The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-04-11
nine BILLIONS A YEAR.
Ten Dollars a Year for Each Man,
Woman and Child in The Uni.
ted Stats.

|
dollars is the approximate cost to
the United States of one year of
war.
How much is billion?
A million is a thousand-tho
and, and a billion is thousand
millions. If a machine had been
set to work coming silver dollars
simultaneously with the birth of
Adam (the first NAM and it had
worked continuously day and
night to this time, there would be
fewer than three billion coined.
Since, the population of the
United States is 100 millions, it
means that it is costing every
man, woman and child in the
Country a ten.dollar bill a year.
More than one half has gone
in loans to Allies and will be re-
paid eventually; over one-third
has been spent for the army and
military establishment; one-tenth
for the navy and one-ffteenth for
shipbuilding.
Just one-sixth of the big war
cost has been raised by taxation
ant other ordinary sources, and
the balance has come from sale
of Liberty Bonds and certificates
of inde sedness.
Enormous as these war ex-
penditures lay seem to a country
whose government in peace times
cost between 100000. 600 and
$500, 100000, they are less than
Great Britain's and are only
about two-thirds of estimates
made by officials less than a year
ago. Slow progress Of the ship
building programme and the re-
tarding of the outpouring of war
supplies are regarded by officials
as the chief reasons why eX-
penses did not equal estimates.
Government expenses now are
running about a million dollars a
month, with somewhat less than
half going to Allies, who spend
the greater part of their loans for
war supplies in this country.
Since the declaration of war,
April 6, 1917, the governments
actual expenditures have been
more than $9,SOO,0O0, 600 but
about $500, 0O0,00 of this sum
would have been spent for normal
activities even if the United
States had not entered the war.
Ordinary expenditures, under
which the Treasury 0assifies all
outlays for operation of the gov
ernmental machinery and war
enterprises, since the declaration
of war have been approximately
$5, OS4, 900, 900. Actual payments
to Allies amounted to$4, TAB, O0O,-
900.
Income from internal revenue,
most of which is represented by
war taxes, and from customs and
miscellaneous sources, was run
up to about 1,535, 100000 and
the two Liberty Loans have
brought to the Treasury little
less than $4,000, 10000 Small
collections from war savings and
thrift stamps in the last four
months amounts to $140, 900, 900.
There are a number of other
minor receipts and expenditures,
but they do not materially affect
the condition of the public offer.
Outlays for redemption of certif-
icates of Indebtedness, although
appearing large on paper, actual
ly mean little to the government
in the long run, since certificates
represent short time loans pub
lie borrowings which are repaid
within three months.
About So, 200, 100000 of certif-
icates of Indebtedness are now
outstanding and will be redeem
ed at various times within the
next few months. This means
that the Treasury has received
this amount to cover running ex-
penses, but will have to repay it
soon out of receipts from taxes
due in June, and from the Third
Liberty Loan.
Financial experts of the gov
ernment calculate that the war
has cost in dollars even more than