Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-02-07
WAR COSTING ]. S.
s24,000,000 A DAY
Total Expenditures of 10 MONTH";
to Date Amount to ST..
1OO,O0O,O0O.

Washington. Feb. g. (By Associated
Press.)-Ten months Of the war have cos
the United States about $7,10O. 000. 00o-a
the rate Of $71o.OO0,oOo month, nearly $24,.
100000 day.
More than half Of this huge sum, or A..
12l,00O.oOO. has been paid as loans to thu
aiiies' ana the t"lance, about 50 900, 100000
represents Americas outlay for it's OWE
war purposes. exclusive Of more than $780,.
Wo.ooo Tor ordinary government expenses,
The wars toll in money Ia increasing al
the rate OF more than $l00, 900 a month,
and indications now are that the two re.
naming months of the nations first yeas
as a belligerent will run it's war bill ia
nearly $l000O,000000 Of which 5,0O0, 000, 0W
Will be for allied loans and about the same
amount Tor the army. navy, shipping
board, and other war agencies.
These figures, compiled to-day from the
latest available treasury figures, show
that although the country's expenditures
are running into totals never before
dreamed of, they are below official esti-
mates made early in the war. Since war
was declared April 6, and the fiscal year
for which estimates were made did not be-
gin until July !, it is difficult to compare
precisely the actual war cost with the
fiscal year estimates. Most Of the war exc
penses have been incurred since July I.
however. and the total outlay since then
has been $6,5 900, 900. in little more than
seven months. as compared with estimates
Of SIS, 431, 900 900 for the entire year.
CAUSES OF THIS DIFFERENCE.
Two factors are held mainly responsible
for this difference. officials Of the war.
navy, and other departments figured lib-
orally on their expenditures originally. to
allow a margin Of financial safety. In ad.
dition, production Of ships and war sup.
plies has failed to develop as rapidly az
had been planned. officials point out also as
big contracts for ships and army materials
fall due in the next few months the ex-
pated even now.
Government borrowings on the two
Liberty loans have paid for four-fifths Of
the wars cost. and taxation and a few
minor ordinary government receipts for
about one-hfth. The loan campaigns pro-
duced ST. 900, and $1,250, 100000 came
direct from the pockets Of the people. and
the latter sum will not have to be repaid.
Financial demands Of the war in the next
few months will be met in the same way
by another bond issue. and by taxes which
will begin soon to roll in from the first
war tax act
How America gradually got into her
stride in the war Is shown by the monthly
outpourings of funds since the day Con.
gress authorized declaration Of war
ten months ago tomorrow. Before last
April the monthly operating expenses
were about s75OO0,0 900. and the total an-
nual expenses. including about 5000, 900, 900
postal expenditures which were paid back
into the treasury eventually. reached only
a little more than $1,000. 100000.
Then came the war. In the first month,
May. 1917. expenses jumped to $114.O0O,-
900; in June. to N3ioOo,OoO; in July. to
SOS, 000. 900: In August. to SGT, 900, 00C;
In September. to $349, OOO,0 O0 BY October
November. $751;, 900. 900: December. s6l1, 00O.-
900; and last month they were $715. 0oO.-
900. In the first five days of this month the
government has spent $50 900.
LOANS TO THE ALLIES.
These big sums did not include the
allied loans. They have averaged
$3.50, 100000 a month from the time the
United States entered the common fight
against Germany
The army, navy, and shipping board
alone have dipped into the financial war
chest for more than 95 per cent. of the
nations fighting funds.
Two thirds of the $4,000, 100000 ex-
pense for war purposes in the last ten
months has been for the army. and the
entire military establishment. Up to
last December 1. the latest date on
which precise figures for government
department expenditures were avail
able. the expense of the army-muni-
lions, supplies, training camps. SOL
diers pay. ordnance, and the cost Of
running the vast machinery-was ST.
46O. 100000 Since then 1t is estimated
nearly s6O0.000,000 has been expended
for the military forces. making q total
Of more than $4,000. 900. 900. The war
departments estimated expenditures
for the year ending next June 80, fg-
ured last June. are $500. 900. 900, but
officials now feel certain that actual
expenditures will not reach this by q
billion or perhaps more.
The naval establishment has had
$705,000.00O since the war began, ac-
cording to unofficial computations on
the basis Of treasury figures. Up to
December !. the actual outlay was
$51S,000.O00. and since then 1t is esti-
mated about $ls2.00O,0OO has been ex-
pended for the naval lighting forces,
new construction, and other elements.
The shipping board has fallen farthest
below Its estimates, with payments
since last April for ship and shipyard
construction OF about 5000. 1000 900. Up
to December. the governments ship
ping program had cost only $123,oOO.-
900. but expenditures in the last two
months increased by probably twice
the former rate. and as ships are COM
pleted faster in the near future. the
shipping boards funds are expected to
be depleted more rapidly.
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