Evening journal., 1919-02-14
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IA, 1919.
STATISTICAL BARRAGE.

mo offset the public impression Of ineniciency and
i extravaganza in the War Department its officials
busiy engaged in publishing stories Of what they have
DONE and the economies they claim to have accom-
pnshed
The latest dazzler appears in a recent issue of the
ocla Bulletin In article reekng with statistics the
Director Of Purchase and Storage Of the War Depart
undertakes to demonstrate automatically how his
bureau has saved the Government over s5OOoo0oo by
using bales instead Of boxes in the shipment of clothing
and equipage
Some OF his deductions and assumptions startling
while others merely amusing. For instance, the
statement is made that when bales used the covering
material occupies only per cent Of the occupied
by the entire shipment but when wooden packing cases
used the covering material takes up 3ib per cent
BY assessing the saving in cargo space at Sc per
cubic foot the basis Of 32 per cent OF spaced saved
by bales this gentleman figures that In the shipment OF
100000 bales economy Of si9Os0OOO achieved.
II grant the premise doubtless the conclusion is
correct but whoever heard OF shipment Of clothing.
OF anything else packed in boxes where the boxes them
selves occupied 3ik per cent OF the entire space.
Either the packing cases provided by the Quarter
master Department Of dimensions bearing rela-
ton whatever to the articles they built to contain
else the packers grossly Incompetent. and ut
erly unable to put in the boxes than fraction Of
the goods they would hold.
Another item Of economy In the substitution OF bales
for boxes is the conservation OF lumber We grant that
but listen to the solemn explanation Of the Director Of
Purchase and Storage.
This amounted says he, In referring TO the lumber
saving in iOOO0OObale shipment ITO 5sOooOOo feet
and It is estimated that II takes 30 years to grow this
amount Of Of lumber. In the bang method this lumber
is replaced by burap amounting TO 2770OOO yards and
it Is estimated that the jute from which the burlap is
made grows in year"
The Impression gets from that statement is that
If the Of boxes had been continued the lumber supply
Of the country would have been exhausted to the extent
that would have required thirty years to replace t.
Nothing could be absurd, yet there are many
people who will read the figures Of this expert camou
fuer and exclaim, We'll, didn't do so badly after
ALL"
The truth is that few Of the stories OF production and
conservation that emanatng from the departments
nowadays viii bear close analysis.
VIII be found that the economics that are claimed
are theoretical and based on guesses Of what would
have the had different methods been followed
figures are made loom large by recitlng
spectacle presented when contemplate the record
Il guns airpianes other pieces of equipment actually
ssembed in France and ready for against the enemy
The whole effort Of the Administration is concentrated
propaganda designed to Offset the tide of condemna-
ion that is gradually overwhelming those responsible
or failures to furnish adequate supplies for our
forcesa tide that becoming more Irresistible
IS officers and return from France with their
stories Of official incompetency.