The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-25
PROPERTY LOSS
IN WAR TOTALS
S6.9S5,OOO.OOO
Estimate Made by American
Foreign Trade Council.
Speculate on Needs of Rebuild
ing After the Conflict.
BELGIUM HEAVIEST LOSER
Many Millions Needed to Re-
store Industrial Plants.
Place POland's Loss at 500 Mill
lion; Austria, 800 Million.
Estimate Made by American
Foreign Trade Council.
Speculate on Needs of Rebuild
ing After the Conflict.
BELGIUM HEAVIEST LOSER
Many Millions Needed to Re-
store Industrial Plants.

Pittsburg, Pa, Jan. 25.-That the
loss of public and private property III
the European theaters of war repre-
SCENTS a value of $685., 100000 is the
estimate contained in report OF an
inquiry made by the National Forelgn
Trade council and today submitted TO
the fourth National Foreign Irade
convention. The estimate is frankly
described as merely approximation,
the sources of information belng OF
fetal European government reports
trade and industrial journals, etc Inc
report says, in part, OF Belgium anu
northern France:
''The destruction of private dwell
ings is large where fighting has taken
place, but much is left that can be
used in rebuilding. Road repair VIII
form a heavy item in budgets of small
er villages.
All Bridges Destroyed.
THE destruction of bridges can be
regarded as complete in every fight
ing zone. Railroad tracks have been
| partly destroyed, but much has been
| repaired for the use of the army and
civil population.
| The greatest enemy of industrial
property has not been military opera
ton, but enforced idleness of ,mach1n-
cry and buildings. The destruction OF
| stocks of raw materials was extensive.
| Germany has removed part of the ma
| chinery and equipment of certain Bel
gian plants to Germany to obtain
| certain raw materials like copper or
to furnish German plants with addi-
tional machinery.
| Industries cannot return with
peace at once to full operation.
Neither Belgium nor France will inn
mediately require all raw materials,
| machinery and industrial building to
be replaced. Conditions will be some
what different, however, in agriculture
al districts where production has been
| continued. Fields must be worked i'm
mediately the owners return. Agricul-
tural machinery, needs and building
/ material will be in immediate demand.
Nations After-War Needs.
AFTER the Balkan war, it took ap-
proXimately one year to rebuild de-
! stroyed Villages 1t will require longer
| in Belgium and France, because of
labor losses not replaceable from
neighboring states. Industrial rebuild
ing will occupy more time. Many new
industrial buildings in Northern
France and Belgium may consist of
temporary structures, the total eX-
lpense of which most likely will not be
more than one-third the total value
of the former buildings. The. imme-
date needs of the two countries dur
ing the first year after the war may
be as follows: Agricultural buildings,
Belgium $50,000,000 and France $780,
100000; agricultural machinery for
Belgium $50,000,000 and France $780,
00O, 900; industrial buildings for Bel
GUM $65,O0O,O0O and France $780,
100000; mining machinery for Bel
GUM S6O,000,000 and France $4O,-
100000; iron industry machinery for
Belgium $70,000,000 and France $780,
100000; food making machines for
Belgium $3,000,000 and France S1O,-
600, 900; chemical machinery for Bel
GUM 100000 and France $4,000
900; textile machinery for Belgium
$65, 100000 and France S5O.OOO.OOO:
electrical machinery and equipment
for Belgium S130,OOO,0OO and France
$50, 0O0,00O; wood working machinery
for Belgium $20,000,000 and France
1S,OOO,OO0; paper making machinery
for Belgium $5,000,000 and France
100000.
Germany Will Need Raw Material.
Both Belgium and France will
scarcely be able to manufacture all
they need for rebuilding, neither can
they import everything. Slate, bricks
and mineral building supplies can be
supplied locally. France may see her
sell compelled to buy from abroad ap-
prOXimately three-quarters of the tim
er required for rebuilding, while
: practically all wanted by Belgium will
have to be imported"
That Germany cannot resume her
export trade until the raw materials
have been imported for domestic
needs, is another probability to which
tho report gives attention, with a COM
ment that Germany will restrict i'm
portat1ons at first to essential articles
me destruction of property in Poland
IS estimated at 1915, 100000 and thai
in Austria at about $500, 100000 and
the Balkans 100000, 900
| RVTTTnTN(r