Items of Interest September 4, 1902 Issue

Items of Interest

In a monograph on "The Conditions of the United States," issued by the Bureau of Statistics, it is stated that our area has grown from 827,844 square miles in 1800 to 3,025,600 square miles in 1902, exclusive of Alaska and the islands of the sea. The population per square mile was 3.6 in 1810, and 26.1 in 1902. The total wealth has grown from $7,000,000,000 in 1850 to an estimated $94, 000, 000, 000 in 1900, and the per capita wealth from $307 in 1850 to $1,235 in 1900. In 1800 the public debt was $15 per capita; in 1840 it had fallen to 21 cents per capita; in 1852 it was $2.67 per capita; in 1861, before the beginning of the war, $2.74, and then mounted rapidly until it became $76.98 per capita in 1865, gradually falling again after the war to $38.27 per capita in 1880, $14.22 in 1890, $12.64 in 1893, $13.60 in 1896, and $12.97 in 1902.

The National Negro Business League, of which Mr. Booker T. Washington is president, held its third annual session at Richmond, Va., August 25, 26, and 27. The League was organized in Boston two years ago for the dual purpose of bringing before the public the progress which the negro is making in business, in every part of the country, and of stimulating and encouraging business enterprises among the colored people. In both of these objects it has proved eminently successful. One of the most interesting features of the meeting was the large photographic exhibit, comprising pictures of negro business men and of their places of business all over the country.

It is said that the American occupation and influence are being felt in many ways throughout the island of Porto Rico, and is more especially noticeable in the schools. The people are anxious to learn, and education is looking up all over the island. Everybody on the island is anxious to learn English, which is coming into use more and more every day. It is now being taught in all the schools, and the coming generation will be able to speak and read the language as well as their native Spanish.

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