The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-01-17

fOur mOntnS WOul0 Oe required
for men killed in the war to march
past given point
these different items we reach regards indus
trial needs a total of 25OO0.OOOOOO francs.
ITO these regions. to reconstruct these
factories. raw materials alone are not sufficient:
we need means Of transportation. Now the enemy
has destroyed railroad tracks and railroad
track equipment Our rolling stock. which In the
first month of the war. in 1914, was reduced by
$1,000 cars, has undergone the wear and tear OF
30 months of
"Our merchant fleet, on the other hand, has lost
more than a million tons through the submarine
warfare. Our shipyards during the last four
years have not built any ships. For they have
produced for and for our alliao cannon ammu-
milton and tanks. Here. again. for this item
alone of means of transportation we must figure
on expense of 2,5O0OOO,OOO francs. This makes.
II sum up these different items. a need Of raw
material which represents in COST at the present
rate of prices In France not less than 5OOOOOOO.-
600 francs
"And this formidable figure does not cover
everything l have not taken into account the
loss represented for the future production OF
France by the transformation of SO many fac
tories which for four years were exclusively de-
voted to munitions l have not taken into
account foreign markets lost to result
of the destruction Of on--quarter Of productive
capital and the almost total collapse of our trade.
I have not taken into account the economic weak
enng that we shall suffer tomorrow owing to the
loss Of 100000 young and vigorous men,
Compared to these. the losses accruing to the
United States result Of the war are Of course,
slight. America has scarcely been "booded." Il
is that the war may cost the United Statea
possibly $1,000 Mves-every a precious offer.
ing to freedom-but several times many Amer
leans have died at home during the recent infu-
enxa epidemic.
When we consider the number Of Americans
who died in our Civil war. our present losses
seem almost trivial The deaths from all causes
in the Civil totaled 81S,52s-about 10 times
as many lives the world war cost the United
States. Those killed in action the Union side
alone-11O.O70 men fighting for the North-out-
number more than two to one the Americans who
have recently died fighting overseas.
The financial contribution America has made to-
ward defeating the central powers Is magnificent
but comparatively small sacrifice for the rich
est country In the world.
To date the total war indebtedness of the UnAe-
ed States is 81 900. distributed foliowss
FIRST LLberty = ooo.oss
Second Liberty Loan. eooo.eo
Third Liberty Loan A1eOao.Ooo
Fourth Liberty Loan. esesos7.ee
A NTH loan is being planned to help defray the
cost Of the war. The tax bill now under consid-
erntion by congress and other taxation will not
net the remainder America has spent, or will spend
to finish up the disagreeable job.
But even If the war finally costs America $685.
100000 OOO-other estimates have varied from
$4,000 100000 to $4,000 900 OOO-that 10 a small
portion of Its national wealth. How the amount
the United States has spent on the war compares
with its economic wealth and how these figures
stand for the principal other belgerents may bo
seen from the following estimates NO exact Dr.
ures being available:
Nasssnsl Wealth. War Cost Prs-war Dsbt
United 90 10000 s ooooooooo Noooooo3
France ........ s.oooooooo aSooeoe@ s'sSSSSSS
a,. Ra:. ssSs ssSsS% s ssssssssss Ss
reta, ,sl 900 ,1ss 100000 ,,s 40 oooo -
Austlis-
Total ......uoboooooo.ooo ses.oooooooo w.10ooooee
Swiss bankers, who from their neutral vantaes
point have watched "a nations spend money on .
scale hitherto unknown, have estimated the an
nual cost follows for the 1857 days the world
was plunged In war;
1914 .$lO0O OO.0W
1873 16UU00O.O00
u 600 10000
1871 e0000O ZOO
Total 9271 900 ON On
The figures used in this discussion, both refer.
ring to blood and treasure, are accurate wherever
definite figures have been made available by the
governments involved. The figures for the central
powers are. necessarily. estimates