Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-04-20
Misffllanfnms.
The Resources Of the Country, and their
Annual Growth in Relation to the
National Debt.

der of the world. Nothing ike it is recorded
in authentic history. To foreign nations this
growth is known almost exclusively by tho
increase of population. or The appearance Of
American ships in their ports But when we
como to investigate tho ability of tho nation
to incur extraordinary expense, or to pay an
accumulating debt the question is not SO much
one of population as of industry and produc-
tions. 1t is question of the rate at which
the nation increases in wealth and resources.
This problem has scarcely been investigated
at all, and is understood by few. To meet
the question of the ability of this nation to pay
its present and future war debt with prompt
ness, and without the least distress or doubt,
we propose to solve these problems: /. What
is the Wealth Of the Nation 2. At what rate
does it increase: g. What il the proportion
to the Debt'
/. What is the Wealth Of the Nation =
Wealth is all the available property of the
country--lands, houses, precious metals and
domestic animals. and instruments, for the
employment Of labor and to make lands pro.
ductive. In some countries, az in Holland and
Belgium, there is considerable drawback on
many Of these, from the fact that there il little
or no market for them, except for tie use OF
those who hold them. Thus, q man who
builds home in Amsterdam does not expect
=. e -. =. Ia Inilla : for his
own use. In this country it is exactly the re-
verse. Every man expects to get more than
what It costs, and in nine cases out Of ten Is
justified in the event. In country where
foreign Immigration is immense, and the naiu-
raj growth rapid, the market il ;lways ris-
ing one, and all species Of property is market
able Hence in ralueing the property Of the
country, there is no drawback from the wan,
Of sale, or the possible fall Of values. The
property Of the nation in one year is worth
more than It va, appraised 4. the preceding
year. Hence. if We ca n find fair valuation
Of the property Of the country, that valuation
is perfectly safe standard to ascertain the
wealth Of the nation. 1t is only recently that
any attempt has been made to value the prop
crty or wealth If nations. In this country,
the only valuation we have is il the Census
Of 1850 and 1860; but this is enough to es-
.atlish both the actual value Of property snd
the rate Of increase. The valuations are very
well proved, by corresponding nearly With
,Yeral State valuations, which are made for
the purposes Of taxation. For example. the
increase af wealth in the State Of OAi3, given
in the L. :. Census Of 1880 and 1860, con-
pared very nearly with that given by the Aa-
di;or Of State and Commissioner Of Statistics,
end !. known to be very pear the actual
sTIeable value Of property. We therefore as
sumo the valration Of property Of this country
given in the Census Of 1850 and 1850 to BE-
substantially correct, Taking then, only the
State and Territories now in p1seHion Of the
Cnitei !Stotez Gorernm<nt, falthough. for the
ultimate payment Of the debt, We have right
to assume that we shall recover the whele
property Of the nation. the following will
show our wealth in 1890:
Wealth in 1850, s5.047 .e97,7l2: wealth
in 1850, s1I ,4l0. .2GG. s4s; Increase, 6,355-
2G9 1875; Increase Per cent, 127.
The problem Of wealth. estimated By the
cash standard Of value IS solved. The astual
wealth Of the country os the Il: July. 1850,
Was el>rea hoasand fo.sr hundAed and ten alH-
lioa,. including in this only the States and
Territories nov in actual possession Of the Gov
ernment On the .ans day the wealth Of the
entire country vas sixteen thousand one hun
dred and Ef.y-nine million (sl6, ,l59, ,oG0,
0OO). Hence the entire wealth If th- States.
nor in reJsTion including portioas Of Arkaa
..s, Virginia North Carolina, Louisiana, &c,
cow in our control va. bu. jour AoGserd ss-
ers Hundred millions, and Of thi. s1ih No: le,s
than one anj half thousand millions Wac in
sls7e.. The national wealth By the rates Of
1850, was in fac. hree.fad tia; Of the Rebel
Confsderzcy five take from the list half Of
Virginia and Louisiana, fully in cur control
the value Of the Conf4dsracy is but three and
q hqlf H.oasuTld millions. 50 that the wealth cf
the loyal country l. really jorT sina>' that Of
he rebel.. Looking 70 tie iEcrsss, We find
that the decenniaI increase was l21 per cent.
and the anaaL increase 12,7 50 that the four
years from 1860 to 1864, gives an increase q
50 per cent. On this bass the actual wealth
Of the Ilyyal States and Territories. On the l..
july, 1854, would Be sia7sea hoasand siz
hundred niEiions ef dolarsE l6 go soo0. .00oJ
eqzal TO tha; Of the entire nation in 1850.
Bu; some one nay say thst the condition Of
war has diminished the increase Of wealth.
Some confederation viii make it evidsn, tia,
til. If this il true .: all j, Is only il very
Moderate degree. War priee. are always high
prices. tni high prioes-sach high prices as
We noz ha7e-s.inaizied production y vast
extent The farmer manages soDekos 10 SOW
ss many acres AID reap as large hz-Fes.s as
ever and We rcs oaly fed Cur armies aud
h0ae population. b1s oyn;iaas to fed good
yest Of Earope besides. Bs; l.. u box at