The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-04-24
WEALTH OF THIS NATION.
Astonishing Increase Shown by a Late
Census ReD0rt.

Washington, D. C.-The total es-
innate Of the valuation of the ma
tional wealth in 1904 was $107, 104,-
192,410, according to a special re-
port issued by the Census Bureau on
wealth, debt and taxation which rep
resents an increase in the four-year
period from 1900 to 1904 of $751;
5~S6,SS5,635. This advance in ma
tional wealth has no parallel in the
history Of the United States except
the decade from 1850 to 1850. In
1850, when the first estimates of the
national wealth were made the hg-
IRE were only $7,135, 7S0,228.
The most potent cause for the in
crease in the nations wealth from
1900 to 1904, it is stated, was the
reaction from the low prices Of the
period Of depression from 1893 to
1896. The annual increase of wealth
per family from 1890 to 1904 was
S182.
The various forms into which the
nations wealth is divided, with their
valuations are IS follows:
Real property and improve
ments taXed...... ........ $50. 5l0:22S,031
Real property and improve
ments exempt. 49,. ...... 6,S3l ,244,570
Live stock. 80. ........... A,O73, 79l.7 36
ehinery.. ................ s4, %, 1863
tools and Implements. $1,000: ,297,754,lso
bullion. ................. l,e9s, sO3, 1903
Railroads and their equip
ment.... ................. ll;Lt4, I3.,WO
Street railways ..... ........ 2,2l9, 966. 900
Telegraph systems .......... III ,4OO,OO
Telephone systems. ........ 5S5, 84O,000
Pullman and private cars. l25, 0OO,OO o
Shipping and canals. ........ Sac, 4S9, oO4
Privately owned water works 275.oOO,O0O
Privately owned central cleo
trio light and power sta
tons. . =. -. .............. BOZ Col ND
Agricultural products. l,s99.3l9.652
Manufactured products. $50. 7,409,2 9l Dos
Imported merchandise ....., 493,543.6S2
Mining products 49,. ....... 40S. 0S6,IS7
Clothing and personal adorn- nm
ments.. ....:.. ....;;:'. z'ooo''oo:'Vo
Furniture, carriages and kin
dred property. .......... 5,75O,OOO,0O0
The total public Indebtedness of
the continental United States in 1902
was 2,7S9,990,120 and the total
pei capita Indebtedness va $3.50.
The total Indebtedness of the Ma
tional Government for the same year
was S925,011,6 37, and the per cap
tia Indebtedness was $11.27. The
indebtedness of the United States
Government is it's gross Indebtedness
less cash in the treasury. The total
Indebtedness Of continental United
States in 1890 was $1,9S9,112,S42;
that of the National Government was
S851,912,752 and the per capitas
we're $31.76 and $3.50 respective
ly. In 1902 the annual interest
charge on the public debt of CONT
mental United States is shown to be
approximately Sis, 206,55S, or an
annual payment Of STAG for each in
dividual.
In Great Britain the per capita in
d%ebtedness of all classes, national
and local, was 3.93 times that of the
United States; in France, 4.86, and
in Italy, 2.25.
The assessed valuation Of. prop
erty subject to ad valorum taxation
has increased from 1850 to the pres
ent time, but it has not kept pace
with the increase in the actual ma
tional wealth. The total assessed
valuation of property in 1902 was
$35,33S,316,SS3, while in 1890 it
was only s25,473,173,41S. The es-
timated true value of all property in
1902 was $97,S10,749,590, against
65,03T, 1877 in 1890. The total
levies of ad valorem taxes was in
1902 $724,736,539, and the tax rate
per 500 of estimated true value
$0.74.
The net Indebtedness of the oun
try was slightly less at the close than
at the beginning OF the year. In the
case of the National Government,
States and Territories, and counties,
the receipts exceeded the payments,
and at the close Of the year these
governments had smaller net indebt-
edness than at the beginning. In
the case of minor civil divisions, and
especially the large cities, the situa-
ton was reversed and the payments
for expenditures exceeded the rev.
enue receipts, causing an increase in
net Indebtedness