Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-12
Mortgages Prevail in the New Industrial
Centers of the Southern and
Western States.
TIE INCREASE IN WEALTH 60 PER CENT.


of the Republican League clubs OF Ohio.
During their stay of several hours in the
city they were the guests of J. P. Witherow
at the Monongahela House
Superintendent Porter has gained in flesh
since ne took TO counting noses for Uncle
Sam, and he looks as if the abuse he has re-
ceived at the hands of the people and news
papers has agreed with him.
In answer to question about how great
America had become he replied:
That is big question ana can not an
swer it. The population has already been
taken and the figures published.
Statistics of the Nations Industries.
eve are now engaged in collecting
statistics of the various industries
in the country, and the field
work is almost completed. 1 expect
to issue a compendium, tabulated reports
and finish my work in two years. The last
census dragged along for ten years, but
can't stay away from my newspaper occupa-
tion that long. 1 have $500 clerks now at
Washington getting the statistics into shape
as fast as they come in.
81 want to say that the census was we'll
taken in Pennsylvania. Supervisor Oliver
was one of the best and most thorough
supervisors I had. He did his work in
systematic manner, and without kick from
the people, which was a rarity in other
places. New York took a police count of
its people which is finished, and have re-
quested them to publish it, but for some
reason or other they won't do it. The other
CAV the Board of Health discarded all the
outside counts taken, and adopted the de-
partment report. New York didn't have as
many people by 100, 900 as some imagined.
In a similar way the reports from st. Paul
and Minneapolis had been padded about
10000, as the recount showed, and some 20
enumerators are under indictment now for
fraud.
A Compliment for Mr.. Oliver.
"There was no trouble in Pittsburg and
Western Pennsylvania, for the reason that
the Government had a man of brains at the
head of the work Joseph D. Weeks is collect
ing the statistics on iron, glass and the other
local industries.
~ wish TO call attention to a new feature OF
the census in which Pittspurg people will be in
terested. The statistics of the traffic
carried on the Monongahela. Allegheny,
OHIO andi other rivers and the lake trade.
have never been collected before. Fifteen
wears ago my attention was called to this matter
bv Mr. Siebenick and number of Pittsburg
gentlemen. who were considering the advisa-
bilitv of having the work done themselves and
issuing the report IN pamphlet form. They
found 1t would cost considerable money, and
the scheme was abandoned. This statement of
the river traffic here, when ready, will be she
most complete ever published. and will
show the importance of inland navi-
CATION 1 am surprised that such
feature of the country's commerce should
have been neglected. The report will be inter-
estinc in connection with the ship canal which
is projected from this city to Lake Erie. of
all the coal which has been shipped from this
river harbor no official notice has ever been
taken of it,
Ship Building on the Lakes.
This feature of the census will also cover the
ship-buflding industry on the lakes. 1t will
surprise great many people, and will show
what a wonderful business in this line has been
built up in the Northwest. The old wooden
lake vessels are being abandoned and the
builders are substituting iron and steel. Much
OF the latter product comes from this city.
''ln a general way the wealth of the country
duriug the last ten years has increased 20 per
cent. In the production OF iron our annual
OUTPUT is now equal TO England. and in the
next ten years we will leave the English away
in the rear. l find that the number of manu-
factories in nearly all the. the industries nt has
that the production has increased IN
the same ratio. The different factories and
mills are IN operation giving empl0Nment TO
thousands of people. but they DO not work all
the time. The iron industry has grown. for
example, more in some localities than in
Others. In Alabama, where they made little
iron ten years ago the output has increased
l00U per cent. Likewise, the cotton business
has doubled its capacity, and it shows that the
Southern States are being developed and The
lie all around them. The glass trade has ex-
panded in a wonderful fashion. and So / might
go over the various industries in detail.
Mortgages by Millions.
Another new and interesting feature of this
census Will be collection of all the mortgages
and recorded Indebtedness of every, county and
State in the Union. The field work has been
finished. and we have record of 1000 600
mortgages, but could not even guess how
much money is represented. l expect to issue
the mortgage reports of several Of the States
very shortly. l note as a rule that the most
mortgages prevail in the industrial centers
especially where there is activity and expan-
sion. Western Pennsylvania and particularly
PittsburC well off. showing little indebted
ness. Indeed PittsburG is one of the most
prosperous cities in the country. The indus
tries here have been long established, and the
people have money TO loan. The mortgages
are heavy in the South, as one would naturally
expect but they are in those districts whel e
money has been invested In factories and mills.
Nearly the entire Indebtedness of Alabama is
confined to Jefferson county. where iron inter.
ests are being developed. There are a few
mortgages in New York, while Chicago, which
loaded down."
Here Mr. Porter began to trim his sails. but
the general run of his talk Indicated that there
were more mortgages to the square inch in
Chicago than in any other city in the United
States.
Continuing he said: "Chicago is very ag
Eressive, and has the wealth to support It's
mortgages.
Figures on Inland Fisheries.
I'VE are also collecting the statistics abou;
fish caught in all the streams as well as the
larger lakes and oceans. This has never been
done and / discover that the fishing
business is an extensive source of money in Q
good many localities Every town where hsh
ing of any importance is carried on has been
looked after This census will show in conclu-
sion that America is one of the greatest and
weaithiest nations on the face of the EARTH"
Major Mckinley preferred to hear Porter
talk about the copntry's resources but he did
say few things about politics. The Major is
not feeling sad over his release from political
life for the present He said he did not know
whom the President would appoint to succeed
the late Mr.. Window. and that is all he would
say Oh this subject. The Majors friends have
been urging MIN for the place, but he acted az
had now most of its business well in hand and
would finish its work by the regular time fo.
adiourring. He does not think that an extra
session is needed. BE approves of reciprocity
with Brazil, and he believes that the two coun-
tries will be mutually benefited. He looks for
wonderful results in consequence of the new
commercial relations.
D.-1;,<x VVoS Not