Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-06
Some Big Values.

We have not verified the following
statistics compiled by 1
friend, but have confidence in thei
accuracy because he has written mucl
for the Journal and his statement
have never been refuted. 1t may pa.
you. in these piping times of Democ
racy and draught beer to read thi
letter:
Editor Kennebec Journal:
saw an item in the Journal
few days ago stating that the
wealth of the nation exclusive of
Alaska. ETC., was $3.50, 900, 900, 600
Now this is an enormous, an in
comprehensive sum. But the
writer of the article must have
been using some Of the old statis-
tics, for the official returns Of
the Census Buerau of 1912 gave
the total wealth as S1S7,000,-
100000, and if we have increased
In valuation in the past three
years as fast as we have since
the figures were given in 1904, our
wealth is now more than $200,000,-
100000, This means that the
average amount of property owned
by each man, woman and child in
the United States is about $4,000.
The average wealth in Maine is
about $500 per capita. The rea-
son we are not up to the average
is we have no large manufacture
ing industries or large cities in
which SO much money value con-
centrates. Maine people are large
ly engaged in agriculture. While
the percentage of men in New
England engaged in farming is but
1871 per cent, the percentage in
Maine is about SO or about 21x
times as large as the average.
But Names increase in valua-
ton and per capita wealth since
the former census was taken is
one Of which we should all be
proud.
The average increase per capita
of the other five New England
states is 1874. Names increase
in the same time was 1924. In
Massa chusetts, .spurred" on by
free rum, it was but s133. In
Rhode Island it was but 81.
While from 1900 to 1912 Maine
Increased s43S, Massachusetts
gained but s25l. and Rhode Island
but s51. Names percentage Of
increase in the same period was
44.s, New Hampshire, go Massa-
chusetts Is, and Rhode Island but
8. From 1904 to 1912 Maine in
creased 1875. New Hampshire. %.
Massachusetts,. s, Rhode Island
less than u of one per cent,
Connecticut 35. and those great
hives of industry and commerce,
New York, New Jersey and Penn
sylvania gained but 40. 3S and
1875 per cent respectively.
II the sober. sturdy, indus
trious people of Maine, can. with
their limited opportunities SO far
outstrip the great states of Mas
sachusetts, Rhode Island. New
York, New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania, what could they do if they
WCIc pldSeu Ill pOsltAoii VI equdI
advantage? A national valuation.
II taken now. would show Maine
to be worth $1.175, 100000. The
valuation placed by the State AS
SCISSORS this year will be about
$505, 900 900. but this does not in
clude nearly all of the property.
And besides the finances Of our
State We're so skillfully managed
that this county (Waldo) received
of the State Treasurer s2s.631,
Is more than the entire State tax
assessed upon it. And just think
that this was all done without any
help from any rum license so
earnestly advocated by a certain
class Of our citizens! What rum
state can show as clean and pros
porous a record?
Thorndike, Me-,
c. E. SMITH.