The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1907-04-11
WEALTH OF THIS NATION.
Astonishing Increase Shown by a Late
Census Report.

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;
$50, SS5,635. This advance in ma
tional wealth has no parallel in the
history of the United States except
the decade from 1850 to 1860. In
1850, when the first estimates of the
national wealth we're made the fig
ures were only $7,135, 7S0,22S.
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 1898 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 as follows:
Real property and improve
mentS taXed...... 1890. sos, O.SZS ,U0I
Real property and improve
ments exempt. -. ...... 6,S31,24. 57O
Live stock. .......... 4,073,T 9l 1876
Farm implements : and ma
chinery.. ................' S44, $3.50 1868
Manufacturing machinery,
tools and implements..... 1927, 754, $50
Gold and silver coin and
bullion. ............... 1898, 6OS, 1903
Railroads and their equip
ment.... ..-..............- LIZA, l52,OOO
Street railways 49,. ........ 2,2l9, 966, 600
Telegraph systems .......... 90, 400, 900
Telephone systems. ........ $50, $40. 900
Pullman and private cars. 1913, 900 900
Shipping and canals......... SAG, ass, 804
Privately owned water works 275, 900 900
Privately owned central cleo
trio light and power sta
tions.. .............. 562,s 51. Jos
Agricultural products........ 1899, 379, $50
Manufactured products. ..... 7,409. 291 ,66S
Imported merchandise ...... 495, 543 ,6S5
Mining products -. ....... 40S, O66 1877
ments.. -. ......... $500, OOO, 900
Furniture, carriages and kin
dred property. ..-....... $3.50, 600 900
The total public indebtedness of
the continental United States in 1902
per capita Indebtedness was $3.50.
The total indebtedness of the Ma
tional Government for the same year
was $925,011,6 37, and the per cap
tia indebtedness was $11.27. The
Indebtedness of the United States
Government is its gross Indebtedness
less cash in the treasury. The total
indebtedness of continental United
States in 1890 was 81, 989,112,8 42;
that of the National Government was
S851,912,75 and the per capitas
$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 115,2O6,55S, or an
annual payment Of STAG for each in
dividual.
In Great Britain the per capita in
debtedness 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 vaIorum 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
$35,338,316,S33, while in 1890 it
was only $25,473,173,41S. The es-
timated true value of all property in
1902 was $50, against
$65,037,091,197 in 1890. The total
levies of ad valorem taxes was in
1902 $724,7S6,539, and the tax rate
per 500 of estimated true value
$0.74.
The net Indebtedness Of the coun-
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.