The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-03
THE SINGLE TAX
Why Poverty Increases With
the Progress Made.
THE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH
The Causes That Produce 1t, and How MANY
Of the Attendant Evils May
Be Avoided.
To the Editor of TIE HERALD:

To the Editor of THE HERALD:
There Is q perfect unanamity of opinion
among all scientific social reformers. THAT
the rich are growing steadily richer and the
poor relatively poorer" One writer states
that the tendency of so-called material
progress is as though an immense wedge
were being forced not underneath society,
but through society, and that those who
are above the point of separation are ele-
waited while those below are crushed down.
Another who hkens our social institutions
10 great coach on which a few ride and
the many pull, points out that those who
are doomed to forever pull the coach are in
creasing in number.
This is no mere speculation, but is based
upon solid and incontrovertible facts and
figures.
The latest reliable statistics on the sub
5ect state that in 1S47 there was but
ONE MAN IN THIS COUNTRY
reputed to be worth over S5.OOOOOO. The
wealth of his ineal descendants is estimated
at $3.50, 100000, or $50, 0OO,0 600 each. In 1865
the wealthiest railroad manager was worth
not more than $4,000, 900. His heir died
recently leaving an estate of 5000 600. 600.
and there are now several gentlemen living
worth Sl000O0,0OO. In 1867, in the New
York constitutional conaention, a promi-
nent delegate stated that he could name
thirty men in New York whose wealth
averaged SIS, 100000. At the lowest posi-
BILE reasonable estimate there are now in
the United States 250 persons whose wealth
averages over $40, 100000 each.
The total national wealth held as private
, property is 81, 900, 100000. OF this, at least
three -fourths are owned by about 300. 600
persons, the balance being distributed
among the 20.000,000 workers. including
men, women and children-while the fact
that less than 2 per cent of the working
force OF the nation control 80 per cent. of
Its wealth is sufficient proof of the asser-
ton of
INCREASING POVERTY WITH PROGRESS,
1t is still farther demonstrated by the de-
crease in number of small farms and the
great increase in that number of large
farms. For example, the statistics fur
nished concerning the size of farms in GER
tain cotton growing states showed that be-
tween 1870 and 1850 the increase in the num-
Der Of farms between fifty and one hundred
acres was about 100 per cent; the increase
in the number of farms over 900 acres was
about ], 100 per cent In Connecticut the in
NAOooO Al Aol AAS OnuCl LOT Ule same
period was ], 242 and for those over 100
acres J, S4S. In New York there was a de-
crease OF 1851 IN number of farms under
100 acres, and an increase of Al $40 in num-
Der Of farms over 100 acres. The statistics
up to 1880 are not yet complete on this sub
1ect. HERALD editorial of the 21st inst
says; Another fact burdened with por-
tents OF evil for the good of our country is
the growth Of large farms ranging from
boo to 100000 acres. While in 1870 there
were only IL, S13 farms between 500 and
1000 acres; there were in 1880 75. 972: and
OF farms over 900 acres in 1870, 3,720: and
Is ,57S IN 1850.
ACCORDING TO THE FIGURES
Of 1880 there were 800 357 tenant farmers
paying rent; and 102, pa farmers farming
on shares, occupying position not unlike
that of the despised vllliens of feudal times.
This makes grand total of LOLA, Col tenant
farmers in the United States. These facts
tell a sad tale for American agricultural -
Statistics clearly prove that at the present
day less than !, 600 persons constituting less
than one-two hundredth of our working
population are possessed of increases thai
enable them to save three-fifths of all the
wealth that is annually saved in this coun-
try And as all wealth is reproduced with
in less than thirty years 100 900 persons are
destined to own three fths of the entire
wealth OF the United States within the next
thirty years.
In the face of these figures can it be ones
ton that the position of Henry George. Ed
ward Bethany, ct al. ''That the rich are
growing richer and the poor poorer'' is cor
rects That the poorest may enjoy some
things to-day that the richest could not
century ago
DOES NOT SHOW IMPROVEMENT
so long as the ability to obtain the neces-
saries is not increased.
The question then arises, What are the
causes that produce this enormous concen-
tration Of wealth, and can they be rene
died9
The population of the United States has
increased from $4,000, 900 to 60,0OO, 600 dur
ing the last twenty five years, or al. YER
age population for this period of IS, OOO. 900 |
The average annual burden of taxation
borne by the people during this TWENTY-FIVE
years is 81 1854 ,000, 900. Of this amount all |
save 500 600, 600 has been imposed by indi |
rect taxation, leaving the average annual |
burden imposed by indirect taxation at
8, 2S0, OOO,000. This amount of taxation |
must be paid out of what is expended.
FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES
we may consider the population of the |
United States divided into Is, OOO. 900 fani- |
lies. Of these Il, 0O0, 900 have incomes less
Ithan $3.50 per year: 100000 less than 81. 900. |