Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-23
THE NATIONS WEALTH
country's Possessions Worth
Over One Hundred Billions.
RAPID INCREASE INDICATED
Most Potent Cause Reaction From
Previous Low Prices.
DECREASE IN INDEBTEDNESS
Per Capita Showing Much Better Than
in Great Britain, France and Italy
Assessment and Taxation.
RAPID INCREASE INDICATED
DECREASE IN INDEBTEDNESS

The total estimates Of the valuation Of
the national wealth In 1904 was $lo7, 104.-
100. 40 according to q special report issued
today by the census bureau On wealth.
debt and taxation. which represents an in
crease in the four-year period from 1900
to 1904 Of $1s 1850, $3.50 This advance In
national wealth has no parallel In the his
tory OF the United States. except the Dec
AIDE from 1850 to 1860 In 1850. when the
first estimates Of the national wealth were
made the figures were only 81. 1875. 7sO, 22S
The most potent cause for the increase 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 1898. The annual increase Of
wealth per family from 1890 to 1904 was
1882
The various forms into which the ma
tons wealth is divided, with their val
uation. are as follows: Z
Real property and i'm
provements taxed. ..$55. $40 ,22S,057
Real property and i'm
provements exempt. ..... 6,S31.244,510
Farm HT SIMPLE IMPLEMENTS and ma. s'0'S'''i''''
chinery ................. S44.sss,S6
tools and implements. 3,297,754.1 $50
Gold and silver coin and
ment ........ 11,244,752, 900
Street railways. ........... 2.219,966.OO0
Telegraph systems. ........ 227.400 900
Telephone systems. ........ 5S5,S40 900
Pullman and private cars. 123.000,0O0
Shipping and canals w S464S9,S04
Privately owned waterworks 275.00O,0 900
Privately owned central
electric light and power
Agricultural products. 800. 1.899.379.652
Manufactured products. 7,409,291, 66S
Imported merchandise. 495. 543.6S5
Mining products. ....... 40S.066,7S7
Clothing and personal
adornments ............. 100000, 900
Furniture, carriages and
kindred property. ...... 10000, 900
Debts in the United States.
The total public Indebtedness of CONT
mental United States in 1902 was 81, 7S9,-
800 120. and the total per capita Indebted
ness was $3.50. The total Indebtedness Of
the national government for the same year
was 1925. oil .6S7. and the per capita indebt-
edness was s11.27. The Indebtedness of the
United States government Is its gross In
debtedness less cash In the treasury. The
total indebtedness Of continental United
States in 1890 was 81 ,9S9, liz. 942; that of the
national government was 1851 .912. 152, and
the per capitas were $31.7 IS and $3.50, re-
Spectvely.
In 1902 the annual interest charge on the
public debt of continental United States Is
FOG, 55S, or an annual payment of $1.46 for
each individual.
In Great Britain the per capita indebted
ness of all classes national and local. was
393 times that of the United States; in
France, 4.S6, and in Italy. 2.25.>
Assessed Values.
The assessed valuation of property SUBJ
ject to ad valorem taxation has increased
from 1850 to the present time, but it has
not kept pace with the increase in the
actual national wealth. The total assessed
valuation of property in 1902 was $35 1885,
316, 1913, while in 1890 1t was only $25,473,-
173,418 The estimated true value of all
property in 1902 was $97, $40, 749. $50. against
So, O37 ,O91 1877 in 1890. The total levies of
ad valorem taxes was in 1902 $724, 1876. 539
and the tax rate per 500 of estimated true
value, 1914.
The net Indebtedness Of the country was
slightly less at the close than at the be-
ginning of the year. In the case of the
national government. states and territories,
and countries, the receipts exceeded the
payments, and at the close Of the year these
governments had smaller net Indebtedness
than at the beginning. In the case of minor
civil divisions, and especially the large
cities, the situation was reversed and the
payments for expenditures exceeded the
revenue receipts. causing an increase in
net Indebtedness.