The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-10-02
$4,000 IS THE AVERAGE
OF AMERICAN WEALTH
TOTAL FOR WHOLE COUNTRY
IS MORE THAN THREE HUN
DED BILLION DOLLARS.
REAL ESTATE is CLIMBING UP
Thirteen Million Motor Vehicles Now
In Service Figures of Census Bu-
reau Will Reveal Some Startling
Facts as to Increase.

reau Will Reveal Some Startling
Facts as to Increase.
A copyright article printed in the
Savannah Morning News from its
Washington correspondent says an es-
innate OF the total wealth of the in
habitants of the United States will be
made public by the census bureau,
beginning within the next thirty days.
The figures, it is believed, will show
startling increase over those of a
decade ago. Indications are that the
total will reach $300,000,000
Continuing, the article gives the
following interesting data;
In 1912 the country's total wealth
was somewhat less than $188000,0 00,-
000 The indicated increase is at the
rate of about 90 per cent.
The survey will be the most COM
prehensive of its kind ever undertaken
1t was begun fifteen months ago and
has engaged the attention of about
Us employees. Tens OF thousands of
returns have been received, digested
and are i'll course of tabulation.
Returns will be shown by states
and their subdivisions as we'll as by
great commodity groups. There are
twenty-five of these groups, including
new subdivision covering automo-
biles, motor trucks and farm tractors.
In 1912 this class of property was
relatively SO small as to warrant its
inclusion under other headings To-
day, with about 100000 motor We
hicleS in actual service, the new group
will represent values materially high
er than of some of the older groups.
Perhaps the greatest increase will
be shown in real estate and taxable
A decade ago real es-
tate and buildings were valued at near
ly 100000 100000. Their value today,
in all probability, will approach $175,-
900, 100000 The sensational advance
in land values, coupled with the man.
moth building construction programs
of the past two years, will carry the
totals to much higher figures than is
apparent on the surface.
In addition to the privately owned
real estate and buildings, including
farm property, the survey will con-
tain an estimate of the value of tax
exempt realty, owned by the federal
the state, counties, mu
and charitable and relig
ious organizations.
So great is the volume of this class
OF property that its value probably
will run to from II to IS per cent Of
the value of privately owned real es--
tate, the totals reaching upward OF
$4,000, 100000 or a sum about equal
to the value of all the railroad sys-
TENS and lines.
In at least one instance a decrease
in values is indicated This is in the
case of livestock and is attributed in
a large measure, TO the passing OF the
horse. The prospective decrease also
is attributed somewhat to the COM
paratively low prices obtainable for
live stock. Ten years ago the value OF
the nations live stock was about So
25Q.0000,000 Today it may not exceed
$5,000,0O0,000.
Manufacturing machinery, tools
and implements, valued ten years ago
at 100000 100000, will show, it is ex-
pected, a tremendous increase in val
uation, perhaps more than doubling
its former total. Gold and silver coin
ana DulllOl plODdDlS VIII oihC" oii -
crease of from 90 to Is per cent, due
largely to the huge importations OF
gold.
In estimating the value of silver the
census bureau uses the metal value.
A silver dollar, for instance, contains
silver valued at slightly more than
fifty cents by weight The railroad
systems are expected to show an in
crease in value of lands, rolling stock,
motive power and other equipment to
the extent of about Is per cent.
One of the largest percentage IN
creases anticipated is in the case OF
manufactured products on hand. Ten
wears ago the total value OF such
products was about $14,70O00O, 900.
Census bureau returns gathered inde-
pendently of the present survey show
that the factories have been producing
finished products to the value OF $780,
600. 100000 to 100000, 100000 annually
during the past decade. The great
bulk has been consumed, but enough
remains on hand to place the total TAR
in excess of the 1912 figures.