The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1918-10-18
PART OF The BIC
COST Of WAR IS
FINE INVESTMENT
EXPENDITURES BY OUR GOVERN
MENT FOR WORLD DEMOCRACY
NOW TOTAL S34,331, 7o2,47o.
NEARLY HALF TO COME BACK
Material Benefits to Come From Ships
and Industrial Plant Invest
. ments After War.

The preparations for the Fourth Lib
erty Bond issue have brought forward
a question as to the cost of the war up
10 date. The actual expenditures TO
date, and the estimated expenditures
for the fiscal year of the United States
ending June 30, 1919, aggregate a war
expenditure of $34,331, 702, 47O, accord
ing to the figures prepared by Theo-
dore H. Price in an article in The Out
look on The War Costs and the War
Debt"
The article referred to probably Is
the most concise review Of the finan-
cial situation as to the war that has
been presented. One Of the strange
features of the United States activity
in war preparations has been that the
gross authorizations of Congress have
been accepted as the actual cost Of the
war u. to the present. AS a matter of
fact, the gross authorizations have not
been spent, and even Of that portion
that has been spent there has been a
large part of the expenditures which
can be placed as an investment at 100
per cent instead of an appropriation
from which there is no salvage or re-
turn.
II a worker in the ranks paid cash
for a $4,000 home he could say that he
had spent $4,000. But 1t would be only
part Of the truth, as he would still
have the home, which would be worth
the amount he paid out, and with the
advance Of time 1t would increase in
value and his investment would be a
good one.
Big investment Figures.
There are tremendous sums being
paid out for so-called war eXpendi-
lures, but they are investments which,
after the war Is over, are going to be
worth more than 100 cents on each
dollar spent.
When a business nan or a company
buys OF builds a steamship line, or
builds or buys a railroad, they have
spent that amount of money which It
costs to own the property, but they
still have the steamship or railroad
line as an asset. SO It is with the
United States. Out Of the sum total
of expenditures made by the govern
ment the United States, after the war
is over and democracy reigns through
out the world, will W railroads that
have been constructed in France,
steamships that ply the ocean Of the
world, docks from which the ships de-
part, warehouses in which the ship
ments are stored, cranes with which
they are loaded and unloaded,
The list of property also will include
large manufacturing plants throughout
the country which will turn from mu-
nitions and war supplies to needed
manufactured products which will re
store the embattled world to a peace
full condition.
AS a matter Of fact, the authorize.
tons Of Congress will aggregate
$50, OO0, 900, 900 for the period from the
entrance Of the war to the end Of the
present fiscal year, June 80, 1919. The
first years expenditures show that
SIS 79 III, 012 was spent and that
$50, 900, ZOO, 900 was appropriated for
the year ending June 80, 1919. These
figures, however, are what the govern
ment was authorized to spend, no
what it actually did spend.
Not All Wastaae.
A survey of the figures shows tina
the United States did o. will spenC
49, S36, 500, 7O2, 47O. 1t is proper to deduc
from this amount the cost Of the Unit
ed States government for the sam
time on a basis Of pre-war conditions
This expenditure would have bee
S2,S65, 900, 900, which. deducted iron
the amount actually spent under wa
conditions, makes the actual expend
lures because Of the war SS4,S8l
02,470.
First Of all, $40, OO0. oOO, 900 has bee
or will be loaned to the Allied govern
ments at a rate of one-hRlf Of l pc
cent higher than the rate on the bond
in the United States. All Of these est
mates cannot be exactly correct, bu
thew are so close relatively that no e.
ception can be taken to them, Ship
and ~shipyards have cost S2,75O,0 600, OOI
railways and other permanent lnves
ments in France have cost Sl,oOO,OOO
600. funds for the railways in this coul
try. for the war finance and grain co
porations aggregate S1,O5O,O 900, OO
army warehouses throughout the Uni
ed states $22S, 900 900, with other pc
manent and valuable investments
the sum OF 1912. 100000. This Is an a
gregate of sound investments Of S1t
600, 900, 900, leaving a total of SlS,S3l
7O247O which may be regarded as Il
United states financial contribute
toward making the world a safe have
Tor democracy,
II does not represent the sacrifice
which the mothers Of the country Al
making, because the blood shed is
Mar more value than any financial co
sideration But the expenditure Of Ii
and funds today will prevent the grea
er sacrifice Of life and blood at son
time in the future.