But annum; and if we set the aggregate of such bonds (exclusive of national bonds) negotiated in Europe since 1870 at $800,000,000 par value, it will probably be below the actual amount, and if the average net proceeds of these received by the American corporations be estimated at say 85 cents on the dollar, it would show $120,000,000 of debt created without any return. assuming that Dr. Young's estimate of $1,200,000,000 at the close of 1873 was nearly correct, it would place the aggregate at the present time somewhere about $1,400,000,000. But if his estimate of 80 cents on the dollar for all bonds sold prior to 1874 be 10 per cent too high, as is thought by some, it would still make the cover the evasions of the revenue, such addition amounting in the period under review to $146,861,754. FREIGHTS.-The values of the imports of merchandise, as presented in the first table, being those at the ports of shipment, it will be proper to add thereto the amount of freights to the several ports of the United States. As a part is brought in American vessels, and as the freight so earned is an addition to the wealth of the country, it is only necessary to consider, as another element in the computation, the amount of freight received by foreign ship-owners. As inward freights on goods vary from 100 per cent on the value of salt and some other bulky articles to 2 or 3 per cent on dress goods, and less than one-half per cent on specie, it is difficult to estimate the average ad valorem rate. On merchandise the average is not much less than 8 per cent; but, as nearly all the specie and the greater part of the dress goods, jewelry, watches, etc., are brought by foreign steamships, which disburse a considerable amount for fuel and shipstores, it is believed that 6 per cent on the total value of imports is an estimate of approximate accuracy. As the imports in foreign vessels amounted to $3,531 374,280, the element of foreign freight will, therefore, cause an increment of $211,882,456. The exports of domestic products, as given in the trade reports, are the currency values at the several ports of shipment in the United States. To make these conform to a uniform standard, the values have been reduced to gold in the tables above presented. The total amount exported in American vessels during the period under consideration was of the value of $1,450,000,000 in gold, the freight on which, estimated at 6 per cent, amounted to $87,000,000, which sum must be deducted from the aggregate of freights carried by foreign vessels. The last item to be added to the estimate is the interest which has become due upon the debt while it has been accruing. To obtain this with approximate accuracy is the most difficult part of this investigation. The most careful aggregate at present (August, 1876) about $1,500,000,000. Of this amount about one half is presumed to be government bonds. FOREIGN TRADE OF THE UNITED STATES FOR 24 YEARS. Total imports into the United States each year from 1843 to 1876 inclusive, as stated by the National Bureau of Statistics for each year ending June 30: analysis which has been made, as a basis for an intelligent estimate, leads to the conclusion that the amount of interest is not less than $277,000,000 nor more than $290,000,000. Lest the undersigned should be charged with a desire to reduce the aggregate of our foreign debt below the actual amount, the larger sum will be used in the computation. We have now the following items: Adverse balance of trade for eleven and a half years. Interest... Less freights on exports to United States shipowners $358,589,654 . 146,861,754 211,882,456 290,000,000 $1,007,333,864 Aggregate..... 87,000.000 $920,333,864 From the above statement it appears that the debt we owe to Europe, incurred since July 1, 1863, amounts to $920,000,000. But owing to the fact that during the former part of that period our credit abroad was not assured, our securities sold considerably below par. Owing to the wide range in pricefrom 40 cents on the dollar at one time, to par at a more recent period — there is great difficulty in ascertaining the average rate of discount. But a careful estimate establishes the fact that the average discount for the whole period (eleven and a half years) under consideration was less than 20 per cent. In computing the aggregate of this debt, the par value of these securities must be ascertained, and as they sold at an average rate of at least 80 cents on the dollar, it follows that our debt to foreign nations, incurred in the past dozen years, amounts to about $1,150,000,000. Although there were no national securities held abroad at the commencement of our late war, yet some of the bonds of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and probably of Massachusetts and other States, as well as railroad shares and securities, were owned in Europe. In the absence of accurate data on the subject, it is believed that fifty millions is an ample estimate for these ante bellum securities. With this addition, our aggregate foreign debt amounts to nearly TWELVE hundred million DOLLARS! [It will be borne in mind that the foregoing is an unofficial estimate of the amount of the United States securities-national, state, municipal and corporation held in foreign countries. The figures in the tables have, however, been taken from the records of the bureau, and are, therefore, trustworthy.] EDWARD Young. -Monthly Report of the Bureau of Statistics for February, 1874. |