
Aftermath of Insanity

In 1890, twenty-five years after the Civil
War. there were still 392rS09 men permanently
disabled as consequence of that conflict
This is. roughly. II per cent Of all those who
engaged In the war. 1t has been estimated
that another 10 per cent died within three
years after the war closed. The figures given
by the European scientists Of Ave million dying
within three years after the close of the pres.
ent war is less than 10 per cent Of the forces
actually fighting.
These figures are appalling We can see
what they mean more clearly by comparing
them with things that are familiar to us Omit.
ting those who die up to the date set for the
wars end-January l. 1916-the total of those
who will die and who Will linger on insane for
the next generation Is 1857, 791. The entire
population Of the great State of New York is
little over ten million So this is equivalent
to the wpng out OF New York's entire popu.
lation and nearly two million more.
II IS impossible even for the most skilled OF
'statisticians to figure how many orphaned
children and starving widows will suffer ex
tremes or poverty. and even death because of
the death OF the bread-winner
The men with the pencil are most ready to
tell the world what this war is costing in
money, and they start with what can be com.
puted most easily-the actual outlay for food.
ammunition and equipment The actual ex-
penaltures by the various governments engaged
IN the war up to August are SIS, 211 .624, 000
and by January the amount will be not less
than twenty.one and half billion dollars a
sum 80 large that the mind of man ia dazed
and he can not begin to grasp It, But this is
the smallest part of the financial loss to the
world. Every man Is considered to be worth
@I000 to his country from an industrial point
OF view. II 17,769s57 men are killed, die from
disease or are permanently incapacitated, be-
coming tax upon the community instead OF
producers OF wealth, the financial loss Is at
least 1885, $50 $4,000 This does not take into
consideration the fact that many Of the most
gifted men, scientists, scholars. artists, poets
VIII have laid down their lives for their re-
spective countries, and each of these was
worth many times $4,000 to his native land
The cost for pensions after the war is
another enormous item. II we are to Judge by
the experience OF the United States after the
Civil War we shall see how enormous the
sum will be. There were 2.213,3 1856 men in the
ers suffering from disability In 1890 was 1872,
800. Before the war is over at least 81, 600 900
men will have served. being seventeen times
as many as In our Civil War. This would
mean e.27s,76s men on the pension roll. and
as our pensioners cost us about 500 900 000 this
number will cost the various nations $1,700.
100000 per annum. This is more than the
entire expenditure OF the United States Gov.
eminent for all purposes. and little less than
the entire revenue Of Russia for 1914, which
was 81, 832,506, 600.
In word. the war on New Years Day, 1916.
Will nnd every one Of the European nations
engaged IN the war as bankrupt as nation
can well be looking forward to generations Of
hlgn taxes, endless suffering and the hard times
which come from the depletion OF the nations
resources.