The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-25

as 1t is today. Never before were IN.
conditions which promote the materia
welfare of the people so favorable a
they are at present. The people Of this
country have a decided advantage over
the people of every other country il We
make the most of 1t. 1t is the richest
OF all countries and the greatest In pro-
duetive capacity.
a few comparative figures pertaining
to this country, England, France and
Germany respectively. will be illustra.
tive. They are not complete but are
typical and Illuminating. They are ap-
proxiif1ately accurate.
The total wealth Is:
United States $780, O0o 900. .O0t
England ...........s..........., =, S0,0e9 0QH, ,00t
France "..................%... 65,eoo.oog:oot
Germany ..,...........,........ SO, 800, 9lo.0eC
The wealth per capital is aproxi.
mately:
United States .....a.......a.sl.n5
rance '...'...........s.. l,4e5
England ....................... 1.250 to 81, IS;
Gefmany ................ |...... 1l0O to l. 2O(
have given the figures recently com.
piled by Mr. Helfferich, director of the
Deutsehe bank, in his report to the Kai.
ser, except that 1 have given the total
wealth of the United States as published
in the Statesmens Year Book for 1913
iiAt rlilotHl u IODeN IN the United
State, United Kingdom and Germany,
respectively, Isl
United States ..............s2 81. .5o0 on oet
United Kingdom ............. ]. .Oo0 Goa. .00l
Germany .........................1 1,500,0 600. .e0t
This includes the total of gold, silver
and uncovered paper. Figures for France
nave not been able to get
THE railroad mileage for 1911. the dat,
or the last publications at hand, was
limited Cfatae o.c
Great BRITAIN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 23,417
france .......................... 81 39l
Iermany ......................... 49, 74I
Without stopping to make computa.
ton, it will readily be seen that the
number of miles is very much larger in
our country than in the other countries
in proportion to the population of each
and this Is an important factor in con-
sidering the commercial strength of a
nation.
AS to the production of wealth in 1872
tins country produced in agricultural pro-
ducts alone, SO, ,299 000, 600, so per cent OF
which, at least, was in crops The other
70 per cent, it is estimated, was fed to
animals on the farms. In minerals il
produced In value $1,91s 326, ,253
while the figures relating to other
countries have not been secured it is
universally recognized that the United
States is far in the lead in the produc-
tion of corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, cot
ton, petroleum, pig iron, steel and copper;
and the location of the United States In
temperate zone, together with the rich
ness of Its soil, insures an ever-increas-
ing production of crops on the average;
and they are the real basis for expecting
the greatest material growth and prog
ress.
Another fact worthy of mention is that
the balance of trade between this coun-
try and all other countries for the fiscal
year ending Junes30 amounted to $65S, 900,
coo in cur favor
LAS result of our great wealth and
material progress the people, generally,
are better supplied with the Necessities
of life than those OF any other country.
There are exceptions depending upon To-
cal causes, but generally, speaking the
people are better fed, clothed and housed
and what is all important, the wages re-
ceived by the laborer in comparison with
the cost of living are far in excess sof
those of other countries. 1t is for this
reason that immigrants from all parts of
the world are coming in by the thousands
Again. the basis of transacting busi-
ness has been much improved during the
last few years. In passing it must be
admitted there has heretofore been some
ground for complaint. This was not local
nor did it apply to any particular class
or classes. But at present capital is
more considerate of labor and vice versa.
Business men are more frank and fair
and honest than formerly in their deal
ings with each other. Men in power are
more thoughtful in their treatment of
those who are more or less dependent
These holding positions of trust have
been brought to recognize fully the rights
and interests of their beneficaries ano
are giving them more information and
better protection. tFhe rich are more lib
eral and more charitable and the poor
are more grateful for what they receive
In short, the relations between all are be-
coming closer and better understood.
I'VE have been passing through a
period of transition. The subject is toe
large to admit of detailed reference at
this time, but it is sufficient to say the
business world has adjusted or is adjust
ing itself to new and changed conditions
resulting from the great wealth and
progress of the country.