The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1920-11-18

appropriations for war purposes. Tho
major nations Of the world are con
sidering war budgets ms large and In
/ some Instances larger than those that
were presented prior to 1914.
War Budgets Are Huge.
The war budget Of the United States.
now In the hands Of the secretary Of
the treasury who will submit IL TO con
gress on the first Monday in Deem
Der, calls for more money for war
preparation than was ever before ap-
propriated In time Of peace. The same
Is true Of the budget of japan. OF
Great Britain. Of France. Of Italy and
even OF the smaller nations OF Europe.
This Is all because the governments
that have gone into the league feel
that II would not he prudent TO be-
gin cutting down while the United
States continues 10 make greater prep
nrntions for possible war.
No less an authority than former
Secretary Of State Elihu Root says that
the limitation of armament provisions
of the league covenant are OF vital i'm
pOrtance to the world. Here is what
he said In his letter to VIII II. Hays
chairman of the national Republican
committee when the senate was consid-
erlng the treaty:
"The success of those provisions Is
vital. II they are not effective. the
whole effort to secure future peace
goes for nothing. The plan Of this
league Is contained in articles VIII and
IN. They provide that there shall be
n reduction of national ornaments TO
the lowest point consistent with nation
al safety. that the executive council
shall formulate plans for general
agreement as 10 the amount of these
reductions. and that when an agree
ment has been made by the powers
the parties will not conceal from each
other, but will give full and frank in
formation regarding their industries
capable Of being adapted to warlike
purposes. the scale Of their ornaments.
and their military and naval programs
Article IN provides for permanent
commission to advise the league on
the execution of these provisions"
Fur Animals Grwoing Scarce.
Unless fur-bearing animals are
rigidly conserved. the biological sur
vey declares, the time Is not far
away when many of the more valuable
species will be eXterminated and furs
will be worn only by the very rich
This fact is said to be recognized by
the fur trade generally. and by individ-
uals who have made study of the
subject. Directly or Indirectly, fur
contributes to the support or comfort
OF large part of the population of
the United States" say the biologists.
we import as much fur as we pro-
duce. In other words, we could sell
at home twice as much fur as we are
now producing, in addition to the for
eign demand"
since l9l4, the center of the fur
trade has been transferred 10 the Uni
ted States. The greatest fur sales in
history are now being held here, and
all branches of fur dressing. dyeing
and manufacturing are being success
fully carried on by American enter
prise. Values of skins have risen to
heights that have surprised even those
on the inside. and skins that formerly
had little or no value as fur became
popular under various trade names.
Values Go Up Rapidly.
The biological survey cites the case
of one man who bought a mink-lined
coat complete in 1919 for $500; after
wearing the coat two years he sold
the lining for $1,000, and replaced it
with nutria at a cost of $3.50; in 1917
he sold the nutria lining for $3.50 and
put In muskrat lining at cost of
$50; in 1919 he sold the muskrat lin
ing for $500 and still has the shell of
the coat and clear profit of SS45.
Two boys near Ottawa. ILL.,, sold 81 900
worth of muskrat. skunk and mink
skins during the winter of 1920.
Alaskan trappers in 1918 sold furs
valued at $1,363,OOO. Skunk skins are
estimated TO have brought 81 100000 to
New York state trappers In single
year.
A fact not generally known is that
the United States government realizes
millions of dollars annually from Its
fur Industry. The sealskins taken on
the Pribilof islands by the bureau Of
fisheries in 1919. TO the number of 81
S21, were worth nearly S4,OOO.OOO.
From these islands the same year the
government harvested 93S blue foxes.
with pelts worth $4,000. The skins
of bears bobcats, coyotes. mountain
lions and timber wolves killed by pred
atory animal hunters of the biological
survey In 1918 and 1919 brought nearly
100000.
determination Is Threatened.
In the resultant stimulate IN of the
fur garment trade the survey foresees
an intensified pressure or fur-bear-
ing animals, which have been rapidly
decreasing In number as a result OF
excessive trapping. clearing OF for
ests, and draining of marshes. Already
beavers and martens have been ex-
terminated over large part of the
country. Even In Alaska trappers have
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