Evening journal., 1914-04-09
indebtedness
OF Delaware
Census Bulletin Shows Fig
ureS at $4,000 at the
Close of 1912
or PER CENT. OF TOTAL
DEBT IS FOUND HERE

WASHINGTON, April 9.-Prelmin-
ory figures from the Forthcoming bulle-
tin pertaining to national and state in
debtedness and funds and investments
have been given out by Director W. J.
Harris of the Bureau OF the Census, De-
partment OF Commerce. The bulletin
carries information for the State of Del
aware az well rs for the other states
and the United States. The data was
compiled under the supervision Of 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
state for each year from 1890 TO 1918,
inclusive, as far as statistics are avail
.uble, and viii 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 30 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. It will
also show the floating debt and its com
ponent parts. Under Funds and in
vestments" viii be shown separately all
the different funds, and in each case cash
and securities win be shown. The pop
ulation of the states for each year under
consideration win be used, and the per
capita debt tless sinking fund assets)
viii be given.
An inspection Of the tables for Della
ware in the bluuetin soon to be issued
shows comparatively small change IN
the bonded indebtedness throughout the
period covered; In 1890 the amount out
istanding was S0600OO; in 1912 1t had
been reduced to $3.50 600. The special
debt obligations TO public trust funds
remained unchanged until 1905. when
tho fund was increased from S240,000 to
1862 600; no further change was re-
corded during the period.
In the case Of funds and invest
ments the securities show an increase
from 81 ,234,O00 In 1890 to S1,535,00
In 1912, while the cash reached the
maximum amount, sl47, 900, In 1908,
afterwards decreasing to $4,000 in
1912. The sinking fund assets were
at no time large, and In consequence
there Is but small different between
the total debt and the debt less sink
ing fund assets.
In view Of the fact that the debt
| has remained almost constant during
this period of more than 30 years,
while the population of the State has
increased gradually. the per capita
debt Of the State has gradually de-
creased.
In 1880 the total debt Of Delaware
at the close of the fiscal year, De-
] "A. Ia,
fell to $685. 900; by 1901 II had In
creased to $4,000; and in 1912 Il
had increased to $4,000. The popu-
lation of the State Increased from
/ l47000 In 1880 to 203000 in 1910, the
increase serving TO lower the debt per
capita from year to year. In 1880 the
debt per capita amounted to S6.1s; in
1891 It was $4.02; in 1901 it was s4.09;
and in 1912 1t had been reduced to
1870.
In contrast with the State Of Della
ware, we find that. taking the entire
debt (less sinking fund assets) for
the as States. the average per capita,
according to the latest report, is 1882
or slightly less than the per capita
debt for Delaware. On the other
hand. whereas the per capita debt for
Delaware fell from S6.1S in 1900 to
$40 in 1912. the per capita debt when
the total for all States Is considered
fell only from $5.4s to 1852 during
the same period.
At the present time about 0.2 per
cent Of the total population OF the
\ United States will be found In the
State OF Delaware. and O.2 per cent
of the total debt Qess sinking fund
assets) is attributed to that State.