Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-11
Productivity Our National Shame

Productivity Our National Shame
Z lotion is more fascinating than figures,
but figures are the moro convincing
Fiction is for the moment. Figures make
men think
Here are some figures culed from an ex-
haustive paper recently sent out by the
National Life Underwriters of this country
that should be considered by every man and
woman interested in the conditions that con-
front them. True, indeed, the figures repre-
senting the wealth Of the United States are
SO vast as to be incomprehensibe. except by
comparison.
This wealth is placed at $3.50. 900 600, 900.
This Is near double that OF Great Britain and
Germany, and three times that of France
Our income OF $4,000, 100000 year is
larger in proportion to this wealth than that
OF any other nation. The wealth Of the coun-
try is increasing s2O,000,O00 day, or
S7,0O0,00O,000 year. This annual increase
equals the entire combined wealth of Holland
and Portugal. At this rate in two and a half
years our income will equal the total wealth
OIL Great Britain, two and one-quarter years
that OF Germany, one and half years that
or France, in nine months that of Austria
and In seven months that Of Italy
The manufacturing ousput OF this country
lot one year would buy out the entire king
dom OF Italy. The statement is also made
that this country is drinking enough liquor
in value TO equal the entire wealth of Portu-
gal and to pay for Great Britains reported
annual expenditure for war
There is enough money deposited In the
banks OF this country to buy out SPAIN Hol-
land, Switzerland and Portugal combined
The crops Of our soil each year have a value
equal to the wealth of Belgium before the
war The life insurance carried here equals
the wealth OF Italy, Spain and Holland COM
b1ned. The value Of the farm lands alone is
almost equal to the wealth of Italy, Spain,
Holland and Belgium together
And yet-and this is the fact that should
appeal to every citizen-Mr. Hunter, the
president Of the National Association of Life
Underwriters, who has gone into the subject
In most comprehensive way, asserts that, in
spite or all this vast wealth, increasing every
minute, there are between ten and fifteen mil
hons or people here who are in poverty One
third or the population of New York CITY
applies tor, public charity in seven years One
person in ten who dies In the great cities is
buried in pauper's grave The 100000
dependent wage-earners cost the country
S22O.OOO, 600 year for their support And
considering the enormous wealth and grow
ing interests OF the country, these people
should have been able to save enough to
support themselves. There are 3l27OOO
widows here who are sixty-flve years old and
over 35 per cent Of these lack the necessities
Of life, and 90 per cent do not have the
ordinary comforts of life Seven millions of
women arc compelled to earn their living.
And there are 1,99O,225 children between the
ages of ten and fifteen years who are forced
to labor In order to help sustain their parents,
who are bereft Of the advantages Of cduca-
ton.
We have barely touched upon the findings
or this expert. We give his inquiry in
conclusion: why is II that a nation of such
limitless wealth should have at It's doors such
poverty. thriftlessness and its natural conse-
| quences?" His conclusion ia worth cons,dor
ing: Prodigality and extravagance are far
moro usually the accompaniments of wealth
than of frugality."