The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-09-17
SEVENTEEN MONTHS
WAR HAS COST MORE
THAN Il BILLIONS
EXPENSES OF BOTH NORTH AND
SOUTH IN CIVIL WAR LOOK
SMALL IN COMPARE SON.
TWELVE BILLIONS SUBSCRIBED
IN LIBERTY LOANS-FIVE Bill
LIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES.
EXPENSES OF CARRYING ON THE
WAR AMOUNT TO $60,oo0,0O0
IN ONE DAY.
GBy The Associated Press.)

Wy iiC Hhs'oONIalOu L VOL
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-Seyen-
teen months of war have cost the
United States government S17,339,.
681, 342-a billion dollars month
This rate has increased so rapidly,
however, that August expenses ran up
to $1lS05 1913, 222, or nearly 100000
600 more than the highest previous
record set in July.
(These figures from the Treasury
show that less than / ~ years of
modern warfare have cost the United
States more than four times the com
bined Union and Confederate OUTLAWS
for three years of the Civil War, cal
culated at S3,660000,000 for the Union
and $500, 100000 for the Confedar
ates.
The report also shows double the
rate of increase in expenditures esti
mated by the government in June
then set at 0,000,000 (more each
month. If this rate continues, ex
penses for the year ending next June
80 will be much more than the $24,
600, 00H 900 estimated, and the coun
try yoay be called on to absorb more
than the sic, 900, 100000 of liberty
bonds now tentatively planned
The Treasury report also shows
further that of the SIT 1899 900, 00C
cost of the war to date, $10,9S9, OFT,
600 has been spent for ordinary wal
purposes, and s6,945, 1854, 900 has gone
as financial aid to the allies This
will be repaid eventually, and conse
quently may be deducted in calculat
ing the net war expenses to the Unit
ed States government.
Only $5,031 ,47S,Oo0 has been gath
cred by the government from taxes
customs and other minor sources OF
revenue since the war started, and
$4,000 100000 from liberty loans ant
sac of certificates of indebtedness
which are to be converted into lib
erty bonds. This indicates that only
20 per cent of war expenses to date
have been drawn directly from the
pockets of the people, and that Il
per cent has come from popular Dor
rowings which will necessitate heavy
tax levies long after the war
The third liberty loan has now
brought in $4,165 ,635, 900 which lea
YES only 100000 of the $4,176,
100000 original subscriptions yet tt
be paid in. The last installment wax
due three weeks ago. Income an(
excess profits payments trickling il
during August raised the total from
this source within the last year tt
S2,S42,29S 1000 ana officials expect
this to rise gradually to $4,000, 900,
900 as delinquent payments are
rounded UP by internal revenue
agents.
l-AAi-iNhS vi tlllilty 5ClllZollS lIlNeSu
ing in war savings stamps have pile6
up $647 ,554 600. In August receipt.
from the stamps were s129.044 900
Even with this total, comparison
shows that war savers did not keeI
UP their pace set in July, when the
government collected $211, All 900 as
result of the national campaign or
thrift day.
Tremendous war expenses these
days-s60, 100000 a day-are beins
met by sale of certificates of indebt
edness, virtually short time loans
from banks, to be refunded in the
fourth liberty loan Even with a hal
billion of these securities going ou
every two weeks, and a correspond
ing inflow Of money, the govern
ment's working balance has dropped
from about $1,000, O00,00 where i
stood for the last few months. IL
about $1,000 100000. The figure rem
resents funds on hand, most of which
| IS distributed as deposits among
hundreds of banks, but available a
ia'l times for checking out.