Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1914-04-24
STATE DEBT.
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS AT
WASHINGTON, D. C. ISSUES
LATE BULLETIN.
COMPILED FROM YEAR 1880 TO 1918
Data Secured BY J. L. Coulter, Expert
Special Agent-State Proves to
Be Rich One, But Population
Contain .04 of U. S.

Preliminary figures from the forth
coming bulletin pertaining to national
and state indebtedness and funds and
investments have been given out by
Director w. j. Harris, of the Bureau
of the Census, Department of Com
MERGE The bulletin carries information
for the state of Idaho. 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
issued, will contain statistics for each
year from 1890 to 1913, inclusive, and
will also contain details for the year
most nearly corresponding to 1880,
thus making it possible to show the
general movement during the period
of over 80 years
Bonded Indebtedness.
An inspection of the tables for Idaho
in the bulletin soon to be issued shows
that only biennial reports were obtain
able. The amount of the bonded in
debtedness increased from $4,000 in
1890 to $2,364,000 in 1912, while the
floating debt, though changing greatly
during the period covered, showing
a general decrease from $4,000 in
1890 to $4,000 in 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 100000 in this year fell to
$50 in 1896, increasing steadily there
after until 1912, when they amounted
to $4,000,000. The cash shows a gen.
eral increase from 1000 in 1890 to
81 .2S2 900 in 1912.
The sinking fund assets increased
from $4,000 in 1890 to 100000 in
1912, and consequently the debt less
sinking fund assets was less for each
population more than quadrupled dur
ing the period, but this was not suffi-
cient to offset the increase in per cap
tia Indebtedness, which, while fluctu-
ating to a marked degree with each
year reported, shows a general in
crease from $2.45 in 1890 to $592 in
1912
State Debt Grows.
In 1880 the total debt of Idaho at the
close of the fiscal year, December 81,
was $4,000; in 1912 it was $2451 900,
increase due to constantly increased
bond issue. The population of the
state increased from $4,000 in 1880 to
1862 900 in 1912; the increase however,
as stated above, was not sufficient 10
offset the increased bond issue, there
fore the debt per capita more than
doubled during this period. In 1880
the per capita debt was $2.54; in 1890
it was S2.45; in 1902 the amount was
reduced to $1.65, increasing to 1892
in 1912.
Per Capita High.
In contrast with the state of Idaho,
we find that, taking the entire debt
Cess sinking fund assets) for the As
states, the per capita, according to the
latest report, is 1882, or $40 less
than the per capita debt of Idaho.
Comparing the increase in the per
capita debt of Idaho with the decrease
in the per capita debt of the total for
the As states, we find more than an
inverse ratio, the total amount of in
crease for Idaho being 1898 for the
the 30year period, while in the aver
age for the 4S states the decrease was
$1.96. or slightly more than half the
increase for Idaho.
At the present time about GA per
cent of the total population of the
United States will be found in the
State of Idaho, and 06 per cent of
the total debt less sinking fund
assets) is attributed to the state.