Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1914-04-17
IDAHO STATE DEBT, FUNDS,
AND INVESTMENTS.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 10
Preliminary figures from the forth
coming bulletin pertaining to nation
al and state Indebtedness and funds
and investments have been given out
by Director w. J. Harris, Of the Bu-
reau Of the Census, Department Of
Commerce. The bulletin carries in
formation for the state of Idaho, as
well as for other states and the United
States. The data We're compiled un-
der the supervision of John Lee COul-
ter. expert special agent in charge of
the inquiry on Wealth, Debt, and Tax
alton.
The bulletin, which viii soon be is
sued, 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 it possible to show the
general movement during a period of
over Sc years. The sbIlietin 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 of its component parts. Under
Funds and IrSrestemnts" will be
shown separately all the different
funds, and in each case the securi-
ties will be shown. The population
Of the states for each year under con-
sideration 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 soon to be issued shows
f.1 a~te h
tainabIe. The amount of the bonded
Indebtedness increased from $4,000
in 1890 to s2,364,00O in 1912, while the
floating debt, though changing great
" during the period covered, showed
a general decrease from $4,000 in 1890
to $S6,00O in 1912.
In the case of funds and investments
no statistics were available for the
securities held in 1908 and 1910. No
securities were reported until 1894;
the 100000 in this year fell to $50 in
1896. increasing steadily thereafter
until 1912, when they amounted 70
S4,OOO,O00 The cash shows a general
increase from $4,000 in 1890 to s1,2S2-
600 in 1912
The sinking fund assets increased
from s21 900 in 1880 to 100000 in 1912,
and consequently the debt less sinking
fund assets was less for each year re-
ported than the total debt. The pop
ulation more than quadrupled during
the period. but this was not sufficient
to offset the increase in per capita in
debtedness, which, while fluctuating
to a marked degree with each year re-
ported, shows a general increase from
sz45 in 1890 to S5.92 in 1912.
In 1880 the total debt of Idaho at the
close of the fiscal year, December 81,
was $4,000; in 1912 it was s2,451, 900,
the increase being due to the con-
stantly increased bond issues. The
population of the state increased from
$4,000 in 1880 to s650OO in 1912; this
increase however, as stated above. |
increase, however, as tsated above, |
was not sufficient to offset the in
creased bond issues, therefore the debt
per capita more than doubled during
this period. In 1880 the per capita |
debt was 1884; in 1890 it was s2.45; in
1902 the amount was reduced to s1.65, |
to s592 in 1912.
The contrast with the state of Ida
no. we find that, taking the entire
debt Qess sinking fund assets) for the
4S states, the per capita, according to
the latest report, is $751; or s2.4O less
than the per capita debt for Idaho.
the increase in the per
capita debt of Idaho with the de-
crease in the per capita debt of the
total for the As states, we find more
than an inverse ratio, the total amount
Of increase for Idaho being s3.3S for
the 30-year period, while in the aver
age for the As states the decrease Was
s1.96, or slightly more than half the
for Idaho.
At the present time about Oh per
cent of the total population of the
United States viii be found in the
state of Idaho, and O.6 per cent of the
otal debt Cess sinking fund assets)
$ attributed to that state.