The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-04-17
INCREASE IN
State DEBT
Amazing Statement Issued
BY Bureau of Census.
Explanations Due Tax Payers
From Those in Charge Of
Kentucky Affairs.

hCutuCky AlldlIS.
Washington, April 19.-Those who
have been responsible for the State
government in Kentucky will find ex-
plantations in order when they read
bulletin of the Bureau of Census is
sued today.
This bulletin tells how debt has been
heaped mountain high on the people
Of Kentucky.
1t reveals the astonishing fact that
the per capita Indebtedness in Ken
lucky increased nearly 200 per cent
1880 to 1913.
Following are paragraphs from the
Government bulletin that will make
Kentucky taxpayers sit up and take
notice:
Attic the population Of. the State
increased steadily during the period Of
30 yea the ratio of increase was n.
sufficient offset the marked increase
in the llebt less sinking fund assets,
hence the debt per capita advanced
nearly 200 per cent from 1880 to 1913.
| "In 1880 the total debt of Kentucky
at the close Of the fiscal year June
30. was $l,S63.000; in 1891 it was 81,
$1,000; in 1913 1t had advanceh to 81,
452, 900. The population of the State
increased from 4,64S 900 in 1880, to
1886, 900 in 1913; the average increase
81 900 in population was not sufficient
, to appreciably effect the average in
crease of 101. 900 in the total debt Jess
sinking furtd assets. hence the con-
tinued increase in the debt per capits.
"In 1880 the debt per capita was
s0.66 in 1891 1t was $O.9S; in 1913 vt
had risen to $l.90, this being the larg
est amount recorded for any year dur
ing the period discussed"
"In contrast with the State of ken
lucky, We find that. taking the en-
tire debt (less sinking fund assets)
for the forty-eight States. the per
capita, according to the latest report,
is 1882, or $1.62 more than the per
capita debt for kentucky. However.
it must be noted that while the per
capita debt Of Kentucky increased
from $O.66 in 1880 to $l.90 in 1918.
the per capita debt for the total OF
the forty-eight States fell from s5.4S
to $3.50 during the same period.
AT the present time about "a per
Cent of tho total population of hhe
United States will be found In uhe
State OF Kentucky. and l.S per cent
Of the total debt (lcss sinking fund
assets) Is attributed to that State"
The bulletin contains statistics TOT
each State for each year from 1851
to 1918, inclusive, as far as STATISTICS
are available. and also contains de-
tails for the year most nearly cores
ponding to 1850, thus making 1t pos
sible to show the general movement
during a period of over thirty years
The bulletin shows the total debt o.
the States as vol as many DETAILS
such as the various CLASSES OF outstah
ing bortds and special debt obliga-
tons to public trust funds.
II also shows the floating debt ano
its component parts. Under Funds
and Investments are shown separ'
ately all the different funds, and Ill
each case cash and securities are
shown.
An inspection OF the tables for Ken
lucky in the bulletin issued shows o
fluctuating bonded indebtedness,vary
ing in amounts from s6sO,O00 in 1871
to s1,0O6. 900 in 1898 and $1,000 In
1913. The special debt obligations &c
public trust funds Increased from ST.
FOG, 900 in 1891 to s2.3lS.OO0 in 1897
and in 1898 had advanced to $2.4Sl''
600, remaining practically unchanged
turnout the other years OF the per
iod. The floating debt changed witt
usch year. though reporting genera.
increase Of p.79o,Oo0 from 1891 u
1918.
In the case OF funds and Invest
ments the securities reached the max
imum amount. SS.542.o0O in isos
but as between the securities on ham
In 1891 and 1913 the amount decreas
cd from x2. 66O. 900 to S2,557 900. TIL
amount OF cash changed naturally iron
year to year. but shows genera
change from s1i in 1891 to s'0s'oo'
In 1919.
| The sinking fund assess reached III