Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-08-16
What Il Means II 1O5,OO0,OOO
People Refuse to EConomize
on Clothing.
NATION HURT IN MANY WAYS
One Of Numerous Cases In Point Vivid.
~ illustrates the Vital Necessity
Of Saving to Save the
Country" In War Time.
BY PAUL N. WARBURG,
Vice Governor OF the Federal Reserve
Board.

DOdTu,
l am one of one hundred and five
million of inhabitants of the United
States; my duties are the same rs
those Of every other true American,
ana those Of every other true Amcri-
can are the same as mine. Whatever
contribute to the cause Of the eoun.
try, l may expect to see donc-each in
his own way--by i05,OooO0O people.
Let us suppose for the purpose Of
Illustration that | decide that | Shall
effect saving on clothes. might Sc.
lect boots, automobiles. umbrellas. or
any other article for which | regularly
spend my money, rs | have no desire
70 single out any one commodity, but
clothes lend themselves to my thought,
so | name them. II | make I'D my
mind then, AT this Juucturc that to
wear old clothes Is mere respectable
than 10 be seen In new ones, II de-
eide to buy one neW suit of clothes
less than usually purchase each year,
and If figure that suit to cost no more
than S10-ihe country as Il whole.
should we all pull together and net on
the same lines. would save thereby over
one billion dollars. II Is true fhat in
dealing with our l05,OOO000 population
we Include children and many poor
people that could not save ten dollars
each because they never spend more
for clothes thnn they absolutely must.
But on the other hand $40 Is much
amount than the average man
or woman spends for new suit OF
clothes The assumption that billion
dollars could easily be saved ON clothes
may, therefore. be accepted MS conser.
vative.
The first thought that occurs to US
In this connection is. that by this saw.
Ing In clothes over one billion dollars t.
would be freed TO be invested in Lib
erty loan bonds. That is the first I'm
portant and most obvious result. But
there are other economic results In.
solved in this saving that are of far
greater Importance than the mere saw
ng Of money.
Economic Results Are Vast.
Let us consider first what one billion
dollars worth of clothes means. sup
pose they We're haf.W0ol aud hnf-eot.
.0n and that the value Of The raw ma.
erial constituted only 30 per cent Of
he price paid by the ultimate consum.
er, that would. III the present price OF
10 cents per pound for wool and 30 |.
'ents per pound for cotton respectively, /
'epresent 20S.334 tons of wool and 49,
i07 tons OF cotton. Can you imagine
low much freight spnce would be re-
lulred on water and on land, In NOV
ng this mass Of raw material? DO I
iou realize that II these bales were
,ut into freight ears. assuming loud.
ng capacity Of l6 tons per ear for
WOOL and 10 tons per ear for cotton.
his would represent 1902 box cars
oaded with wool and 32O56 box cars
oaded with cotton? Assuming IL ears
YER train, there would be about 600
rains; the total length Of These trains
would be approximately 3l4 miles. and
hese trains, hauled by 600 engines.
when standing In line would approx
nately cover the distance from Balu.
more to Pittsburgh? Can you Imagine
he amount of coal consumed In first
aud then wearing this
aw material into cloth? Can You i'm.
CINE the number Of hands employed In
hese processes? And then consider
hat more coal, mere 'aher and more
IRE required in dlstrib-
ting the cloth and again more labor
nd more material In converting II into
lothes mud again more labor and
in retailing the finished
roduct 10 the final consumer
Let us be mindful that all the time
hese processes are being carried on.
Incle Sam Is short of the men neces-
AIRY to dispatch his war work, and
that shortage of coal and
he clogglng of the wheels of lranspor.
ltion have stopped his progress at
lost critical moments and In the pres
Mt emergency continue to remain a
onstant menace to the country.
May Cost Your Sons Life.
My new suit OF clothes means, there
,re, delay for our military operations
clay In transporting and equipplng
len, and In sending to them, and to
ur allies. the supplies they need;
leans increased losses and longer
uration Of the war. My new suit OF
othes may cost, therefore. the life
| my son.
The supply OF goods, of labor and OF
Is limited. Ii Is mat
II Of common agreement that this linn
ed supply Is not sufficient freely TO
A 90 III d. |