The aggregate wealth of the United States amounts to $12,000,000,000, and the population is 24,000,000 souls. The wealth divided by the population gives $500 to each person, young and old ; and counting five persons to each family, it would give the handsome little fortune of $2,500 to every family of the republic.
This article was originally published with the title "Wealth of the United States" in Scientific American 13, 36, 288 (May 1858)
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican05151858-288e