Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1897-01-04
FARMERS AND FINANCE
Interest TilIcrs of the Soil Have
in the Money Question.
The Department of Agriculture Issues
Special Report.

Washington, D. c., Dec. 25.-An inter-
esting special report has been issued
from the division of statistics of the de-
partment of agriculture, showing the in
terest farmers have in finance. The re-
port is based upon the showing made IN
the late presidential election. Tables are
prepared making a comparison between
the gold standard and free silver states.
In one table it is shown that in the gold
standard states the population is 39,6Zf,-
035, or 63.S per cent of the whole popu-
Iation: the illiterate whites are SzZOf4
or 40.7 per cent. of all the llhterates OF
the country; and the school expenditure
per capita 81. II; while IN the Tree - SILVER
states the population is 22,492, 10, or
3d. per cent of the whole population;
the iliterate whites, 1,197 ,6G3, or 59.3
per cent Of all the illiterates in the coun-
try; and the school expenditure per cap
ita, $l.37.
Another ta BILE shows that in the gold
states the total property valuation is SZ9,-
199. 995, 624; the value of farm lands,
SO. 43O. 358. 1856, and the real estate mort
cages, 81, 833, 582, 018; while in the silver
states the total property valuation is
$9.311 1913, Alb; the value of farm lands,
$3,S09, 479 173, and the farm mortgages,
$1.125,11S,1 1856. A third table shows that
product is worth SIS, 152 123.3Ol; the
wages paid employees amount to Sl,999'-
567, 269; the production of silver is
1.095 O3G ounces, and the ratio to popu-
lation, ITO per cent; while III the free
silver states the manufactured product
amounts to $117S,030.980; wages paid
employees, to $267, 9G2, 221; the production
of silver, 471S6,511 ounces, and the
ratio to population, 0.3 per cent.
1t will be seen, the report says, mat
the area carried for free silver is nearly
double the area for the gold standard.
while its population does not greatly ex-
ceed half the latter. The average OF IN
habitants per square mile III the goitt
standard states is three and one-fourth
times thai in the free silver states.
The percentage of electoral votes IS
larger in the free silver states than that
of population, showing that those states
are favored by that method Of choosing
the President.
Education in the Two Areas.
OF the total number of illiterate native
whites, the free silver area contains near
tive white population over 10 years OF
age, the percentage of the illlterates III
the free silver states is three times that
in the gold standard states.
The reported total expenditures for
schools excluding colleges. academies,
purposes in the gold standard states are
three and a half times as great as III the
free silver states. This is higher than
the ratio of population. 1t is also higher
than the ratio of personal property ana
even higher than the ratio of real prop
erty. The average expenditure per cap
tia is in the gold standard states very
nearly double that in the free silver
states.
Industries and Production.
Property, both personal and real. shows
higher percentage than population IN
the gold standard states The farm
lands, through the disproportion is less
for these than for real estate, show &n
excess in the same direction, while the
total Of agricultural products gives for
this territory a percentage somewhat
lower than that Of population, this not
very large difference being all that the
census tables have to tell us of the rela-
lively greater devotion OF the Tree silver
states to agriculture. Notwithstanding
the fact that they are less agricultural.
the gold standard states. produce almost
SeYen-eighths Of the manufactures OF the
country, the scope Of manufacturing
being extended far enough in the census
TO cover gristmill, bakery, dairy, slaugh-
tering and masonry products.
On the average. for each inhabltant OF
a gold standard state there are $31 worth
of agricultural products. and for each
free silver inhabitant $44 worth. The
total value of manufactured products per
nhabitant is $52 in the free silver states,
while in the gold standard states it rises
to $ZO6. The latter states. as the table
shows produce almost seven eighths of
the manufactures of the country, the
scope of manufacturing being extended
far enough III the census to cover g"lst-
mill, bakery. dairy, Strengthening and
masonry products.
The ratio Of wage rolls is nearly ~ to
l in favor Of the gold standard states.
showing not only concentration OF
manufacturing industry, but a higher
average proportion of wages to total
product.
Mortgage indebtedness.
Of the total amount of real estate
mortgages the percentages in the gold
standard region greatly exceeds that for
population, showing Il far higher mort
gage Indebtedness per inhabitant It con-
siderabiy exceeds the percentages for real
estate. showing q much higher ratio of
Indebtedness to value of property mort
gagged. New York alone owes on real es~
tate 43 per cent. more than all the free
silver states combined.
A comparison Of the rate of interest in
the two areas shows thar not only is the
general average for the free silver area
more than One-third higher, but there is
a definite limit, 2-:} per cent above
which are found but three gold standard
states, while but two free silver states
fall below it,
Companion of Silver Product.
The production Of silver shows pro-
portion Of ~ to / in favor of the free
Silver states But one of the gold stand
ard states, and that Il close one (Califor-
MAJ produces more than al insignificant
amount of silver. The free silver terri
tory is made up of % twelve states, in
which the ratio Of native white illiteracy
is higher than the average for all the
states (hgher also than every state but
two in the gold standard series; CD of
the five states of largest silver produc-
ton. and (3) Of states Immediately adjoin-
ing the last and doubtless influence by
sympathy with them.
Savings Bank Depositors.
Reports of savings banks are made
annually by the comptroller of the cur
rency who cndcavors in some measure
to fill ont incomplete returns by esti-
mate and offers his figures for all in
stitutions not under the national system
=, II.