3. Agricultural equipment
(livestock, tools, etc.) 3,822 4,919 7,706
4. Manufacturing equipment 2,541 3,298 6,069
5. Transportation agencies 11,249 14,434 22,360
6. Telegraph and telephones 612 813 1,304
7. Waterworks (privately owned) 263 275 290
8. Electric lighting plants 403 563 2,099
9. Products (still in trade)[b] 8,294 10,212 21,577
10. Direct goods in use[c] 6,880 8,250 12,758
11. Gold and silver 1,677 1,999 2,617

[Footnote a: No figures for these years.]

[Footnote b: The main items are agricultural and mining products and
imported merchandise.]

[Footnote c: The main items are clothing, personal adornment, furniture,
and carriages.]

§ 5. #Average wealth and the problem of distribution#. The foregoing
figures make a most satisfactory showing, and appear to indicate
that mere economic problems are rapidly being solved by the growth
of national wealth. But unfortunately these figures have little
significance in connection with such an inquiry, if indeed they are
not badly misleading.

In the first place, the final figures of "per capita wealth" are
merely averages; a per capita increase, therefore, may appear when
total wealth increases, altho the total may be due to the growth of
comparatively few very large fortunes. The fact is evident that vast