The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-22
NET public INDEBTEDNESS
FOR 1878, S4,S5O,460,713
An Increase of More Than Two Bill
lions or 700 Per Cent. Over the
Amount Reported for 1902
$49.97 Per Capita

special bulletin on county and munich
pal indebtedness and sinking fund as
sets, compiled under the supervision of
MIR. Starke M. Grogan, chief statistieian
in charge of the inquiry, and soon to be
issued by the Bureau of the Census, De-
partment of Commerce, will show to.
tai net public Indebtedness for the year
1913. of $4,S50, ,460,713, or $49.97
per eapita-an increase of more than
two billions, of 70.9 per cent. over the
amount reported for 1902, which in
turn was 42.7 per cent. more than in
1890. (By "net Indebtedness is meant
total or gross debt less sinking fund
assets.) The per capita net indebted
ness increased by 3S.S per cent. be-
tween 1902 and 1913 and by 1873 per
cent. between 1890 and 1902.
The 1913 total comprises national
or federal debt of $1,02S,564 ,055,
State debts amounting to $345,942,-
800, and an aggregate Indebtedness for
counties, municipalities and other minor
civil divisions, of $3,475, ,954,353. The
per capita net Indebtedness of the ma
ton decreased from 1880 in 1890 to
s12.22 in 1902 and to 81 0.59 in 1913;
the per capita net Indebtedness of the
States decreased from 1887 in 1890
to $3.0S in 1902 but increased to 1857
in 1913, aud the per capital net indebt-
edness of/counties, municipalities, ETC.,
S20.47 in 1902 and to 1851 in 1913.
County and Municipal Debt
This bulletin, which is one of series
of eight, all pertaining to the general
subject of wealth, debt and taxation,
relates especially to the Indebtedness of
counties, municipalities, townships,
school districts, etc.
The total net indebtedness of counties,
municipalities, etc, in 191S-in round
figures, 3,4tt,000, 0,000-was made
up as follows: Counties, 1871, 900,
or 1O.7 per cent; cities, incorporated
towns and villages, etc., $2,SS5 ,000,-
600, or SO per cent; unincorporated
towns, townships, precincts and special
districts created for such purposes as
road and levee construction, drainage,
irrigation, fire protection, etc., $780,
100000, of 2.9 per cent; independent
school districts outside of cities, towns
and villages having over $500 inhab-
itants, Sis, 100000, of 3.4 per cent.
This aggregate of s3,476,000,00O in
1913 represents an increase of almost
$1,S46,00O,06O, or 1892 per cent,
over the amount reported for 1902. 1t
is believed, however, that a small part
of this indicated increase is apparent
rather than real, being due to a more
thorough canvass in the later year.
The rate of increase between 1890 and
1902 was rs per cent
Per Capita Indebtedness
The per capita net Indebtedness Of
counties, municipalities, etc, in 1913
was 1851, and the percentages of in,
crease between 1902 and 1918 and be.
tween 1890 and 1902 were, respective
ly, 1871 and 40.2.
The net debt of counties. municipal
tiles, etc, was greatest in New York
State, where it amounted, in round fig
ures, to 81 ,046, 600, 900 in 1913, an in
crease of 1898 per cent as compared
with 1902; the rate of increase between
1890 and 1902 was 1852 per cent.
Next to New York in respect to size
of county and municipal net indebted
ness came Pennsylvania and Ohio, with
$246 6,O0O,0OO and 1924, 100000, re
spectively, in 1918. The smallest net
debt in that year was for Nevada, 81
575, 900.
Of greater significance, however,
are the figures for per capita indebted
ness. Here again New York headed the
list, with a net debt of counties, mu-
ETC., amounting IN 1913
to $107.71 per capita, an increase of
9O.4 per cent. as compared with 1902,
in which year the per capita figure was
70.1 per cent. higher than in 1890: the
second and third highest per capita
were for Washington and New
Jersey, $70.21 and $61.66, respeetive-
ly, in 1913 and the smallest per cap
ita figure for that year was reported
by Arkansas, S7.5S. For Pennsylva-
MIA and Ohio, the States having the
second and third largest net indebted
ness of counties, municipalities, etc, in
913, the per capita figures were
$30.34 and $47.23, respectively: and |
Nevada, in which State the total net |
Indebtedness was smallest in 1918, re-
ported a per capita net debt of $2719
IN that year.
The District of Columbia showed
decrease of $5,5O0,0OO, or 37.7 per
,enty III net municipal DEBT between
1902 and 1913, but i'll no State except
New Hampshire was there found de-
,rease in this respect; and in only
.hree States-Rhode Island, New
Hampshire and New Mexico-and the ,
district of Columbia did the per capital
let Indebtedness of counties, munich
'alities, ETC., show decrease as CON-
Jared with 1902. The rates of decrease
or these States and the District were
Is follows: Rhode Island, 22.3 per
ent.; New Hampshire, go per cent;
New Mexico, 1.6 per cent; District
# Columbia, 4S.4 per cent.
County Debt
The gross county indebtedness was
1893, 100000 in 1918, of which amount t
~, 700, 900, or SIS per cent, was pro-
'ided for by the assets of sinking