The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-05-05

possible" declared Judge Sawyer. DO
you mean to say that the assets of the
national government do not foot up to
more than billion of dollars?''
That's the way l figure it," answer
ed the colonel, but it is possible that
am in error The various departments
do not make an annual inventory or
issue statements giving the money val
lie Of the property under their control,
so it Is impossible to say just what
Uncle Sam is actually worth in dollars
and cents, but l am satisfied that II is
less than billion. In other words, we
have lived to see the day when one
private citizen can list more property
than The government of what claims to
be the most powerful nation on the
face of the globe"
Il thought that our navy alone cost
more than a billion, said Postmaster
Jenkins.
well, it didn't" said Colonel Mon
roe. 'In this instance we have the fig
ures, and they show that the cost OF
the 1888 vessels which constitute our
navy was about $173,0OO,OOO. If we
add the various navy yards and other
property the total may be placed at
$200, 100000. Mr.. Rockefeller could
duplicate our navy five times and have
plenty of money left. There are 143
custom houses, but they certainly did
not cost more than $5OO00,000. 1 don't
believe that all of the postoff1ces in the
country cost more than $100OO0,000,
but TO be on the safe side we will call
the item $15O,OO0,000."
There are $4,000 postoffices in this
country" declared jenkins, proud to
display his knowledge.
and at least 10000 of them; includ-
ing this one here in Lincolnville, are
located in buildings rented by the gov
ernment," returned Colonel Monroe.
THE amount l have named would re-
build all of the postoffice structures
owned by the government If the ar
my has $100,000,000 worth of property
l do not know where it is Suppose we
put the forts in at the same figure and
add an extra hundred million for the
lighthouses and life saving bureau
What else is there?"
''The public buildings in Washing
ton" suggested Judge Sawyer They
constitute quite an item"
Not when you are dealing in bill
lions" said the colonel. Il would like
to take Il contract to duplicate the na-
tional capitol and all the department
buildings, including the Smithsonian
institution and the National museum,
for the sum of $75,000000, but in order
to be on the safe side we will call it
$100,000000. What else is there"
''The public school buildings" sug-
gested Postmaster Jenkins after a
pause. There is the biggest item of
all. Why, the school buildings alone
must have cost more than $1,0O000O.-
000r
an the first place, the national gov
eminent does not own the public school
buildings, and, in the second place
their value is far less than $1,000, 000,-
O00," asserted Colonel Monroe. Il can
not state offhand the number Of these
buildings, but do recall that there are
about 100000 teachers Let us assume
that there are more than 100000 school
buildings and then see how many of
them we can build with $1,000,000, 900
First. we will erect fifty, each costing
$1,000,000; then we will build fifty
more, each costing 100000; then we
will contract for 200 buildings at an
average price of $25O,OO0, 1000 school
buildings at an average price of $780,
900 and 10000 school buildings at an
average cost price of $4,000. This is
a great country, jenkins, and we are
properly proud of our public school
system and of the lavish way in which
we have expended money on them
But do you think that there are many
fine school buildings ON earth? There
are not 100 cities In the United States
which can show a school edif1ce cost
Ing 100000, and there are not 1000
which can boast Of $50, 600 school struc-
lures.
But we will let the figures stand as
l had them. 1 wish to show you what
Mr.. Rockefeller could do with his ST.
000,000,000. Now, we will put up %
600 school buildings at a cost of So 900
each, 100000 buildings, each costing
$1,000, and 100000 at an average ex-
pense Of $500. That should be enough
to house all of the children in the Unit
ed States
"pll bet you are way over your ST.
000,000,000"' exclaimed Jenkins, look
ing over the colonel's shoulder as he
tabulated his estimates
Perhaps 50, but 1 have been very
liberal" said Colonel Monroe, jotting
down the figures. "Of course the school
property of the United States is not so
extensive as that for which have nj
lowed, but $1,O0O,OOO,OO0 is an awfu'
sum of money, and think am inside
Z of It,"
The colonel figured for minute In
silence and then handed a slip of "a