Wisconsin State Aghicultural Society. 235 
and all, has been able to accumulate on this entire property, above 
food, clothing and shelter, with possibly a few of the comforts and 
luxuries to the most skilled and better class of educated workmen, 
about 8100,000,000, while the capitalists who sold us the property 
have accumulated upon the investment of 8350,000,000, so that it 
amonnts to the enormous sum of over 8900,000,000, having absorbed 
the 8100,000,000 and leaving us in debt $450,000,000, a handsome 
mortgage for the labor of future years. We started in 1860, owing 
$350,000,000 and, in 1870, we owe $450,000,000. At this rate, how 
soon shall we become paupers, or at least slaves to the accumula¬ 
tive power of money at high rates of interest? 
Again, take the great state of Ohio, one of the best agricultural 
and manufacturing states in the union. In 1860 her assessed valu¬ 
ation was, in round numbers $960,000,000, and in 1870, $1,168,000,- 
000, a gain of $208,000,000, or a trifle above two per cent, per 
annum. Look at this great state, striving with all the productive 
energies labor can command, to grow and manufacture many of 
the necessaries and conveniences of life, saving barely two per cent, 
above the maintainance of her workmen, while capital is making a 
requisition upon labor, equal to five times that sum, or ten per 
cent. This interest, at ten per cent., is equivalent to saying to 
labor: You shall double the capital of a state or nation in less than 
eight years, give it to capital, and at the same time support your¬ 
self and families the best you can. 
The interest which money bears, determines its value, and also 
the rent of land and other property. If A. loans B. $1,000 and 
pays therefore $100 per annum, it is equivalent to the annual ren¬ 
tal of $100 for a farm, worth $1,000. In other words, the man 
who rents a farm worth $1,000, must pay the owner, above taxes 
and insurance, one-tenth of another farm equally good and valuable, 
each year, or an entire farm of equal value at the expiration of ten 
years, or to compound the rental as interest accumulates, he must 
give the owner another farm in less than eight years, of equal value 
with the farm rented, and educate his family so that they may take 
rank among the business men and women of the country. Can he 
do it? Never. If he gains three per cent, he does well, and above 
the average of the legitimate industries of the world. When the 
partnership of labor and capital cannot increase the wealth of the 
country above three per cent, per annum, and economy and frugal- 
