The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-04-23
$685. IS PER CAPITA
DEBT OF MARYLAND
Tabulated StatementSoon to Be Issued
BY the Department of Commerce.

WASHINGTON. D. c., April q, 1914
Preliminary figures from theforthcoming
bulletin pertaining to national and state
Indebtedness and funds and investments
have been given out by Director W.
]. Harris, of the Bureau of the Census,
Department of Commerce. The bulle-
tin carries information for the state of
Maryland, as we'll as for the other
states and the United States. The data
were compiled under the supervision of
Mr.. John Lee Coulter, expert special
agent in charge of the inquiry on
Wealth. Debt and Taxation.
The bulletin, which will soon be is
sued, will contain statistics for each
year from 1890 to 1913, inclusive, as far
as statistics are available, and will also
contain details for the year most nearly
corresponding to 1880, thus making it
possible to show the general movement
during period OF over 80 years. The
bulletin will show the total debt of the
states 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 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 Mary
land in the bulletin soon to be issued
shows a fiuctuating bonded Indebtedness
amounting to $40, 7O3, 600 in 1890; de-
creasing to the minimum sum reported,
S., 900, in 1899; and rising to $13.-
036,000 in 1912. No special debt obi
cations to public trust funds or floating
debt were recorded in any year
In the case of funds and investments
the securities, while changing from year
to year, show an increase of 1914, 900 as
between 1890 and 1912. The cash
changed naturally. but the general
tendency was to increase. and, $685. 600
in 1890 advanced to 81, 1897, 900 in 1912.
The sinking fund assets fluctuated
constantly, but were always large, and
increased from SO, 1872, 600 in 1890 to
e. 100 ron ~ 1910 poo,1eo &C tLo
heavy sinking fund assets recorded the
debt Qess sinking fund assets was con-
siderably less than the total debt, and
whereas the total debt shows an in
crease of 81, 1892, 600 during the period
discussed, the debt (less sinking fund
assets decreased in the amount Of
SIT, 900.
Although the per capita debt varied
greatly, following the fluctuations of
the debt Qess sinking fund assets, the
increase of population was sufficient to
offset the slight decrease in the debt
Qess sinking fund assets, and the per
capita debt decreased 81 .68 from 1890
to 1912.
In 1880 the total debt of Maryland at
the close of the fiscal year, September
80, was $11 ,260, 900; in 1890 it was $10,-
703. 900; and in 1912 it amounted to S13-
036.000. The population of the state
increased from 935, 900 in 1880 to 1,319,-
900 in 1912, being sufficient to bring
about an appreciable decrease in the
per capita debt. In 1880 the per capita
debt was $11. SO; in 1890 it was 1924; in
1908 it reached the minimum, $l.54, but
advanced to S. Sc in 1912.
In contrast with the state of Mary
land we find that taking the entire debt
Qess sinking fund assets) for the 48
states, the per capita debt, according
to the latest report 1888 SO or 81. O4 less
than the per capita debt for Maryland.
Comparing the per cent of decrease in
the per capita debt of Maryland and the
average for the AZ states for the 80
year period, we find that whereas the
per capita debt for the as states de-
creased about IS per cent, the decrease
for Maryland was more than 50 per
cent; the .$5.48 falling TO 1882 IN the
average for the 48 states and Sill. 80 to
$3.50 in Maryland.
At the present time about Ia per
cent of the total population of the
United States will be found in the State
of Maryland and 81 per cent of the
total debt Qess sinking fund assets is
attributed to that state.