The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-05-21
81, ~ school buildings at total Of $50 ~ DC

SO 0oo school buildings at total Of 500 ~ ",
You will observe that | have a mar
gin which would be sufficient u du-
plIcate all OF the great universities and
colleges in the country" said Colonel
Monroe This gives one an idea of
what Il billion dollars means. II we
allow each OF these buildings a plot OF
ground with frontage Of 100 feet, the
average width OF q school lot we
would have u row or them 1910 miles
long IL would form II street lined on
both sides with school buildings eX-
tending from New York 70 San Fran
cisco, That IS one thing that Mr.
Rockefeller could do with the money
he has earned since he evolved the
trust theory OF industry"
THAT Is the most astounding Illus
tration OF the significance OF a billion
dollars that | ever heard given" de-
clIred Judge Sawyer 1T seems al.
most incredible Are you sure there
Is not some mistake in your figures,
colOnelF'
You can verify or disprove them at
your leisure, but think you will md
them accurate" replied Colonel Mon
roe. 1T enables one to understand
how Mr. Carnegie. who has only a
paltry quarter OF billion at his lis
posal Is able TO give away hundreds
and thousands OF library buildings and
hardly Impair his original holdings
We know that Mr. Carnegie l.. worth
from S2lOOuO 0UU to StUoNUO.OrO He
not only admits H. but Is proving g.
Compared with Mr. Rockefeller b. Il
A man In modest circumstances. /
very much doubt K Mr. Carnegie could
buy out Uncle sam. was attempt
Ing 10 show that Mr. Rockefeller couN
do this when our friend jenkins In.
terrupted with his school proposition
You still think. DO you not. jenkins.
that man Is entitled 70 all that h.
can get"
Il dou't know what To think" said
jenkins, gazing hopeicssly at the tx
ures. Wy bead Il all in whirL
Your figures must all be wrong colo
mel No man can BE- worth 70 much
money a. that"
Mr. Rockefeller received known
dividends 10 an amount excredin. $50 .
100000 during the last year" stated
Colonel Monroe That Ia al the rHts
OF ! per cent on a billion OF dollars.
and In these days that Is a fair rate u
interest There H. no more doubt that
NJ HAsL-4FaIf.-
a billion dollars worth Of paying prop
erty than there IL that own this post
otiC" building and get rent from the
government But We are attemnting
to find out about how much Uncle sam
Is worth. His principal assets are the
navy. the custom houses postotfics
buildings, army supplies. stations. etc. :.
forts, lighthouses and the public build
lu2s In Washington Let's SEQ how
much they I'll figure up to on a rough
estimate"
Colonel Monroe was busy for several
minutes. dnaIly handing to Judge saw
yer the following table
EsTrMATEp ASSETS or THE GOVERNMENT
~ THE UNITED STATES
Nafy Observation-Disclosures. Zoo 0O0 40
Custom houses 20 1n,t 1oo
PGs'0f'1s buildings ........... 100 9o0 0G0
Army supplies and stations lao 100 on
srrtA ana 1rs"H'l .............. i10.000 40
Lighthouses and he sav'nz
service ...-.... ..-.... TOO 20 go
National capitol and public
buildings In Washington ...... 100 Doo 90
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 800 100 10
You 90" that there Ia n balance sur
hci"nt to cover many scattered items"
said Colonel Monroe. Il very much
doubt II an expert appraiser could dis
cover assets In excess u the amount
have named. We therefore are the
living witnesses 70 something never
before experienced since the devotion.
msnt OF civ!lizatIon-viz. a private cit.
ben secure In the possession Of more
property than IA collectively owned By
the nation of which he IA member
One man has legal and valid title 10
more property than IA required 10 pro.
tect and conserv" che honor. liberty.
safety and orderly administration Of
the affairs Of sOOOOOOO n people"
Perhaps Mr. Rockefeller will buy
N" government" suggested Postmas.
ter Jenkins.
Possibly" nssented Colonel Monroe
Again II Il possible that the govern
m"nt will buy Mr. Rockefeller II IL
Inevitable that one or the other bnvs
Or sells"