Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-12
INDEBTEDNESS OF THE WORLD.
Interesting Statistics rs to the Debt Of For.
eign Countries.

Infere8t1nK
eign Countries.
Superintendent Porter of the census Office
has issued advance copies of an important bull
letin on foreign, national, state and county in
debtedness.
The information concerning the indebted
ness Of foreign countries was furnished to the
census Office by the proper administrative Off
GERS of the several nations Only the totals Of
foreign Indebtedness are given, but a great
amount Of interesting details concerning the
dates Of issue and maturity of the several
loans, the purposes and rates for which they
were issued. their present commercial value
and the kind and value of money in which they
were negotiated has been compiled and will be
published in the final reports Of the eleventh
census.
The indebtedness of the world for 1890 and
1880, as far as it has been possible to collect
the data for the present bulletin, with the
amount Of increase or decrease, Is as follows:
Total-s26, 81, O96 $50 in 1890; in 1880, S25,-
s1s, 521 ,219; increase, 81 ,09S, SIS. 461.
Foreign nations-In 1890, S25, 636, 075, $40; in
1880, S23 4Sl ,572 1856; increase, S2.15. 500, $50
The United States-In $780, S9l5. 562. liz; in
1880. 81 922 SIT 1854; decrease, 81 006, 555, 252.
States and Territories-In 1890. 1928. l07 1888;
In 1880, $3.50, S26. 643; decrease, s67, 21S, 7eO.
Connties-In 1890, S141 $50, S45 in 1880, 1924,
los, OPT; increase. ST., S45,S 1S.
From the summary published 1t will be seen
that relatively the burden OF debt falls far
heavier upon the inhabitants of tho principal
foreign countries, except those OF Germany,
than upon those of this country. France In
1889 had debt per capita of S116.35, and it is
understood that this does not include certain
annuities Of an unstated but large amount.
Great Britain. though slowly decreasing Its
debt, had a burden at that time Of SS7.79 per
capita; Russia. $50 70; Austria-H Hungary, S70.S4;
toll NJ. lkrrn n. he Natl anda
1856, while that of the United States was but
s14.63, and its Indebtedness, nearly one-half,
was made up Of Notwithstanding notes.
While individual fluctuations in the amounts
Of the indebtedness of the seventy-nine for
eign nations reported have been considerable
during the decade. the aggregated indebted
ness shows relatively but little change, espe-
cially if compared with the increase of popu-
lation.
The public debt Of the United States shows a
decrease within the last ten years, the burden
per capita having been reduced from S3S.33
in 1880 to S14.63 in 1890.
The indebtedness of the states and territories
has also decreased S67 ,21S.760 during the de-
cade. reducing the per capita from 1913 in 1880
TO 1886 in 1890. 1t should be remembered,
however, that of the total decrease of state
debt, reported, there has been scaled by re-
funding in some of the southern states about
SIS, 500, 900.
The indebtedness Of the counties, though in
creaslng somewhat within the decade, has not
kept pace with the increase of population, and
the per capita has been reduced from S2.47 in
1880 to S2.27 in 1890
Aggregating the national, state and county
Indebtedness, the per capita shows a decrease
from 1859 in 1880 to S2O.46 in 1880, or more
than one-half, and this decrease has been
brought about mainly by voluntary taxation.
The aggregate surplus receipts of another de-
cade like the one just past would relieve the
country from nearly all national, state and
county Indebtedness could they be distributed
for the purpose.