Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-01-23

these different items we reach as regards indus
trial needs a total of 25,000,00O, 900 francs.
'aTo resurrect these regions, to reconstruct these
raw materials alone are not sufficient;
need means of transportation. Now the enemy
has destroyed our railroad tracks and railroad
track equipment. Our rolling stock, which in the
first month of the war. in 1914, was reduced by
so 900 cars, has undergone the wear and tear OF
so months of war.
aOur merchant fleet, on the other hand, has lost
more than a million tons through the submarine
warfare. Our s%hipyards during the last four
years have not built any ships. For they have
produced for us and for our allies cannon, ammu-
milton and tanks. Here, again, for this item
alone of means of transportation we must inquire
on ar. expense of 2,500,000,000 francs. This makes,
if 1 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 50,OO0,OO0,-
600 francs.
"And this formidable figure does not cover
everything. 1 have not taken into account the
loss represented for the future production or
France by the transformation Of so many fac
tories which for four years were exclusively de-
voted to war munitions. l have not taken into
account foreign markets lost to us as a result
of the destruction of on-quarter of our productive
capital and the almost total collapse of our trade.
I have not taken into account the economic weak
ening that we snail SuIIef tOllOrrOW OWlES 10 Ie
loss of 100000 young and vigorous men,
Compared to these, the losses accruing to the
United States as a result of the war are, of course,
slight. America has scarcely been "bloodied." 1t
is true that the war may cost the United States
possibly $4,000 lives-every one a precious offer
ing to freedom-but several times as many Amer
leans have died at home during the recent infu-
enza 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 war totaled 61S,528-about 10 times
as many lives as the world war COST the United
States. Those killed in action on the Union side
alone-110,07O 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 a small sacrifice for the rich
est country in the world.
To date the total war Indebtedness of the Unit
ed States is ST., S52,3 77, 900, distributed as follows:
Second Liberty 3ySOS,No.0M
Third Liberty 4~176,00,OOO
Fourth Liberty an....."....-"....." $3.50, G7 1000
War Savings ~SEs,SSO,OO
A fifth loan is being planned to help defray the
cost of the war. The tax bill now under consid-
GRAFTON 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.
600. 900. O00-otner estimates have varied from
s2O,OOO,o 100000 to $4,000, O0O, OOO-that is 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 belligerents may be
seen from the following estimates. no exact fig
ures being available:
National Wealth. War Cost. Pre-war Debt.
limited States, J.. s25O,O0 100000 $5, OVO,OO0,0O $1,000, OO0O 900
Great Britain. 10000, 100000 10000 100000 $780, 900, OJ
France .......... 5000, 100000 2S,0o 100000 $780, 600. 600
Italv ......... 36,O0, 100000 10O0O,00O,OO0 $500, OO. 900
Russia ........... 10000, 100000 2,00,00,00 600 1900 O, O0
Total ....... .s4S1,O Oo,N O.OOO SlSS, OOOO.OO SIS. 400. OOO. 900
Empire ...,...s TAO 100000 s4oyOOo.OO.OO s.ie5, 100000
Hungary 49,. $1,000 100000 25.cO.ON.OOO 1886 100000
r ------ -- -
Total ....... $685. 900, 100000 s65,OOOOOO.OW s5.16O 900, 900
Swiss bankers, who from their neutral vantage
noint have watched "a nations spend money on a
scale hitherto unknown, have estimated the am
mai cost as follows for the 1867 days the world
was plunged in war:
1914 ,OO0 600
tafE 5000 OO! 900