Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-10-20
THE WEIGHT AND MEASURE OF
OUR NATIONAL DEBT.

Statistics are useful in correcting errone-
Gus estimates, reducing eXtravagant views,
and properly guiding the aims of statesmen
and the transactions of merchants. More
over, they serve TO present yividly to the
mind true conception of things which are
less well understood and appreciated when
seen through the misty veil Of mere theory.
Sometimes the results appal, and sometimes
amuse. 1t is probable that no subject will
more peculiarly mingle little of both sen
Sations-the grave and the gay-than cal
culatiHn which the calculation prodigy, Mr..
James Fa ir, has made of the National Debt
of the United States Its actual total is
monstrous enough when mentioned in bare
figures, at the round sum OF four thousand
millionsl But let us sec what it will look
like in tangible substance.
A silver dollar measures / J inches in di-
ameter. Hence dollars laid side by side,
make foot, "a one yard, and "a, 24O an Eng
lsh mile. The circumference of the globe
is 81 900 miles, and therefore 012, 1854 900
dollars laid in one line would girdle it. But
even this enormous sum, being less than one
quarter part of our debt, the whole amount
of the latter would encircle it .foWr times, and
overlap by s,G40 miles.
Now estimating the weight of silver dol
lar at one ounce, sixteen of them would make
apound, and reckoning two thousand pounds
to the ton, the entire debt would weigh one
hundred and twenty-five thousand tons, and
therefore one hundred and twenty-five ships
of one thousand tons each would be required
to forward il by water
Again, allowing two tons for the burthen
of heavy baggage wagon sixty-two thou
sand five hundred wagons would be needed
to convey this monstrOus mass of indebted
ness, in silver. Now an illiptical circle form
ed of these wagons alone ranged lengthwisc
with their teams, would enclose the three
cities of New York, Albany and Troy.
Still another interesting guage of this huge
amount. Were itpossible fora man to count
sixty-six dollars per minute, and continue tc
work steadily without intermission for tel
hours of each day for six days in the week
il would cost him three hundred and sixty
five years and forty days to complete th'
computation by single silver dollars. Thus
it would employ three hundred and sixty-fiv'
men more than one year, four thousand three
hundred and eighty men one month, ont
hundred and thirteen thousand eight hun
dred and eighty men one day of ten hours
and one million one hundred and thirty -eigh
thousand three hundred men one of thos'
hours to finish the iobl
Let any sober citizen think of more thar
the whole population of New York city
including men, women and Children busy
counting silver at the rate of sixty dollars
per minute, and so engaged without .cessa
ton for the space of one hour, and he will
see some similitude of the Debt in coin rise
tangibly before him.
We must hasten the production and export
of our precious metals, our beef, cotton
grain, etc, etc, if we expect TO clear away
the little pyramid, either in paper or ore
within the lifetime of the present generation
Yet, gigantic as the load may seem, that il
will be lifted within reasonable period, We
have no manner of doubt. Our nationa
shoulders are the broadcast and our nationa
pockets the deepest in the world