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The Outlook

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 8, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 26.

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The Outlook

"I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what He will speak with me."

PLUTOCRACY OF THE WORLD.

THOMAS G. SHEARMAN, the statistician, has an article in a recent number of the Thrice-a-Week World in which he revises his former figures concerning the distribution of wealth in this country, and gives us the following table on the basis of tax returns:—
Families. Average Wealth. Total Wealth.
70 $37,500,000 $2,625,000,000
90 11,500,000 1,025,000,000
180 8,000,000 1,440,000,000
135 6,800,000 968,000,000
360 4,600,000 1,656,000,000
1,755 2,300,000 4,036,000,000
6,000 1,250,000 7,500,000,000
7,000 650,000 4,350,000,000
11,000 375,000 4,125,000,000
14,000 230,000 3,220,000,000
16,500 165,000 2,722,000,000
50,000 100,000 5,000,000,000
75,000 60,000 4,500,000,000
200,000 20,000 4,000,000,000
1,000,000 3,500 3,500,000,000
11,620,000 11,215,000,000
13,002,090 62,082,000,000
Public and church property omitted.

Distribution in Classes.

Class. Families. Wealth. Average per Family.
Rich 182,090 $43,367,000,000 $238,135
Middle 1,200,000 7,500,000,000 6,250
Working 11,620,000 11,215,000,000 968
13,002,090 $62,082,000,000 $4,775
On this basis 40,000 persons own over one-half of the wealth of the United States, while one-seventieth part of the people own over two-thirds of the wealth.
According to Senator Roger Q. Mills, 24,600 persons are worth $31,500,000,000.
The Bank of Russia has issued $1,045,000,000
" " England " 719,000,000
" " France " 1,640,000,000
" " Italy " 309,000,000
" " Germany " 878,000,000
" " U. S. Treasury " 1,659,000,000
Total . . . . . 6,250,000,000
But one twenty-eight-hundredth of the people of the United States possess nearly five times as much as all these great treasure sources have issued. The wealth of one of these men, W. W. Astor, is estimated at more than $200,000,000. The aggregate wealth of the entire country, public and church property omitted, is estimated at $62,082,000,000. Less than 25,000 men own, therefore, one-half of the wealth of the United States. Is it a wonder that the extremities,—the working classes,—are cold when there is such a congestion of blood, the circulating medium, in a few organs. Truly says the prophet, "They have heaped treasure together in the last days." This means the oppression and robbery of the poor. And this also the Lord regards. But his admonition is, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord." See James 5:1-7. He alone can adjust matters aright.