Uncle Sam's Inventories 247 



dred millions, in round numbers, for a ditch 

 appears like not a little investment, but a great 

 one. However, as a per capita investment it 

 is not larger than a farmer would make if he 

 purchased an acre of average land. 



All of these expenditures, past and present, 

 are justified because needed, and because the 

 government through monthly, yearly and decade 

 statements is kept fully informed of the finan- 

 cial condition of the complicated and stupendous 

 national transactions. In other words, "Uncle 

 Sam" employs a vast army of bookkeepers, ac- 

 countants, appraisers, detectives and experts, and 

 could not administer the government's financial 

 affairs without these persons. 



Since many of the readers of this book will 

 not have access to the census reports, especially 

 to those which relate to agriculture, it is fitting 

 that a brief summary of the government's in- 

 ventory of rural wealth be placed in convenient 

 form for ready reference. These figures are 

 from the reports of the Twelfth Census (taken 

 in 1900) : 



