Seward daily gateway., 1926-05-11
UNCLE SAM's PROPERTY

Ing large sums or money ana vast amounts of property, both personal and real. Yet the government, unlike all other enterprises of vast proportions, never takes an account of stock to ascertain exactly or even ap- proximately what its assets are. It knows it's liabilities, but not it's assets, probably be- cause it can add to it's income and its assets almost without limit simply by taxing the people.
 What is the governments property? What are it's assets? What is the size of its business?
 In 1922 the national wealth of the Unit ed States was estimated at about S320, 0,S00,- 100000. Now it is probably something like S35O, ,OOO,0OO0O0 This includes real estate, live stock, farm property, railways of all sorts, waterworks, private enterprises of a public utility nature, farm and mine prod ucts jewels, vehicles gold and silver, etc. The wealth of the United States is said to be more than twice the national wealth of Ct. Britain and equal to the combined wealth of eight European countries, including Ger many, Italy, Belgium, Turkey and four oth- CTS.
 How much of this national wealth be- longs to Uncle Sam? The average citizen sees very little of it outside of the buildings in Washington and postoffices and custom houses elsewhere, or in some important har- bor where war and other ships are anchor ed. The ordinary machinery of the govern ment operates at home and in all climes, yet it's vast scope and the wealth and prop erty involved are seldom realized.
 Uncle Sam's property, roughly speak ing, consists of land, buildings, equipments, forts, guns, ships, airplanes, canals, cash in the Treasury and bills and notes receivable
 The land on which are located 80 public buildings and groups of buildings in Wash ington is worth about 35,000,000, 1t Is es- timated The buildings thereon cost ap- proximately S112,700,000 For public pur- poses they are worth no less now-perhaps between $15000O,00O and S160,000,000. The fixtures and furnishings are estimated to be worth S75,000,000 more.
 The property used and occupied by the ten departments of the government in diff ferent parts of the world is valued at ap- proximately $1OO,OOO,OO0. An inventory never has been taken Perhaps it is an i'm possibility.
 The property of the War Department, all told, is estimated at approximately S225,- 900, ,O0e perhaps S25O,O0OOOO. This in cludes artillery, coast defenses, camps, posts and forts, stores and equipment. The total assets of the Navy Depart ment on June 30, 1920, were about S2,630,- 100000 This figure has not increased since. Perhaps it has decreased because of the scrapping of ships.
 The assets of the Departments of Inte- rior, Commerce and Agriculture are scat rior Department has property estimated at tered all over the country, indeed all over the world Outside of Washington the Inte- S1OO,OOO,OOO It has never been scheduled accurately. The property of the Com merce Department is estimated at more than S75, 100000. The Department of Agri- culture admits that an inventory is prac- tically out of the question. The assets oi the Justice and Labor Departments are comparatively small.
 The Postoffice Department property Is estimated at something like S150,O00, ,000 The land and buildings coming under the Treasury Department are estimated al about S500,000,000.
 A conservative estimate Of Uncle Sans assets, real and personal property, ships forts, canals, equipments, bills receivable and all the rest is about S20,000,000,0 100000 But why not have an annual accounting sC that the figures in the future will not bt mere guesses or estimates?
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