mber of traders in the United States in June, 1880--those having
distinctive position in the commercial or industrial community--was
703,328; a trifle over 40 per cent were in the Western States. For the
United States as a whole the average amount of capital employed to each
venture--as indicated by the aggregate of capital in the country
invested in trade (as explained in the table compiled from the
forthcoming census work) and the total number of individuals, firms, and
corporations engaged in business--is, in round numbers, $11,600.

The wealth of the country is, or was June 1, 1880, distributed as
follows:

Millions.
Farms $10,197
Residence and business real estate, capital employed
in business, including water-power 9,881
Railroads and equipment 5,536
Telegraphs, shipping, and canals 410
Live stock, whether on or off farms, farming tools
and machinery 2,406
Household furniture, paintings, books, clothing,
jewelry, household supplies of food, fuel,
etc. 5,000
Mines (including petroleum wells) and quarries,
together with one-half of the annual product
reckoned as the average supply on hand 780
Three-quarters of the annual product of agriculture
and manufactures, and of the annual importation
of foreign goods, assumed to be the
average supply on hand 6,160
Churches, schools, asylums, public buildings of
all kinds, and other real estate exempt from
taxation 2,000
Specie 612
Miscellaneous items, including tools of mechanics 650
-------
Total $43,642

It will thus be seen that the farms of the United States comprise nearly
one-fourth of its entire wealth. They are worth nearly double the
combined capital and equipments of all the railroads, telegraphs,
shipping, and canals; more than double all the household furniture,
paintings, books, clothing, jewelry, and supplies of food, fuel, etc.
The live stock is more valuable than all the church property, school
houses, asylum