The Washington times., 1906-11-20
TUESDAY. NOVEMBER 20. 1906.
Prosperity and High Prices.

The Census Bureau has just issued
some tables that ought TO cause
every American to feel just a little
prouder than ever of his country,
which is now far and away the
worlds wealthiest nation. The
figures show it. By the report of
the bureau, the aggregate value OF
the real and personal property Of
the United States in 1904 was $780,
S61 ,415,OO9 (It is unfortunate that
the statisticians could not have
found another 81 somewhere and
thus made the change event. Il is
impossible, of course, to get a men
tai grasp of the enOrmity of this
value, but the census reports divide
and classify the totals and show
how this vast sum is distributed
among the different industries and
enterprises of the country. Real
property is placed at SIS 700, ,0O0,0 900,
railways at Sl1 200, 900, 900, the prod
ucts Of agriculture at $4,000, 900, 900,
and so on down the list. The report
shows that the total wealth of the
nation in 1890 was sos, ,OOO, ,OOO, 900. in
round numbers, and SSs,5OO, 100000
in 1900 This indicates an increase
OF 90 per cent between 1900 and 1904,
giving warrant for the estimate of
a total valuation of about SIG, ,0OO,-
100000 in 1906.
BY comparison, taking the latest
figures available, the wealth Of
other nations belongs in the small
change class. They rank in this
order: Great Britain, S55,OO0, 900, 900;
France, $4,000, 900, 900; Germany,
S45, 900, 900, 900; Russia, $4,000, ,OOO,-
600; Austria-Hungary, $4,000, ,OOO,-
900; Italy, SIS, 900, 900, 900, and Spain,
$12 100000, 1000. 1t is certain, too,
that the United States will continue
to increase her wealth more rapidly
than win be possible for any other
nation. Our resources are but par
TALLY developed and a larger growth
than has been witnessed in the past
decade, rapid as it has been, is as
sured for many years to come. Al
ready, the United States is the
wealthiest nation of the world. It
is practically in a class by itself,
with all competitors distanced.
While all this is highly gratifying
to the national pride, in which every
individual shares, there is little com
fort in il for the average wage
Garner. The wealth statistics are
simply overpowering, but the magic
in them is not particularly cheering
to the consumer. the worker who is
not a producer of the items that
have entered directly into the great
increase. The tables of the Census
Bureau show that the value of farm
products increased S445, ,OOO,OO be-
tween 1900 and 1904. That is joyful
news TO the farmer, but it does not
Tighten the load of the wage earn
ers in the cities who have to buy the
farmers products at the advanced
price. The wage Garner, who en-
deavors to dissect these alluring
figures to find where he comes in, is
apt TO raise the question whether
this increase in the reputed wealth
of the nation is real or is il nominal.
In other words, was there any less
real worth in butter at 25 cents a
pound in 1900 than there is in but
ter at 40 cents a pound in 1906? The
wage Garner knows, also on the
authority of Census Bureau figures,
that the cost of living has increased
very materially in the last five years,
while the increase in wages has not
kept pace, and he is naturally dis
posed to wonder whether the diff
ference has been caused by natural
growth and development or whether
the trusts and combinations have
had hand in expanding the worlds
wealth, without making provision
for a share-and-share-ali distribu-
tiOn among the producers of it.
Still, the figures are interesting.