The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-15

are tho decreases in the total assessed values,
when 1t IS apparent. without more than
casual attention to :the subj j4ct, that the
reverse mus. be true. J The writer Of the
government report on this subject naturally
refers to the abolition Of slavery and to the
damage TO- and destruction Of personal
property taking place between 1860 and 1870
as accounting tor the greater portion, il not
all, Of the loss noted III comparing the
returns Tor those years. During the ten
years from 1870 TO 1850, however, no
such explanation ia available, and the sug.
ges.ion is thrown out that the increase in
the avoidance of double assessment,
through counting mortgages and bonds
and other representatives Of property once
reckorc3 and assessed, may explain por-
tion OF tho apparent decline in the total OF
personal property, while the facility with
which tho assessment OF a considerable
share OF personal property is evaded may
also 60 to explain the falling oil. The in
formation is also derived frum the inquiries
sent out that the ratios OF assessed to the
true valuation in the United States range
from 10 to 100 percent, and tina. for the
couatry at large the average is abou. 65. z. :.
- lA6 NasA FAhLD SOS ENEus LI
From the slirs Of the census work men
toned, further reference to this subject is
made as follows:
"Anolher body OF data Of great value in
making this investigation consisted Of the
returns OF the property. invested in all
brauches Of business, manufactures, trade
and banking, as collected by one of the
great mercantile agencies OF the country,
viz that Of the Bradslreet Company, which
kindly consented 70 allow the Census oifice
10 compile this matter from the reports
made 10 them by their agents, on the sole
condition that the names OF the individuals
and business houses concerned should not
be made public"
"Such material, when used discriminate
iugly and carefully, not as being ultimate
authority, but as data 10 be s;fted and COM
pared with data derived from independent
sources, may bscume Of great value In
statistical investigation like this. When
| it is considered that nearly million
corporations, firms or Individuals doing
business were enumerated in this collec.
ton, which embraced every kind Of busi.
ness in which credit is asked or received.
whereas the ceneus INV makes no provision
Tor obtaining the capital invest ed in trade
or banking, and obtains whatever it does
get regarding the capital invested in manu-
facinHs Mt great disadvantage on account
OF the reluctance OF individual proprietors
to disclose the facts OF their business, it
will appear that such n body OF material
might be made Of much service in dealing
with the question before us (the aggregate
sum OF wealth Of the United States on June
], lSS0). U.e has also been made Of the
statistics Of the value Of farms, OF live stock
and Of farming implements and machinery
returned in theagtlculture schedulea. In
estimating the average amount OF stock in
the hands oi manufacturers and dealers
reference has been had to the statistics OF
the annual value Of the products Of me-
chanical, mining and agricultural industry
and Of the amount OF foreign goods i'm.
ported. And III estimating the average
amount Of household g;ods, furniture, ap-
parel, equipage, etc, in the hands Of the
people refererca has been made 10 the sta.
tistlcs Of the production or importation OF
the several articles concerned through a
eerips OF years" After many months OF
comparison, arrangement and classification
Of This rnass Of data tho gentleman in
charge Of this department Of the census
work has, with the best advice and a..
sistance 10 be commanded" reached the
conclusion that ''the aggregate. sum Of
wealth OF the United 6tMtes on June /,
1850, was Si3, ca. 100000" @i5s.. -
f. AGGREGArE WEALTH. Jt1SE 1 . 1890. 49,