The Colored citizen. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1894-1894, 1894-09-24
NATIONAL WEALTH.
NEW ENGLAND NO LONGER LEADS IN
ACCUMULATED WEALTH.

ACCUMULATED WEALTH.
The Great West shown by the Eleventh
Census to Have Surpassed the Great Man.
ufaoturing States In the Accumulation Of
Ten Years.
The increase Of wealth from 1880 to
1890 in the states has caused much
comment Free traders and calamity
howlers have held up the eastern manu-
featuring states as awful examples Of
greed and robbery, while the poverty Of
the west has been cited in such piteous
and heartrending stories of wrong and
oppression that common justice demands
that the people shall be informed at
once Of the fraud these deceivers of the
people are trying to have them believe.
The census bulletin ON wealth, No. $40,
issued March 10, 1894, is made the basis
of calculation.
The increased wealth of the nation is
$21, 1916, ,091, 1877. or 81. 089 per capita.
Twenty-eight out of the 90 states and
territories exceed the average increase
per capita OF these, only five are east
ern states-namely, Connecticut, Mas
sachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania
and Rhode Island-these five having
only an average gain of 81. 2S7 per cap
ita, while the five western states Of
California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana
and Nevada have an average Of 90. 542
per capita.
The only states which have lost in
the past 10 years are eastern states
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Kansas, which the Populists have
pauperized on every possible occasion,
saved and accumulated more wealth
in the 10 years preceding 1890 than
did Massachusetts,. Nebraska exceeded
Pennsylvania in her accumulations,
while Minnesota, Michigan and Wis
consin all and each passed New Jersey
in the race for wealth.
Where do you find the "robber
baron," the giant robber," the
fortress of greed and gain?" No Ion
ger in manufacturing New England.
Pennsylvania gives place to Texas in
the total sum Of her savings. and New
York, with $4,000, 900 Of increased
wealth, has not as much to divide to
each person as those in the District Of
Columbia, where factory is not known.
Mortgage and Debt.
The table prepared by the census bu-
reau shows the mortgages in force Jan.
1, 1890, giving the per cents of number
and the amounts for which said mort
cages were given. From the character
of the public debates in congress and
from newspaper editorials one would
suppose that the entire mortgage in
debtedness of the great west especially
had been given in order that the people
might have money or means upon which
to live, attempting to show that the
mortgages were the result of the perilous
times through which these people have
been passing. The table which is ap.
pended is a complete refutation Of this
charge.
More than half of the mortgages given
were for purchase money. We all know
what this means. An individual is able
to buy farm or piece of real estate
by paying part down and mortgaging
for the remainder. Twenty per cent Of
these mortgages were given for improve
ments upon the property. Four and one
half per cent were given for purchase
money and improvements combined.
Six per cent was given for business
purposes. An individual wishes ready
cash upon which to speculate or do busi-
ness. He thereby mortgages his farm.
Another owns large tract of land, but
he wants farm machinery, domestic
animals and other personal property
with which to improve it. This carries
1.95 per cent of the whole amount.
Not Mortgaged For Money to Live Upon.
That which is said to be his family
expenses-namely, being the amount
upon which the farmer and his family
live-amounts to only 5. 40 per cent of
the number of tracts SO mortgaged, or
1.73 per cent of the amount so mort
gagged.
The friends of good government and
Republican control, against whom the
infamous charge Of mortgage indebted
ness has been hurled, are asked to care
fully read this table. You will notice at
the bottom of the table the total amount
of mortgaged indebtedness is $12, 094,
S77, 793 in 1890. This was placed on
9,517, TAT separate pieces of property.
Taxea.
By an examination of the reports Of
the eleventh census the collection OF
taxes for state, local and school purposes
in 1890 amounted to $3.50, 252, 634, or
80. 90 per capita for the whole country.
These figures reveal some strange con-
ditions, so far as state, county and city
government is concerned, and they fur
nish in part an answer to the great
clamor that is constantly heard in the
congress of the United States for the
lessening of taxes.
The southern states, divided into two
divisions, known as the south Atlantic
and the south central divisions, are wor-
thy of an examination as compared with
the rest of the United States. The south
Atlantic division, including the District
of Columbia, pays annually s4.Sl per