Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-10-29

other ten years. True, there was no
census taken of the indebtedness from
1890 to 1900, but there was of the
population and wealth, and the per
cent was about the same as the pre-
| vious ten years. Computing from
| these official figures, and making the
increase of debt only 40 per cent,
which is less than the official figures,
and so per cent. increase of wealth,
which is more than the official figures,
we find the real estate mortgage debt on
the first day of January. 1900, $14,447,-
231 1854 The total amount of wealth
would be $97,697, 246,6S6. There must
be come cause, hidden or otherwise,
to produce such an abnormal condi-
ton. This being true, this must con-
tinue until the cause is found and re-
moved. We must conclude from this,
that as there has been no visible
change, at least no radical change in
the laws, that this increase is NOV
ing along in the same old rut. This
may be one of the obstacles that is
retarding the progress of the prosper
ity that has been so long promised,
but appears to be moving slowly "our
way at least. l had thought to ask
Mr.. Talcott to figure out just how
long it would take this mortgage debt
to get abreast of the entire wealth of
the nation, but thought better of it,
as the last 1 heard from him he APP
parently had just returned from the
North pole. Next year (1910) another
census is to be taken, but not on
mortgage debt. But we can figure on
the old ratio of 140 per cent. on the
debt and SO per cent on the wealth.
On the first day of January, 1910, this
debt would be $34, 7S.356.713. The
wealth would be $145, 545, $40, 029y On
January l, 1920. the debt would be
SS5, 216, 056,111. while the wealth would
/. be $218, S,S05,043. On January l.,
1880, the debt would be $205.71S,734,-
666. while the wealth would be 1921
47S.207,564. / will now draw the cur
tain" and let Mr.. Talcott or someone
figure out how it will stand in 1910, for
our children and grandchildren to con-
tend with to say nothing of the mil
lions now on the stage, for 1880 is
only 20 years ahead. But whoever
cares to know and cares to figure it
out will find that in 1910 the debt will
be, as the old settler said by the dog
and the bear, the dog, had a leetle
advantage, he was a leetle ahead"
The question is, if this be true, will
it be possible for the people to stand
it? And can any one dispute that this
condition is not approximately true?
That there was a cause no one will de-
ny, that made such a disproportion in
the rate VI IHCT6dSG DtLWtGH lIS uGUl
and the wealth. 1t certainly could not
have been a natural cause that pro-
duced it. Not being natural it must
have been artificial. Being artificial
it was removable. Has it been re-
moved?
Before these figures, these conditions
can be successfully disproved, we must
have the positive proof that the cause
has been removed. Until then these
figures must stand as facts based on
government statistics. Where is the
man that can produce the proof that
the cause has been removed? If these
figures are correct, is there any won
der that there is a deficit in the post
office department of twenty millions of
dollars? Is there any surprise that
the government was behind about 100
millions of dollars? Knowing these
facts, can you wonder there is so much
graft going on, some of it exposed
and more of it not yet known? Under
such a condition there is no wonder
that everybody is devoted to getting
the dollar" Yes, Mr.. Editor, this con-
dition affects about everybody" To