Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-03-05

This shows a decrease Of the wealth
of the country from 1870 to 1880 of
about three billions of dollars. Of
course it is but an approximate esti-
mate, and may be far out of the way,
but one thing is very certain, and that
is that the true valuation" as re-
turned next year, will be less than it
was IN 1870. The assessed valuation Of
property In states and cities shows this,
as we'll as the wiping cut Of millions of
worthless bonds, which were estimated
and returned as well. as wealth nine
years ago. This, with the decline
in stocks, and enormous shrinkage in
real property, will tell story of de-
creased wealth between 1870 and 1880.
For the first time in our history there
will be decade without the apparent
gain OF a dollar, but on the contrary, a
loss of two or three billions! The eff
fects of the war losses. the wiping out
of slave property, and the expansion of
the initiation period, will appear more
vividly in the census of 1880 than that
Of 1870.
The greatest gains within a decade
have been IL the states Of Illinois, Cali
fornia, Kansas, Minnesota, Texas and
Florida, in the order in which we have
named them. Most of our intelligent
people will rub their eyes incredulou5ly
at seeing Illinois as the banner state in
increase, but the wonder ceases when
one remembers that Illinois contains
more miles of railroad than any other
state in the union, and has scarcely any
Ior1 no 1S 10 MI,
ranks next, as is very natural, almost
its entire railroad system having been
developed within ten years and placed
the rare agricultural advantages Of this
enormous state within general reach
Kansas, almost entirely arabic, wonder
folly we'll watered except in it's western
quarters, and easily accessible, comes
next; perhaps the special inducements
which some of her railway companies
have offered would-be purchasers Of
railway lands have helped her record.
Minnesota comes fourth, and deserved
ly, for her old reputation for superior
fertility, healthfulness, accessibility, in
| telligence and society has proved to be
| deserved. Texas ranks fifth IN spite of
| the unenviable repute in which some
held. There is in the central portion
of the Lone Star State a body of land
equal in area to the whole state of New
I York, and unsurpassed in fertility and
climate by any in the union. Rail
roads have within few years led to the
re-discoYery of this long-hidden coun-
try; the discoveries have been wise
enough to have found native popula
ton that recognizes men as men, with
out regard to previous political or Sec
tional affiliations. Then follows Flori-
| da-a state which has all the natural re-
sources, mines excepted that are Pc
culiar to the nation, and offers no or
ganized or local opposition to new
corners who mean business. It appears.
therefore, that natural advantages, the
| means of getting at them and the
assurance Of security for life and prop
erty are the most potent influences in
attracting emigration. Between & the
states named and those from which
emigrants have gone. lie other states as
fertile as any; they are also rich in
minerals, we'll watered, healthful and
sorely in need of men and money, yet
their population has scarcely increased
except from within. Can they not