Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-08-17
THE COSTS OF CONFLICT.

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1t has been just two years since
France and Germany declared war;
and one. day later Great Britain de-
clared war against Germany. Just
how much the war has cost in these
two years of conflict it is impossi-
BILE to state with any degree OF
accuracy, but those best able TO
make an estimate believe that the
total is in excess of forty-fiye bill
lions of dollars According to these
figures, the military expenditures of
the first year of the struggle were
over $1,000, 900, 900, while the sec
ond year of the war ha, cost at
least S2S,O00,0 600, 900.
These estimates stand merely for
the military expenditures incurred
in carrying on hostilities, and do
not take. into account the tremend-
Gus losses involved in the destruc-
ton of shipping, railways, fa3tories,
warehouses and buildings of all
sorts, bridges, roads, and the par
tial or complete wreckage of cities,
towns and villages by the hundreds.
The great decrease in agricultural
and industrial production, the dea b
or manning of millions of men, the
pensions to be paid in the future
for the support of vast numbers OF
unproductive survivors and their de-
pendents-items such as these defy
the statistician and stagger the i'm
agination.
in actual hostilities IL Panama canals
could be constructed. The civil warl
in the United States, terrible and de-
structiVe as it was, cost only about
one-sixth of the amount already ex-
pended by the warning powers of
Europe.
For months past Great Britain has
been spending an average of at
least twenty-five millions a day, it
is believed, whereas at the end of
the first year the daily average was
placed at fourteen millions France is
not far behind with a daily expen-
diture of at least eighteen millions of
dollars, more than twice as much as
was spent in the first year of the
war. Russia's daily expenditure for
strictly war purposes is believed to
average about sixteen millions day,
possibly much more. About sixty mil
lions a day, it is believed, is spent
by the allies.
The cost of hostilities to the Cen
trail Powers and their allies, Bulgar-
la and Turkey, is thought to be
about thirty million dollars a day, or
about half the amount expended by
The allies OF this sum, about eigh-
teen millions is probably provided
by Germany. The German expendi-
lures, however, have been very large
rom the first, while these of the
lilies, especially Great Britain, have
increased.
Figured according to population,
he cost of war falls heaviest on
france, in which country, it is esti-
mated, the cost averages about thirty
md child, The pro-rata cost to Great
Britain is figured at about twenty
light cents daily, but Britain has
Jack of her the vast resources of
he empire. The cost to the Ger
nans is figured at about twenty-three
ents for each inhabitant Russia's
no rata share is much smaller than
hat of any other country, being only
bout six cents.
Compared with previous wars, the
resent conflict makes it's predeces-i
ors seem like child's play Germany
nd France expended only about two
illions on hostilities in the Franco
Tar cost both sides in the neighbor-
God of $3.50, O00, 900. According to
idmund Thery, the noted French
economist, the total cost Of Euro
can wars from the beginning of the
Tapoleonic era up to the commence
lent of the present war was less
nan thirteen billion dollars-not a
lird of the amount spent in the
lst two years.
Staggering and APPALLING as are
1ese figures, yet even so monstrous
debt may be paid, in time. Cities
lay be restored, industries revived,
ne material scars of war gradually
nd painfully and by dint of tre-
lendous labor removed. But for the (.
YES lost, the homes wrecked, the
comics suffered. the tears shed, who
nall pay, and when?