The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-07-17
MORTGAGES AND MISERY.

Inc united states census reports
show that in the last decade, from
1880 to 1890. Massachusetts, one
of the New England states, grew in
wealth in these ten years $ll, 900,
900 more than Nebraska, Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi and Louisiana all
combined.
These are ten among the most
fertile states of our Union, and are
sixty-one times as large and have
nine times as many and just as in
dustrious people as Massachusetts.
Pennsylvania, one of the most
barren of these same middle states,
grew in wealth 13,O00,0 900 more
than Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Hi
nois, Indiana, Kentucky, North
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi and Louisiana all
combined. These thirteen states
are nearly fifteen times as large and
have more than four times as many
, people as Pennsylvania. Why this
remarkable result? New York,
another one of these same middle
states, grew in wealth during the
last decade 100000 more than
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee,
West Virginia, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Florida.
These sixteen states are nearly six
teen times as large and have more
than four times as many people as
New York. Why this reversal?
Rhode Island, another one of
these same New England states, is
perhaps the most bnrren patch on
the continent. 1t is not as large as
the two smallest counties of Arkan-
sas. 1t has less than one third as
many people as Arkansas, yet this
little patch of sand and stone and
salt water grew in wealth during
the last decade 81 100000 more
than the four great states Illinois,
Indiana, South Carolina and Miss
issippi ali combined. These four
states are 1876 times as large and
have twenty one times as many
people as Rhode Island-just as
honest, just as industrious people,
all toiling just as eagerly to make
wealth.
In one single year, from 1898 tc
1894, the state of Massachusetts
grew in wealth upward 1914 900, 900;
Pennsylvania grew upward $46,
100000; New York 1926, 900
three times as much as all the dis
tinctively manufacturing states
combined while the entire south
and west suffered an aggregate loss
of more than S4OO, 900 in this
one single year.
These are not predictions MOI
theories, but stubborn facts. The
same telltale census reports disclose
upon whom these enormous losses
are falling, as well as into whose
hands this enormous increase Of
wealth is falling.
Mr.. Carroll d. Wright's census
bulletin No. 9S shows that notwith-
standing the immense increase in
the wealth of Massachusetts, so pei
cent, upward of four fifths of all the
families residing in Boston, have nc
homes, but live in rented houses
while large percentage of those
who nomlnally own their homes
are fighting under constantly appre
chatting mortgages.
Notwithstanding the enormous
increase in wealth of Pennsylvania
II per cent, or more than three
quarters of the families, residing il
Philadelphia, have no homes, while
large part of those who have
homes are struggling against con
stantly approaching mortgages
Notwithstanding the increase il
the wealth of Rhode Island, 10 pei
cent, nearly four fifths of the fam
lilies of Providence have no homes
Notwithstanding the enormous
increase of the wealth of New York,
81 per cent, more than nine-tenths
of the families who reside in New
York city, have no homes, while
large part of the 6 per cent who
nominally own their homes are
despOndently battling against con-