Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1898 — OUR NATIONAL WEALTH. [ARTICLE]

OUR NATIONAL WEALTH.

Between 1860 and 1870 th* abolition M slavery destroyed a nominal wealth >f a quarter of a billion of dollars; dur.big the same period th* Northern State* gained enormously in wealth, by the establishment of many new industriea In 1880, according to the returns of the tenth census, the United States was the wealthiest of all nations, Great Britain being second; and there is nt doubt that the last fifteen year* have greatly widened the gap between ut’ and the English. When the last census was taken the Value of (he railroad property of this country was considered to be equal te the cost of construction and equip ment, as y-eported by the railroad com panies. ivo account was taken of the increase of stock. The difference in valuation of property at the last census was very remarkable. In some States the assessment was no more than 25 per cent of the real value of the property, while in ether cases it is believed to have been as high as the selling price. The decade between 1870 and 1884 does not show as much progress at might be expected, owing to the fad that through overproduction, stimulated by th* war, there was an Im mens* shrinkage in apparent value* and also in assessed valuation. Our coinage ha* mainly been exe euted at the Philadelphia mint, estab fished in 1798. There are three othei mints, one at Ban Francisco, estab Fished to 1854; one at New Orleans, es tabllshed in 1838, and one ? : Carson •lily. Nev., ertabllshed in 187 G. The las* census made no account ot notes, bond*, or other promises to pay, whether public or private, and these were not Included in the estimated wealth for the reason that, while they are owned by one individual or cor poration, they are ow«d by another.