The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-10-04
REVENUE FROM TERRITORIES

Ledger Account of Four shows They
Are Paying Investments to
Uncle Sam.
The theory that the maintenance OF
the territories, the residents of which
do not enjoy, or do not demand, full
political rights, is an element of loss to
the country responsible for their main-
tenance is one which does not get much
support from the figures furnished by
the treasury department, very recently
made up. They appear to show, on the
contrary, that the four present Amer.
lean territories. are a large source OF
profit to the government, and they
show, too, that the newer territories
are more profitable than the older ones,
says the Chicago Inter Ocean. There are
now, exclusive of Hawaii and Porto
Rico, four territories of the United
States, the oldest of which, in point Of
establishment, is New Mexico, which
| was organized as territory in Septem-
Der, 1850. Much of the country is arid
| and the financial operations of the
federal government in New Mexico are
| not of an elaborate kind. These are
| the returns of last year:
! Collected in New Mexico. .......... .sl54 6O6
! Returned by United States govern
| ment ............................ 9A0O
| FRONT ........................... $SoAO
In other words, after paying the nec-
| essary expenses of the territorial gov
ernment, the United States has sur
plus of over $4,000 for the years op-
erations in New Mexico. Arizona,
neighboring territory, was originally
a part of New Mexico, and was separ-
ated from it in 1868. 1t is newer ter
ritory by ID years, therefore, but the
returns from it indicate that it is an
even greater source of public revenue
to Uncle Sam than is its older and east
ern neighbor. These are the figures
| for Arizona for last year:
Collected in Arizona Observation-Disclosures $221 ,653
Returned by United States govern
ment .......................... 45,ooO
Profit ..... .s172,oos
This is comfortable profit from the
territory, a large part of which is q
sand desert, but the figures of profit do
not seem large when contrasted with
those of Alaska, which was purchased
from the Russian government in May,
1867, for sum more than one-third as
large as the United States paid for the
Philippine islands to Spain. Alaska
remained under direct government con-
troll as military district until 1884,
when territorial government was es-
tablished there. Since that time its
material interests have improved rap
idly, and the benefits to the United
States treasury have been considerable.
These are the figures for Alaska last
year:
Collected in Alaska. ................... 81, 100 &2
Returned by United States govern
| ment ................-.......... loos1oV
Profit .ss7, Ia
A profit of nearly $1,000,000 from
Alaska in one year is what may be de-
scribed as satisfactory financial show
ing, and in the present great rush of
prospectors into Alaska and the corre-
spending increase in public revenues
from the development of it's mineral
wealth these figures seem likely to be
further exceeded this year.
Oklahoma is the newest of the Amer
lean territories prior to the events
growing from the Spanish war. It was
admitted as territory by congress in
May, 1890, and these were the returns
of the government last year-a larger
proportionate profit on the collections
, than any OF the other territories:
Collected in Oklahoma a................. .S6S7. .46
Returned by United States. govern 4s,,g 5,
ment .....-..................... 44,I00
Profit t:........................ .$543,Sll
The deduction from these figures Ii
that from out of every SIS collected by
. Uncle Sam in the four territories
named less than 81 goes back to be
expended in those territories. In other
words, so per cent. of the money COLI
lected by the United States in the ter
ritories is expended for the general
purposes Of the union itself. In In
! ternal revenue collections Oklahoma ID
included with Kansas, Alaska with
. Washington, and Arizona and New
!, Mexico constitute one district. "A profit
of $1,750,000 from government opera
. tions in four territories is a favorable
: showing. This year the returns will
! probably exceed s., ,000, 900. g4 s3S
Monks Live in Clover.
! OF monasteries and lamaseries IN
Peking the number is endless. Ths
Iamas and BONES who dwell therein
!. can be counted by the thousands
yry1s - n r