The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1914-04-17
STATE DEBT Of IDAHO
Census Bureau Gives Ont
Some Figures.
LARGE INCREASE PERCAPlTA
Bulletin Covers Years From 1880
to 1913.

1 cYe0s
WASHINGTON, D. O., March l3,
l9l4.-Preliminary figures from the
forthcoming bdlletin pertaining to
national and state Indebtedness aud
funds and investments have been
given out by Director w. J. Harris. OF
the Bureau Of the Census, Department
Of Commerce. The bulletin carries
Information for the state Of Idaho. as
well as for other states and the
United States. The data were com.
piled under the supervision Of John
Lee Coulter, expert special agent 10
charge Ct the inquiry on wealth, debt
and taxation.
The bulletin, which will soOn be
issued, will contain statistics for each
year from 1890 to 1918, inclusive, and
will also contain details for the year
most nearly corresponding to 1880,
thus making 1t possible to show the
general movement during period of
over 30 years. The bulletin will show
the total debt OF the state as well as
many details, such as the various
classes of outstanding bonds and
special debt obligations to public
trust funds. 1t will also show the
floating debt and its component parts.
Under "Funds and Investments" will
be shown separately all the different
funds, and In each case cash and Sc
curities will be shown. The popula-
tion OF the states for each year under
consideration will be used, and the
per capita debt Qess sinking fund
assets) will be given.
An inspection of the tables for
Idaho In the bulletin 5000 to be
| issued shows that only biennial
!, reports were obtainable. The amount
of the bonded indebtedness increased
from $l47,000 in 1890 to $2,364, 900
In 1912, while. the floating debt, though
7. changing greatly during the period
| covered, showed general decrease
| from $4,000 in 1890 to $50, 900 10
1912.
In the case of funds and invest
ments no statistics were available for
the securities held in 1908 and 1910.
No securities were reported until
1894; the $50 900 in this year fell to
$50 10 1896, increasing steadily there
after until 1912, when they amounted
to $4,000, 900. The cash shows a
general increase from $34, 900 In 1890
to ST., ,2S2, 900 In 1912.
The sinking fund assets increased
from $2l 900 In 1890 to $780,, 900 in
1912, and consequently the debt less
sinking fund assets was less for each
year reported than the total debt.
The population more than quardrupl.
ed during the period, but this was not
sufficient to Offset the increase 10 per
capita Indebtedness. which, while
fluctuating to marked degree with
each year reported. shows general
increase from $2.45 10 1890 to S.. 90
in 1912.
In 1880 the total debt OF Idaho at
the close OF the fiscal year, December
81, was $50, 900, IN 1912 it was So,
451 900, the increase being due to the
constantly increased bond issues. The
population OF the state increased
from 33. 900 in 1880 to 1852, 900 In
1912; this increase, however, as stated
above, was not sufficient to Offset the
increased bond issues, therefore the
debt per capita more than doubled
during this period. In 1880 the pei
capita debt was $2.54: In 1890 IL was
2.45;in 1902 the amount was reduced
to 81. 65, increasing to $500 in 1912.
| In contrast with the state of Idaho,
we fnd that, taking the entire debt
| Qess sinking fund assetsI for the 4s
states, the per capita, according TO
the latest report, is 1882, or So 40
less than the per capita debt for
Idaho. Comparing the increase ln
the per capita debt OF Idaho with the
decrease 10 the per capita debt OF the
total for the 48 states, we find more
than an inverse ratio, the total
amount Of Increase for Idaho being
So 80 for the 30-year period, while 10
I