The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-02-14
WAR rs COSTING u. S. $71O,O OO,-
600 A MONTH.

WAR Is COSTING U. s. $40, OOO,.
600 A MONTH.
Our Actual Outlay in Ten Months
Has Been About 90, 200, OOO, 900.
Ten months of the war have cost
the United States about 81 l0O, 000.-
month. nearly $4,000, 900 a day. :
More than half Of this huge sum
or $4,121 100000, has been paid as
loans to the allies, and the balance
about $4,000, OO0,O OO,. represents
outay for its own
$500, 000, 900 for ordinary govern
mental expenses.
The wars toll in money is increas-
ing at the rate of more than $780,
100000 a month and indications
months Of the nations first year as
belligerent will run it's war bill to
nearly 100000 900, of which
5000, OOO,O 900 will be for allied
loans and about the same amount
for the army, navy, shipping board,
and other war agencies.
the latest available treasury figures
show that, although the country s
expenditures are running into totals
never before dreamed of, they are
below official estimates made early
ARRfi 6 and the a1h fiscal al year for
begin until July. l., it is difficult to
compare precisely the actual war
cost with the fiscal year estimates.
Most of the war expenses have been
incurred, since July l., however. and
the total outlay since then has been
$6,5O0,O00,O0O, in a little more
than seven months, as compared
with estimates of $18,431, 900, 900
for the entire year.
Two factors are held mainly re-
sponsible for this difference, Offic-
partments figured literally on their
expenditures originally, to allow a
margin of financial safety. In addi-
ton, production of ships and war
supplies has failed to develop as
rapidly as had been planned; Offic-
tracts for ships and army materials
fall due in the next few months, the
expenses may run up faster than is
anticipated even now.
Government borrowings on the
two liberty loans have paid for four
and a few minor ordinary govern
ment receipts for about one-fifth.
1872, 900 900, and $3.50, 900 900
came direct from the pockets of the
people and will not have to be re-
paid: Financial demands Of the war
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 graph
=inol1v hv tho month 1U n11fn01lrinOc IF
funds since the day congress author
months ago tomorrow. Before last
April the monthly operating expens-
es were about 100000, and the
a aGsa 6Sa postal eSpen
lures, which were, paid back into the
little more than 1000, 900. 900.
Then came the war. In the first
month, May Nay, o 1877, expenses Jumped 3Je
august to S9o in septem m
Der to sS4S, 900, 900. BY October
the monthly outlay had reached
$462,OOO,O00; November, s512.O00,-
900: December, $611, 100000, and
last month they we're $715,O0O,O00.
o e1s government mas spent ei'o'0oo'-
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
board alone have dipped into the
financial war chest for more than 95 |
per cent Of the nations fighting
funds.
Two-thirds of the $3,O0O,0OO, 900
ten months has been for the army /
and the entire military establish
ment. Up to last December I, the
latest date on which precise figures
for government department exDendi-
lures are available, the expense of
the army-munitions, supplies, train
and the cost Of running the vast ma
chinery-was $1,46O,O00,OO0. Since
then it is estimated nearly $500, 900
900 has been expended for. the mill
tary forces, making total OF more
than $4,000, 100000. The war de-
the year anaas next sane
figured last June, are $S,790,0OO,0O0l
but officials now feel certain that !;
actual expenditures will not reach
this by $1,0O0,000,OOO or perhaps
more.
The naval establishment has cost
according to unofficial computations
on the basis of treasury figures. Up
to December l, the actual outlay
was $513 100000, and since then 1t
is estimated about S192,OO0,000 has
been expended for the naval fighting
forces, new construction and other
elements.
The shipping board has fallen
farthest below it's estimates, with
payments since last April for ship
more than $2OO.OOO,OO0. Up to
December 1 the governments ship
ping program had cost only. $123,-
0OO, 900, but expenditures in the
last two months increased by prob
ably twice the former rate, ana as
near future, the shipping boards
funds are expected to be depleted
more rapidly.