The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-17
RICHES OF THE WORLD.
Per Capita the United States Take Fourth
Place. tho United Kingdom Leading All
Other Nations with IN Average valua.
tiOu of 81 400 Per Head.

IL Is common impression in this
country that the United States stand
Nat the head Of the nations of the world
In the aggregate wealth and the equal
ity of it's distribution. This is probably
true in the narrow sense that the aggre-
gate valuation Of property in the United
States Is larger than in any other coun-
try, but. according to the St. Louis
GlobeDemocrat. it is not true in the
sense in which it is generally UNDER
stood. that the average wealth per in
dividual is greater. If the statistics Of
European economists regarding their
own countries can be accepted as trust
| worthy. The aggregate for the United
States is larger than for any other
| country, because the population Is
larger than that Of other great COM
mercial nations, but the proportion Of
wealth to the population Is less than in
Australia, Great Britain and France
The figures for Australia. however, are
not really indicative Of the wealth held
in that country, as the property of the
island Is very largely mortgaged to
British capitalists.
England stands pre-eminent In the
actual holdings Of the wealth by her
own people. The estimate of the wealth
of the United Kingdom of Great Brit
am ny
Giffin in 1885 was FLO, 037, ,0OO, 900, or about
$50, 900. .OOO. 900. The classification Of this
valuation was about s., ,4O0, 600, 900 for
land, So, 600, ,0O0, 900 for constructions
$23. 900, 900 900 for foreign industrial and
national securities and public funds
s., 900, 900 900 for English national and
public funds and $4,000. 00O, 900 for NOV
ables and tools Of trade. This estimate
Is somewhat higher than that made by
Michael d. Mulhall in his Dictionary
Of Statistics" for 1892. His figures for
1888 are f9,400, 100000. or about $47, ,00O,-
00O.0 900. an increase Of 81 400, ,00O. 900 over
1892. DR.. Gifins estimates were based
primarily on the income tax of Eng
lishmen as shown by the income tax
returns. which he proceeded to capital
ize at various rates OF interest. DR..
Gifln has given much study to the SUBJ
ject and took account of many other
elements and much data besides that
Of the income tax.
Highest Per Capita In United Kingdom.
The population Of the United King
dom in 1885 was 36,O13. .937, which would
afford an average valuation Of about
81, 800 per head. or $3.50 for family Of
five. The figures would show a con-
siderably higher average for England
Scotland and Wales IL Ireland were ex-
cluded. The average, even for the
United Kingdom. Is higher than for
any other country except Australia,
where land values are a large element
In the reported wealth. This inclusion
Of land values In thinly settled coun-
tries. where much Of the land Is unim-
proved, Is subject to more or less criti-
cism In an effort to ascertain the degree
OF afhuence Of the people, and adds
greatly to the apparent per capita valu-
alton Of our own western states, like
Nevada, Wyoming and Arizona.
The wealth OF France IL placed by
several OF her leading economists at
200, ,000. .000. 900 francs, or about $40, 0,OOO.-
600. which affords a valuation OF 81, ,081
per capita. or H,4O5 per family of five
France ranks second In wealth among
the great commercial nations and
shows a much more even diffusion Of
wealth among the masses than Great
Britain. There Is a slight difference
between the estimates Of NJ. de Foville
and those given by Professor Charles
eide in the last edition OF his "Prin-
cipes d'Economie Polltique" as to the
classification Of French property, but
the difference appears to be due to the
different manner of setting OFF negotia-
BILE securities against the property
which they represent. Professor eide
gives SIS. .OO0 000, 900 In lands, $40 OOO, 900.
900 In houses, SIC, 900. .000, 900 In negotia-
bic. securities and $4,000. 200, 900 in NOV
ables and money. making a total Of
$4S, ,000. .000. 900; but he deducts q, 900, ,OOO.-
900 40 millards Of francs) for national
securities and mortgages held In France
against French property, In order to
avoid the duplication of figures. M. de
Foville. as quoted by Professor Claudio
Janet In lie Capital, la Speculation ct
la Finance" gives the figures at $14,-
000.000.000 for securities. 5000, ,OOO, 900
for land. $4,000. 900. 900 for buildings and
| $4,000. .000. 900 for movables and tools not
represented by securities.
Rapid Increase In Fifty Years.
The increase In the wealth Of the
great European states has been phe-
nomenal during the last half century.
Land values have contributed consld-
erably to the increase, but the erection
Of more and better houses and the ere.
alton Of negotiable securities, repre-