Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-04-21

MILITARY STRENGTH OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Let tho Immigration Gates be Closed a
Little Mortgage Growth and Figures
Implied Contracts The silver Coinage
Question.

Although we are peaceful people
and make no pretentions TO extraordi
nary greatness in military strength, we
could muster a larger force of first class
soldiers than most of us suspect The
recent report of the secretary OF war
places the total fighting strength of the
United States at $500, 900, that Is, men
subject 70 military duty. II will be a
surprise TO many 70 know that in the
aggregate there are about 5000 able
bodied men already organized in the
several states as militia, but great as
this number seems II constitutes only
about one per cent. Of the possible mil.
itary strength OF the country. At this
time New York has the largest militia
force-about one ninth, indeed, of the
volunteerforce OF the states. Pennsyl-
yania comes next, then Ohio, then Mass
achusetts and next South Carolina.
Without knowing TO the contrary one
would naturally conclude that New
York has the greatest number of men
available for military service, but the
report referred TO shows that Pennsyl-
yania leads all the states in that partic-
ular. But great as is our ability TO put
immense armies in the field on short
notice, our resources 10 draw upon 10
equip and maintain great bodies of sol
diers are a vast deal greater. Verify
we are a great nation from every point
of view.
LET rnE GATES BE CLOSED LITTLE
While am stoutly in favor of well
coming manly men and womanly
women 10 the United States from for
eign lands. and am glad 10 see the
sturdy foreigner permanently identify
hfFnEsAiF ssFfth fns 1
think voice the sentiments OF my
readers when l say we are, as nation.
very much the worse, and growing
worse daily, for allowing our gates 70
bc wide open 10 all kinds. shapes and
conditions Of people OF every land.
need not refer 10 the miserable crea-
lures who are imported by the thou
sands 10 work In coal and other kinds
OF mines, for every body knows they
are for the most part from the lowest
I and most yicions OF the countries from
whence they come, and that they not
only refuse 10 seek higher and better
levels OF existence and become worthy
Of respect OF the people Of this country,
but they live like hogs that they may
send every dollar possible Of their
wages 10 their mother country where IL
Is placed In saving institutions for their
use when they return. II is admitted
I by the very coal and iron barons who
import them that their influence is
only for evil. hut the kind Of foreign
+ ers 10 whom | particularly refer rs be-
/ ing detrimental in every way 10 our in
stitutiuns are those who become citi-
zens and then siraighiway enter into
1 criminal paths and wind up in prisons
| or poorhouses Recent statistics show
/ that while the percentage of foreign
born persons Is only about Is per cent,
I - per cent Of the white prisoners in
I jails and like prisons are of foreign
I birth. Moreover, OF the -, 600 convicts
IN the various peuitentiaries in this
4 county, nearly $4,000 are foreign born.
/ thus showing that over one-half of our
! white convicts were born elsewhere
/ than In the United States. But that is
I not al. When we turn TO the poor
I houses we find that Of nearly $1,000 in.
! mates little over ? per cent of them
\ were born in foreign lands Now,
( hold that Il is just as important to the
honest, industrious foreign born citi-
zen that this pernicious immigration
I should be stopped, as il is 70 the native
/ born. for. aside from the ethical and
\ social aspect OF the question, the bur
4 den OF taxation has To be borne by all
alike. whether foreign or native born.
/ Certain 10 is, therefore, there Is press
ing necessity for stringent supervision
OF the immigration to this country.
MORTGAGES AND MORTGAGE FIGURES.
The census Office has just issued
4 mortgage statistics covering mortgaged
I acres and lots in thirty-three states and
/ territories from which, together with
Z A hs h
tanned from other sources, a pretty
l good idea may bc obtained of the mort
4 gage Indebtedness OF the people of this
1 country. The mortgages covered by
/ the report OF the thirty-three states
\ and territories aggregate in round mum
bers 81, 900, 600, 900, of which IS per cent
\ is on acres and % per cent on lots, but
/ the total mortgage debt Of all the states
! and territories amounts TO $1,000. 900.
! The history of acre and lot mortgaging
/ between 1850 and 1890 shows that
/ nearly 6,0O0, 600 mortgages were given
/ on real estate representing total debt
] OF about So. 500, 600, 600, which was di-
I yided into 31sl per cent on acre tracts
/ and co. per cent on lots. Mortgages,
/ il appears have an average life of ~
/ wears. but those upon acres have lower
/ average than those upon lots The re
/ port gives the per capita debt in the thtr'
| ty-thrce states and territories at Sis.
! New York has, It appears the largest
per capita debt It being S26s the next
/ is the District of Columbia, with S2a6;
Colorado next, with s906: then Cali
fornia, with $500, and Kansas, with
/ Sl7u; Arkansas has the lowest, viz,
sls, The next lowest is Georgia, with
SIS; next Tennessee. with S23, and $50
/ for Alabama. The average rate of in-
tcrest on acre tracts is .. &c and ON lots
SO. 81. II will not be denied that we
are money-borrowing people, nor will
il be denied that we are debt-payiug
people.
IMPLIED CONTRACTS
| IL is now held that when the men
having charge OF train of ears are un.
der an implied contract TO conduct the
| train 10 its destination, and to aban-
| don IL en- route. or TO be party To its
/ 1ntnn4inp nnustitufps n crime auaiuSt