The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1908-02-28
William e. Curtis Says Croesus
Was Pauper Beside Our
Uncle Sam.
FIGURES SHOW BIG GROWTH.
Per Capita Wealth in 1870 Was
$779.s3; in 1907 It Was
$1,31O.11.

AS rule, the average newspaper
reader does not like statistics, but here
are some figures that everybody should
read, because they mean so much. They
measure our greatness as nation and
our prosperity as people, and al
though they are so stupendous that the
human mind almost refuses to compre-
bend them, they carry a lesson that ev-
cry citizen and every school boy should
learn. Uncle Sam Is richer than any
other nation that exists or ever has
existed. Croesus, King Of Lydia, whose
name has been synonym for wealth
Tor ages, was pauper compared to
him.
From the reports Of the bureau of
statistics, the census bureau, the Treas
1ry and Agricultural Department Will
liam e. Curtis, the Washington CORE
podent, has compiled few significant
figures showing the material develop
nent Of the United States within the
asst thirty-seven years. He has select
h the year 1870 as basis Of COMPARE
new era in American commerce and
industry that followed the Civil War.
Although the panic Of '73 arrested the
growth of the country for a time, the
present period of development began
hen.
The population of the country In 1870
vas 3S55S,371, or 1874 to the square
nile; the population on the 30th Of June,
1907, according to the estimates of the
census bureau, was S5,593,3O3, or 2S.2S
Der square mile.
| The tangible wealth of the country, the
rue valuation of real and personal prop
rty, according to the census of 1870, was
s3o,o6S,51S,00O. while in 1907 1t is esti-
mated at more than three times that
mount. or $1O7, 1O4,211.917.
| AS far back as 1850 the per capita
wealth of the United States was csti-
mated at $307.69. In 1870 it had more
han doubled and was estimated at
HI9.S3. In 1907 it had almost doubled
tgain, and has reached the sum of 81
VOL per capita, which proves that we
ire the richest people that ever existed.
n other words. if the real and personal
property belonging to the inhabitants of
he United States could be equally dis
ributed among Them each man, woman
md child living on the 30th of June last
would have been entitled to S1.31O.11.
In 1870 the deposits in national banks
or the whole United States amounted to
So42. 261, 1868, while on the Both of Sep
ember last they were $4,322, $50 141.
In 1870 the deposits in savings banks
we're S549,S74,35S. while on the Both of
September, 1907, they were $3,G9O,O7S,-
Ms.
Taking the two together and including
I'll the banks-national, State, private
md savings-the deposits have increased
hghtfold during the last thirty-seven
rears-from $1,O92, 1881 in 1870 to
Is, O23, 2SS, 1886 in 1907.
The bank clearings for the entire coun-
ny are not given for 1870. The earliest
AVAILABLE figures are for 1890, when the
.otal for the United States was S5S.S45,-
H9,505, which has increased to $751;
f49,328,913 for the last fiscal year.
| The national bank circulation in 1870
vas ,S2SS, 64S,OS1. while on Dec. IA last
K was $675,231, 1906.
In 1870 we had only $25, OOO,O 900 silver
md gold coin. To-day we have 81 ,233,-
$3.50, of which $756,665. 1863 is gold
md the remainder silver.
| The Understanding debt of the United
States has been reduced from $2,O46, 49,
T22, or $6O46 per capita of population.
n 1870 to $3.50, 500, O1O, or $1O.26 per
capita, in 1907. The annual interest
charges on the public debt have been re-
iuced from $11S.1S4,96O, or So per cap
TIA of population, to $21 ,62S,914, or 25
.eDts per capita of population.
| Notwithstanding the reductions in war
taxes since 1870, the ordinary revenues
If the government have increased from
si95, $50, S34 in that year to $663, 14O, 434
IN 1907, and the ordinary expenditures
have increased from $164 ,421 ,5O7 to
1904, 422 $50 This does not include the
receipts or expenses of the postal service,
which is almost self-sustaining. Last
year the receipts from postage were $751;
jS5,005 and the expenses $191 .214,3S7,
leaving a deficit of $780, 1897 :. be paid
,ut of the treasury.
The total revenues of the government
IN 1907 were SS46, 725, 1899 and the total
expenses $S19,84O,150.
The increase in the pension roll has
been enormous. The total in 1870 was
b2S. $40 POP, and in 1907 it is S139,3O9,
514. The cost of the army in 1870 was
s57. 586,675, and in 1907 $122,576, 1856.
The cost of the navy during the same Pc
Rod has increased from $21, 7SO, 23O to
s9T, 12S,469.
The imports of merchandise in 1870
amounted to $435, 1858, 4OS, and our ex-
ports were 1892, III, 76S that year. while
1907 the imports were $1.434, 421 .425
md the exports $l.SS0,S51 ,07S. In 1870
The exports per capita of population were
S9.77. and, notwithstanding the enormous
increase in population, the per capita In
1907 was S2166.
The foreign commerce of the United
States for the calendar year of 1907 has
been larger than in any previous year in
The history OF the country, both in i'm
ports and exports, and our trade with
.very grand division of the world Is in ex-
cess of any previous year. The imports
uring the eleven months ending Nov. SO
exceeded 81 $50, 100000, while the exports
we're worth S1,7,6,OO0,GOO. If the IN
rease has continued during December the