Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1908-02-29
William e. Curtis Says Croesus
Was Pauper Beside Our
Uncle Sam.
FIGURES SHOW BIG GROWTH.
Per Capita Wealth in 1870 Was
$779.83; in 1907 1t Was
$1,31O.11.

read, because they mean so much. They
measure our greatness as n 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
pther nation that exists or ever has
existed. Croesus, King of Lydia, whose
name has been a synonym for wealth
for ages, was a 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
Ipodent, has compiled a few significant
figures showing the material develop
nent of the United States within the
asst thirty-seven years. He has select
I'd the year 1870 as a basis of compari-
'on, 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 time, the
present period of development began
hen.
The population of the country In 1870
was 3S,55S,371. or 1914 to the square
nile; the population on the 30th Of June,
1907, according TO the estimates of the
census bureau, was 50, 593, 30S, or 2S.2S
per square mile.
The tangible wealth of the country. the
rue valuation of real and personal prop
rty, according to the census of 1870, was
s90,06S,51S.0O0. while in 1907 1t is esti-
mated at more than three times that
mount, or S1O7, 104, Pilot.
AS far back as 1850 the per capita
wealth of the United States was csti-
mated at S307.60. In 1870 It had more
han doubled and was estimated at
T79.S3. In 1907 it had almost doubled
lgain, and has reached the sum of ST.
H0.11 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 Both of June last
would have been entitled to S1.31O.11.
Iii 1870 the deposits in national banks
or the whole United States amounted to
I542, POI ,563, while on the Both of Sep
ember last they were 1892. SsO.141.
In 1870 the deposits in savings banks
we're $549,S74,35S. while on the Both of
September, 1907, they were S3,690,O7S,-
A5.
Taking the two together and including
III h -.
md savings-the deposits have increased
hghtfold during the last thrty-seven
rears-from Sl,092, 135,921 In 1870 to
SS,023, 2SS, SS6 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,-
s79,505, which has increased to $751;
T49, 32S,913 for the last fiscal year.
The national bank circulation in 1870
gas ,$2SS, 64S.0S1, while on Dec. IA last
was 1915. 231 1916.
In 1870 we had only S25, 100000 silver
md gold coin. To-day we have 1881
r05,s 800, of which $756,665, 800 is gold
md the remainder silver.
The interest-bearing debt Of the United
States has been reduced from S2O46, 400
f22, or S60.46 per capita of population,
N 1870 to $S69, 602,010, or $1O26 per
tapita, in 1907. The annual interest
charges on the public debt have been re-
iuced from $11S.7S4 800, or SO per cap
TIA of population to $21 ,62S914, or %
rents 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 1868. 40 43I
1907, and the ordinary expenditures
have increased from S164, 421, 507 Il
1904. 422, $50. This does not include the
receipts or expenses Of the postal service
which is almost self-sustaining. Last
rear the receipts from postage were S183,
5S5,005 and the expenses S191, 214.3S7
leaving a deficit of Steps, 1897 to be pait
,ut of the treasury.
The total revenues of the government
IN 1907 were SS46, 5,3S9 and the tota
expenses $s19.S40, 100.
The increase In the pension roll ha,
been enormous. The total in 1870 wa
s2S. $40, POP, and In 1907 it Is S139, 300.
ia The cost of the army In 1870 wa
s57, 566,675, and in 1907 $122. $40, +65
The cost of the navy during the same pc
rod has increased from $21, $780, 30 t.
k9T, 1884
The imports of merchandise In 1877
amounted to S435. 1885, 0S, and our ez
ports we're 1892. III. 76S that year, Will
n 1907 the imports were s1.434, 421 40
md the exports Sl.SS0, S51 ,07S. In 1877
the exports per capita of population wer
s9.77. and, notwithstanding the enormou
Increase in population, the per capita 4
1907 was S21.66.
The foreign commerce Of the Unite
States for the calendar year Of 1907 ha
oeen larger than in any previous year
.he history Of the country, both In in
ports and exports, and our trade wit
every grand division of the world is In e.
cess of any previous year. The import
uring the eleven months ending Nov. 3
exceeded 81 33O,OOO.0OO, while the export
we're worth S1.7g6.OO0,OOO If the il
crease has continued during December II