Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-09
the FACTS ~ THE CASE.
The srnrrhIipht of Truth turned u"
one of BrSnn's Assertions


Louisville Courier-journa! deml
prosperity has never followed the gold
standard w. J. Bryans speech at CoN'Hs-
ton, Ky, October ..
What are the facts?
The total wealth of the United states was
$50 .O6S. SIS 5OT In 1870. II was S65,O5i Ool l9'
in 1890. An increase of over 100 per cent
under the gold standard.
The wealth per capita Of the United states
was $3.50 in 1870; 1t was $l.O36 in lSsV an
increase of 80 per cent under the sola
standard. 49,. 49,,
our foreign trade increased from 1873
to 1890 A per cent under the gold standard,
In the same time the trade OF Great Brit
ain increased only 20 per cent.
The coal production of the United states
increased from g.. .S22, $50 tons in 1850 to
4OSS2, ,729 tons in 1890, an increase oil III
per cent under ten years of gold standard
The iron production of the United States
increased from 2,741 1853 tons in 1879 to "
2O2 7O3 tons in 1890. an increase OF 2S5 per
cent under eleven years of gold standard.
The savings bank deposits of the onlteu
States increased from $549,S7 1858 in 1870
to 81 SIC, ,597 O2S in 1895, an increase OF about
23O per cent undor the gold standard.
The number of depositors in the savings
banks of the United States increased from
/ .6SO, ,S46 in 1870. to 4,S75519 in 1895, and
their savings per capita increased IN the
same time from $14.26 to S25 SS.
The public debt OF the United States was
81 922 SIT, ,324 in 1880, or 1888 per CAPITA
in 1890 it was only s915962,l12 or $l4.63 per
capita-a reduction of more than 90 per cent
in the total and of 81 per cent in per cap
ita indebtedness-u the gold standard
The state debts of the United States
amounted to $204 ,500.674, or 1913 per cap
ita, in 1880; in 1890 they amounted to $l32,
1886 .6S9, or only $3.50 per capita.
The net federal, state and county lndebt-
| edness in the United States was 1885,
| 949, ,O34 in 1880, or $46.59 per capita; IN lS9V
| it was 81, ,2S1 O20, $40, or s20.46 per capita
| a reduction of 50 per cent
Farm property, including lands, fences and
! buildings we're valued at $9,262, OOO,OOO III
| 1870 and had increased to s13,2I9,Ooo,ooo III
| 1890.
Farmers owned 1886 900 900 worth of inn
| proyements and machinery in 1870, and $f94,
! 900 600 worth in 1890.
! Farm live stock amounted to Sl,525.O .OO0,-
| OO0 in 1870 and to 81 2OS, 900 900 in 1890.
Acreage of farm lands in 1870 was 4V7 :
| 1876, ,041; in 1890. 623, ,2lS, ,619-an increase OF
| over 80 per cent.
Building and loan association deposits were
of little consequence in 1879; IN lSss tney ,aeS
reached a total of $500 900 600, and in 1896
amounted to $3.50, 900, ,00O-all under the gold
| standard.
The exports from the United States have
| increased 1874 per cent since 1SI2-under the
| gold standard.
i - Farm products-grain cotton, tobacco
| meat live cattle, sheep and hogs-were eS'
| ported in 1872 to the amount $353,9O6,6S7
| in 1892 1854, ,4S0,S43 worth of these articles
went abroad.
Freight rates on wheat from Chicago tt
New York have been reduced from 1871!
! cents per bushel by lake and canal in 1877
to Ali cents in 1885; from 1872 cents al
rail. in 1873 to 12.17 cents, all rail. in 1898.
Average wages in manufacturing indus
! tries increased from 1928 in 1870 to S4S
in 1890, or 80 per cent. (See census re
ports)
The purchasing power Of wages at tn
same time increased from 11i.l in 1870 t
1921 in 1890 taking 1860 as a basis of com
parison at 100.
A one-horse plow that cost GA bushels o
wheat or 19.1 bushels of corn, or 27 bushel
of oats in 1878, could be bought in 1889 70
3.S bushels of wheat, S5 bushels OF corr
or lis bushels of oats.
A binder that cost the farmer 2777 bushel
of wheat in 1873, could be bought for 1874
bushels in 1889.
A one horse cultivator that cost 6.8 bushel
of wheat in 1873, could be bought for A.
bushels in 1889.
A two-horse plow that cost 17.6 bushels {
wheat or 52.9 bushels of corn in 1878, coul
be bought in 1889 for 1871 bushels of whea
or 31.2 bushels of corn.
The volume of money in circulation
1872 was $73S 309, ,549. or $lS.19 per capiti
including deprecated paper; in 1896 Jun
80 it was 81 sos ,63l ,026. or $21.lO per capita
Counting the money in the treasury ther
was in the United States in 1872 $3.50 pc
capita which in 1896 had increased to $32, S
per capita.
Money has increased in supply muc
more rapidly than the demand that interes
rates have declined % per cent since 1873.
No other nation on earth can match thi
story of progress