Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-08

1t might be inferred from much Of
the talk heard In these days that
the United States is pursuing down
ward course, and that a comparison
of the present with the past would
give many reasons for discourage.
ment. The reverse of this idea ID
true, after admitting that the coun-
try for four years has been passing
through an atisfactory administra.
tlon. The memory Of the majority
OF men reaches back to the year 1857.
That was q flush year at the end OF
the war. The government had paid
out immense sums In closing up mill
tary accounts, and hundreds of thou
sands of soldiers had received pay
ment In full. It is, therefore sharp
test of 1895 to put 1t under definite
analasys besides 1857. Persons who
are celebrating the good old times
and grumb bling about existing condi-
tions should welcome the deadly par.
allel, and not find fresh cause for
complaint II this trial by simple
arithmetic goes against them.
The figures are from the nine
teenth annual abstract of the Bureau
of Statistics, which has just come
from the government printer. Let
the much discussed "per capita" open
the tourney. All who can recall the
year 1857, have the impression that
the circulation of money was then
lively. In that year the per capita
was $40. IL; In 1895 it was S32.86.
The per capita Of money In circula-
ton In 1867 was $1S. 20, one half of 1t
valued in gold at TIC at the dollar; In
1896 the per capita circulating was
$21.10, all valued at par In gold.
The per capita Of the national debt
in 1867 was S69.26; the year 1895 saw
it reduced to sl3,41. Between the
same years the per capita of interest
on the debt declined from 1884 to
Acc, and the annual national tax on
each citizen from 1887 to $4.94.
These changes for the better are so
striking that no disgruntled citizen
will venture to mention the subject
of per capita unless he is thoroughly
mislnformed about 1t.
In other directions the comparison
comes out quite as well. Our popula-
tion has about doubled since 1867,
when the estimate was SO, 211.00O.
Now it is 1888, 900. Each citizen
now averages an annual expenditure
OF $1.1 on the post Office, against
42c in 1867. The average expendi-
ture on public schools is so per cent
greater than In 1867. These two
items show positive advance In civil
ization. Imports are about the same
per capita, though the volume has
doubled. In thirty years duties on
goods have declined from
1857 per cent to 40.1S per cent, and
on all imports from 44,56 per cent
to 20.67 per cent. Exports are
greater per head in the proportion OF
$12.11 to S7.73. The average Amer
lean uses more than twice as much
cotton as in 1867, two and half
times as much sugar, 60 per cent
more coffee, 20 cent more tea, and
more wheat by one fifth. About 40
per cent less spirituous liquor is used
by the average American, though
the consumption of malt liquors has
largely increased.
These figures mean a higher de-
gree of comfort and lighter burdens
for our citizens than fell to their lot
in 1867. If prosperity is lacking at
this moment the reason must be
temporary and superficial. The Unit
ed States, in the fundamental con-
ditions that govern business in the
long run, makes an exhibit that
justlfles cheerful spirit and buoyant
hopes. The country is moving along
Its appointed orbit, with no sign of
changes except OF the usual progress
i've kind. Dem.