The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-03-11
FACTS FOR FARMERS.
Paste Them in Your Old Hat.
BY OLD FoGY.


No doubt I often weary you with
my opinions or conclusions. This
week will give you facts and figures.
They may furnish food for thought,
and may prove troublesome to the
politician when he wants your vote.
They are far more eloquent than any
words of mine.
In 1850 the total wealth of the
United States was 81, 78O, 228.
Total amount assessed for taxation, $6,-
O24, ,666, 900. Total population, 49,
191,876. The farmers owned $5,-
Ol6,l23 1877.
That is "a per cent. of the taxed
property and 70 per cent, of the total
wealth of our country. The average
wealth per capita was $3O8.
In 1880 the total wealth of the
United States was $43, ,642, 600, 900;
assessed for purposes of taxation,
$l6,9O2, ,993, SAB. Total population,
49,37l,34O. Average wealth per
capita, $87O.
Our best statisticians, estimating on
State and Territorial reports, puts the
wealth of the United States in 1890
at "a billions of dollars; assessed for
purposes of taxation, "a billions of
dollars. Population, estimated, IS
millions; average wealth per capita,
1886. Farmers wealth, Is billions,
or less than "a per cent. of the wealth
of the country.
Remember that in 1850 you owned
70 per cent. of all the wealth of the
United States, and paid taxes on "a
per cent. In 1890 you own "a per
cent. instead of 20, and yet pay tax on
62 per cent. of all that is taxed in this
country.
Farmers families should average,
if your wealth was no greater nor less
than others every farmer ought to be
worth $68.95 per family.
Had you kept up with the process,
sion and stood as you did proportion
ately in 1850 you ought to be worth
and would be worth over twenty
thousand dollars to the family on the
average.
l saw the week just passed news,
papers from Michigan and Kansas, one
having twelve and the other thirteen
and half columns of sheriff's sales of
farms in the counties the papers were
published in. Does that look like
keeping up the average or falling be-
hind 2 Are you not as intelligent as
you were in 1880? If not, the boast
that our schools are dissipating ignOr-
auce is o sham. Do you not do as
much work as the farmer did in 1882
If not, the claims that improved ma
chinery enables you to do four mems
work is delusion.
Don't you think there is something
wrong2
In 1859 about IS per cent. of the
wealth of our country was taxed.
Now, in 1880, there was nearly II
billions of property assessed for tax
alton and nearly 26 billions that was
not.
In 1890 the estimate is 10 billions
not assessed.
Does this look as if our law makers
were bending all their energies to
make laws for your good2
The philosophy, the very genius of
our government is, the greatest good
to the greatest number.
Do you think the greatest number
is getting the greatest good2
The United States has given from
its revenues 13O millions for rivers
and harbors, 20 millions for roads and
canals, 90 millions for public build.
ings, 80 millions for lighthouses, etc.,
six millions for mints and essays and
100 millions for forts armories and
arsenals, or total of 428 millions of
dollars.
Pretty liberal with your funds, and
yet an appropriation of so millions
for warehouses would bring out 3
storm of righteous indignation ()
Did you know that the tobacco you
have raised has turned into the gov
ernment vaults the enormous sum of
$798, ,765, COS, and that banks and
bankers only turned in $67, ,719,8767 2
Do you not have twelve times as much
influence as the banks and bankers
Don't you think you are the odd one
on the bakers dozen in this case ?
Did you know that the internal
revenue had reached the enormous
aggregate of $3,676, ,847,1772
But I will close lest I weary YOU
with facts