New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-11-26

appropriations for war purposes. The
major nations of the world are con-
sidering war budgets as large and In
some Instances larger than those that
were presented prior to 1914.
War Budgets Are Huge.
The wal budget of the United States.
now In the hands Of the secretary OF
the treasury who will submit 1t TO con-
gress on the first Monday In Deem
Der, calls for more money for war
preparation than was ever before APP
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 1t would not be prudent to be-
gin cutting down while the United
States continues TO make greater prep
arations for possible war.
No less al authority than former
ttN " Ciiilt I4lillu lhool Sdso tiiut
the limitation of armament provisions
of the league covenant are of vital I'M
p%ortance TO the world. Here Is what
he said in his letter to VIII Ii. Hays,
chairman of the national Republican
committee when the senate vas consid-
ering the treaty:
"The success of those provisions Is
vital. If they are not effective. the
whole effort to secur future peace
goes for nothing. The plan OF this
league Is contained In articles VIII m
IN. They provide that there shall be
a reduction of national ornaments to
the lowest point consistent with nation
al safety, that the executive council
shall formulate plans for a general
agreement as to 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 a permanent
commission t. advise the league on
the execution of these provisions"
Fur Animals Grwoing Scarce.
Unless ~fur-bearlng animals are
risidly conserved. the biological sur
yey 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 indivld-
uals who have made a study Of the
subject. Directly or indirectly, fur
contributes to the support or comfort
OF n large part Of the population of
the United States" say the biologists.
I'VE import as much fur as we pro-
ducc. 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 1914, the center OF the fur
trade has been transferred TO 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 ucces
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 1913 for $500; after
wearing the coat two years he sold
the lining for $1,000, and replaced II
with nutria at a cost Of $3.50; In 1917
he sold the nutria lining for $3.50 and
nat IN n muskrat lining at a cost OF
sos; I'm 1910 he sold the muskrat lin
ing for $500 and still has the shell OF
the coat and n clear profit OF SS45.
Two boys neal Ottawa. ILL.,. sold $1,000
worth of muskrat, skunk and mink
skins during the winter of 1890.
Alaskan trappers 10 1918 sold furs
valued at 81, 1853, 900. Skunk skins are
estimated TO have brought 100000 to
New York state trappers in a 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 H.
Sol. were worth nearly S4,OOO,OOO.
From these islands the same year the
government harvested 93S blue foxes,
with pelts worth S1G5,OOo. 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 armen trade the survey foresees
an intensified pressure OF 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 a large part Of the
country. Even In Alaska trappers have
had n close season of several years
declared for the protection of beavers.
Fur-bearing animals have decreased
unfortunately 80 per cent during the
last decade. The survey urges string
ont uniform state laws and close sea
son over periods of years for the pro
lection Of species, but 1t believes that
still further are necessary
,o nreserye fur-bearing animals. The