The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-21

existence were SO disturbed that fiscal
statistics are not available for earlier
than 1890 In that year our imports were
100000 and our exports 100000 900, a
total foreign commerce of s4S,OOOO0 This
fiscal year. 1905, the total will be fully
81, 100000, or nearly sixty times as
much. In fact our exports are seventy
times greater and our imports nearly
forty-four times as much.
In 1871, the revnue of our government
was about $400o,eo0. while in the fiscal
year just closed it was s543, 100000 or 1876
times as much This means an average
increase year after year, of more than our
first years total revenue.
Increase of 500 Per Cent.
In 1871, the expenditure of our govern
ment was 100000 or about 81 per capita
of poor population. with practically
nothing in the way of public improve
ments to show for it; this year it was
$56S' 100000. or not quite 81 per capita of a
rich population, to whom $142, 900 was
directly paid back in cash for pensions.
This left the real expenditure of $4,000
600, or $4,000 600 less than the years reve-
nue.. For that expenditure we have a
good deal to show in navy enlargement,
current Panama canaI expenditure, in
creased postal facilities Costing net, $15,-
000000), navigation work and surveys of
all kinds, increased Indian expenditure,
%,00OO00, increased army equipment, and
host of other things necessary to our
increased national progress and prestige.
In 1T76, our people had to travel by
coach, boat horseback, walk, while now
our railroad property is worth $4,000, co.,
COO That is as much as was our entire
national wealth in 1860.
In this month, July, 1905, our investors
will receive s14O0o0.o00, for dividends and
interest on their stocks and bonds in our
steam railroads, banks and trust COM
panies, industrial corporations, and New
York Traction companies, including 81
100000 interest on government bonds, or
only $2,000000 less than our entire pension
pay roll for the year just closed, and
only $0OO,O0O less than all the gold and
silver in circulation In our country in
1880
This year the value of our manufacture
ing properties is 81 900, 0Oo,O 600, and of our
agricultural properties the value is s24.-
00,o0O,0OO, giving a combined value of $685.
0oO,00000O, or S3.0O0.000, more than double
our $160O0,OOO.000 entire national wealth in
1860. and $1,000, 100000 more than in 1870
This year the combined value of our
railroads, factories and farms, is $51 COO
100000, or $35, 000. 900, 900 more than our en-
tire national wealth in Lincoln's year,
1860, and $44,0O0,000,000 more than that of
1850 %
This year our total money circulation is
szovo'ooooOo, or one hundred times that OF
1900, our earliest record.
For Public Education.
In 1904 voluntary American gifts TO
schools, churches and hospitals amount
ca 10 $62,WoooO, or $4,000 for every one
OF the 800 days. That was $1,000, 900 more
than our entire government income In
1860, and six times that of 1900, This wear
our commerce with Hawaii, the Philip
pines, Porto Rico, and Alaska our own
outside possessions, was $1O0OO00Oo or
double our entire foreign commerce in
1913, the year following the last war we
shall ever have with Great Britain.
In 1900. we had s03 postoffces; this year
$500 we have lib, or nearly 70 times as
many.
In 1900 our postal revenue was s2s0o0O;
this year 5000 it was $143, $50, 900, or 513
times as much.
In 1920 the deposits in our savings banks
totaled 100000; this year they amount
to over $4,000, 900, 600, or 1900 times as much
That Is made up entirely of the prosper1-
ty of the wage-earning portion of our
population.
In 1900, our exports of agricultural pro-
ducts were of the value of s25, 600 600; this
year they amount to sS25 000, 900, or 3S
times as much.
In 1900 our exports of manufactured
goods were of the value of 81. 500 900; this
year the value is at least $3.50, 600 900, or
go times as much.
In 1900 our production of raw cotton
was $4,000 bales; this year $500 it was
100000 bales. or ga times as much
Increase in Pensions.
In 1900, our pension pay roll was s64, 900:
this year it was s141. 100000, or 2214 times
as much, and all cheerfully paid for the
maintenance of the Union, inside and
outside. especially as the money stays in
the country and is used over and over
again.
In 1900, our Understanding debt was
$50. 100000, with an annual interest charge
of GA cents per capita; this year 1t Is $685.
600 Co., with a per capita annual interest
charge of only 80 cents, and that rest
ing upon a people far better able to
pay it,
In 1776, our owned national wealth was
really nil as to cash value; by 1900 1t had
reached barely s1.0o0. 900 900; this year 1t is
fully $4,000 900 or one hundred and
ten time as much.
In 1776, we hoped for the best and
faced a future; by 1905 our hopes have
been more than fulfilled; our duties are
greatly enlarged our faith and courage
augmented; our righteous ambition Is far
reaching, and with I'm God we trust
as our national motto, we again face the