The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-21
KANSAS FLU TOLL
Continued from Page oneJ

Continued from Page OneD
Just at the harvest season for the
stores-during the holidays and season
of heavy winter buying. 1t is proha-
bly, a low estimate of 800 day for
the 10000 stores in computing bust
ness losses. The losses of many of the
big Topeka stores, as we'll as stores IN
other cities and large towns OF the
state, amounted to several thousands
of dollars each day during at least
portion of the time regulations We're
enforced Using the low estimate of
an average of 800 a day. however,
the loss to mercantile business was
million dollars a day for a sixty-day
period. or a grand total of s60,0Oo,0Oo.
Loss to Movies $1,2S7 900.
A total of 429 movie houses and
number of theaters were closed Whlie
the ban was on. Some OF the movie
houses do not operate each day. In
the larger towns, tho, three and four
shows are given each day. A very
conservative estimate is said to be $50
a day loss for siXty-day period, or a
jCIt of $1,287, 900 to the amusement
enterprises of Kansas.
Wage losses to the 222,OOO SICK
averaged $2.5O' a day. Under an aver
age low allowance of one weeks loss
of time for each victim, this loss
either to employe or to employer-Was
$3,SS5, 600.
Railroads, street railways, newspa-
pers and other lines of business surfer
ed heavily. Many churches nave peen
forced to arrange to absorb de1lclts as
Il result of the closing orders and re-
stricted attendance and attendant Joss
in collections. Very low estimates LOT
all of these losses would be not less
than ten million dollars for the entire
state during the season when the flu
epidemic was going strong.
Life Lost Worth $22 200.
Expert actuary estimates as to the
value of a human life, place the aver
age at $4,1G0. Using these scientiflc
figures as a basis, the actuary loss to
Kansas as a result of the 5,547 deaths
was $22,742,70
The average Kansan can scarce
comprehend the meaning of the enor-
nous loss to the state as a result of
the influenza epidemic" Doctor Sippy
said today. Nothing to compare with
it has ever occurred in this state
Every line of business endeavor has
been compelled to absorb tremendous
losses-losses which in many instances
cannot be overcome readily. 1t is al
most marvellous, in fact, that the state
can SO readily return to something
like normal conditions. Yet the blow
which the state has suffered will be
reflected in general business affairs
for many months.
81 doubt If more than so per cent
of all cases were reported to the state
board in spite of the great effort
which was put forth to gather COM
plete records. In many homes where
several members of the family were
sick, but one case was reported. Many
busy doctors failed to report their en-
tire list of patients, as in many cases
the patient had improved or almost
recovered by the time the doctor was
able to make a second call. Never in
the history of the state were the doc
tors called upon for such tireless serv-
ice. Never did the nursing corps of
a state give more faithful, tireless, de-
voted and heroic service than during
the days when the epidemic ragged in
every section of the state"
Reports which Doctor Sippy today
compiled for the week ending Janu-
airy IS, show 4,0S3 flu cases officially
reported Wichita was the hardest hit
during the week. Reports from that
town showed ISIS new cases. Topeka's
situation was second worst. The
number of new cases reported here
during the week was 107. Pittsburg
was third on the list with total of
eiShty-nine new cases.