26 SEPTEMBER 1891, Page 3

Unless there is some mistake in the figures:the wealth of

the City during the last ten years has increased at a rate which is positively astounding. According to the City Press of Wednesday, the profits assessed to income-tax under Schedule D in 1879-80, were about £39,000,000, while in 1889-90 they were £70,000,000. That is, the profits have almost doubled in :ten years. This result is, of course, in great part due to a -general growth of prosperity, but also, no doubt, to the ten- dency shown by the great profit-bearing businesses to cen- tralisation. Every great provincial house finds it necessary 'to have a branch in London, and London branches tend to become trunks. Perhaps, too, the increased vigilance of the Revenue officials may have something to do with the matter.