The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-09-23
EUROPEAN WAR
BOOSTED PRICES


The great influence of the Euro
pean war in rescuing this country
from the industrial depression in
which it was involved in 1894 was
graphically portrayed in a speech by
in the House a few days ago. Among
other things, he said:
Everyone knows that a slight sur-
plus of any product at once depresses
its price and that a slight shortage
invariably raises the market. The
same is true with reference to wages.
| There were thousands of men out of
employment before the war and wa
ges were low. The war created a de-
mand for workmen that could hardly
be filed and wages naturally went
up. The new demands for products
and for labor caused by the war were
so tremendous that they necessarily
affected not merely the particular in
dustries whose products were requir-
ed, but all kinds of business.
Some of the increases were so
enormous that we can hardly credit
the figures. In the IL months ending
May 30 of this year (1916) the ex-
ports of explosives were seventy-ive
times as large as in the correspond
ing months ending May 80, 1914. In
comparative value the increase in
this period was over $414, 000. 900, a
sum SO vast that in itself and alone
it was sufficient to alter our COM
mercial conditions.
I'm the same period we exported
five times the value of firearms that
we did before the war, and our ex-
ports of shrapnel, shells, and iron
and steel for war purposes increased
over 800, 000, 900. We exported TWEEN
ty times as much brass, and our ex-
ports Of zinc rose from less than
s400. 900 to over $4,000, 900. Both are
a necessity in making munitions. You
have heard much of the barbed-wire
entanglements which protect the en-
trenchments. The war created an In
precedented demand for barbed wire
and the exports increased from less
than S4,000,O00 for IL months of the
fiscal year of 1914 to over $21, 600, 900
in the same period of the fiscal year
of 1916.
Before the war our exports of al
cohol were Insignificant, but it was
needed for the manufacture of smoke
less powder, and In the period last
above referred to we exported nearly
$1,000. 900 in value. Aeroplances be-
came the scouts of the warning ar
mics, and our exports rose from less
than 100000 to over $500. 900. Cav
airy and artillery needed harness and
saddlery, and in comparison with nor
NAL times We exported seven times
as much of these articles.
armies not only need food, but
they are always extremely wasteful
of provisions. Small wars have al
ways caused -four. corn, and proyis-
ions to rise in value. Great wars
have sent the prices soaring. Almost
Immediately after the declaration o.
war wheat went up 20 cents and oats
fl0 cents. The closing of the Darda,
nelles shut out the greatest whear
exporting nation of the world-Rus-
STA. Last year every report Of Eng
lish success in their attack at thes,
straits sent wheat down. If the Oar
danelles could be thrown open to
morrow. wheat would drop Is cents
and a smash would ensue in the graiI
markets.
"The demand for breadstuffs in the
second year of the war was less thar
that for the first year, yet the exports
of breadstuffs for the fiscal year o
1916 were more than two and one
j half times as much as for 1914 Eu