The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-01-09
William e. Curtis Says Croesus
Was Pauper Beside Our
Uncle Sam.
FIGURES SHOW BIG GROWTH.
Per Capita Wealth in 1870 Was
$77e.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 80 much. They
measure our greatness as a nation and
our prosperity as people, and al
though they are so stupendous that the
| human mind almost refuses to compre
hend them. they carry 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 d synonym for wealth
for ages, was pauper compared to
him.
From the reports Of the bureau OF
statistics, the census bureau, the Treas
| ury and Agricultural Department Will
| liam e. Curtis, the Washington CORE
| spodent, has compiled a few significant
figures showing the material develop
ment OF the United States within the
last thirty seven years. He has select
ed the year 1870 as a basis of compari-
son, because that was the beginning Of
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
then.
The population of the country in 1870
was 3S,55S371, or 1914 to the square
mile; the population on the 30th of June.
| 1907, according to the estimates OF the
census bureau, was S5,593,3 ,3O3, or 2S.2S
per square mile.
The tangible wealth of the country, the
true Valuation of real and personal prop
erty, according to the census of 1870, was
$50, ,O6S, ,51S,OOO, while in 1907 1t is esti-
mated at more than three times that
amount, or S107 04,2l1,917.
| As far back as 1850 the per capita
wealth Of the United States was csti-
mated at S3O769. In 1870 it had more
than doubled and was estimated at
$119.S3. In 1907 1t had almost doubled
again, and has reached the sum of ST.
BOIL per capita, which proves that We
|
In other words, If the real and personal
property belonging to the inhabitants Of
the United States could be equally dis
tributed among them. each man, woman
! and child living on the 30th of June last
would have been entitled to S1,31O.11.
In 1870 the deposits in national banks
! for the whole United States amounted to
| $40. 2.26l ,J63, while on the 3Oth Of Sep
tember last they were S4,322, $50 III.
In 1870 the deposits in savings banks
were S549, ,S74,35S. while on the 30th Of
September, 1907, they were $3,G9O,O7S,-
945.
Taking the two together and including
all the banks-national, State, private
and savings-the deposits have increased
eightfold during the last thirty-sevon
years-from $1,O92, 13J,921 in 1870 to
$S O23, ,2SS, 1886 in 1907.
The national bank circulation in 1870
was $2SS, ,64S,OS1, while on Dec. IA last
it was $675,231, ,3O5.
In 1870 We had only $25,OOO,OOO silver
and gold coin. To-day we have 81 ,233,.
705, ,S69, of which $756,6G5, 1863 is gold
and the remainder silver.
The interest-bearing debt of the United
States has been reduced from $2,O4G. 455,-
722, or $6O.46 per capita of population.
In 1870 to $S69, 9,GO3,O1O, or $1O26 per
! capita, in 1907. The annual interest
charges on the public debt have been re-
duced from $11S,7 800, or So per cap
ita of population, to 81, ,62S,914, or 25
cents per capita Of population.
Notwithstanding the reductions in war
taxes since 1870, the ordinary revenues
of the government have increased from
S395, ,959, 1884 in that year to $663. 14O, ,434
| in 1907, and the ordinary expenditures
have increased from S164, 4,421 ,5O7 to
$554, ,422, $50. This does not includ. the
| receipts or expenses of the postal service,
which is almost self sustaining. Last
| year the receipts from postage were $780,
| 5S5,O05 and the expenses S191 ,214,3S7,
| leaving n deficit of $7,629, 1897 to be paid
out of the treasury.
The total revenues of the government
| in 1907 were SS4G, T25, ,339 and the total
expenses SS19, $40, $50.
The increase in the pension roll has
been enormous. The total in 1870 was
SIS, ,34O, POP, and in 1907 it is S1s9, ,3O9,-
514 The cost Of the army in 1870 was
S57 ,566,67a and in 1907 $122,576,48
The cost of the navy during the same Pc
riod has increased from $21 ,7SO, go to
SOL, ,12S, 400.
The imports of merchandise In 1870
amounted to $435,95S. .4OS, and our ex-
ports were S392, Titles that year. while
In 1907 the imports were $1,434.421 ,425
snd the exports $3.50, ,S51 ,O7S. In 1870
the exports per capita of population were
70 IT and potwithstandiDe tha enoss,ous