The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-08-26
The United States.

! 4Ao OuC0Q states.
The following statistics, which we extrac
from the Boston Post, show the grouni
upon which rests the common boast thu
this is great country:'
"The thirty-one States, nine territories
and District Of Columbia, comprising tho
United States of America, arc situated within
the parellels of 10 degs. cast longitude and
46 degs west of the meridian of WASHING.
ton, and extending on the Atlantic coas,
from 80 degs. to 40 degs. of north latitude
and contains a geographical area of $780,.
S65 square miles, being but onc.tenth less
than the entire continent of Europe. They
contain population at the present time Of
25,000,00O, Of whom 81 100000 arc whites.
The extent of its sea coast, exclusive of is
lands and rivers to head of tide water. is
l2,669 miles. The length of ten of its pin
cipals rivers is 10000 miles. The surface
OF its five great lakes is 10000 square miles.
The number of miles Of railway in operation
within its limits is 10000, construc ted at a
cost Of S6Oo,oo0,OOO. The length of its
canals is 5000 miles. Itc6ntains within
its limits the longest railway upon the sur-
face of the globe-the Illinois Central
which is 731 miles in length.
The annual value of its agricultural pro-
ductions is 81 ,o0Q, 100000. Its most valr,-
able product is Indian corn, which yields
annually $4oo,ooo,ooo, and in surveying
the agricultural productions of our country,
we arc not only struck with their abundance,
but with their great variety. Our territory
extends from the frigid region Of the north
to the genial climate of the tropics, afford
ing almost every variety of temperature and
every kind of grain and vegetable. Her
productions range from the cold ice and
hard granite of the North, the golden corn
of the West, to the cotton and ugar of tie
South; and nearly all in sufficient quantities
to supply our domestic consumptions and
furnish large supplies for expectation,
thus furnishing nearly all the value as we'll
as the bulk Of our foreign commerce; sug-
gesting thereby the irresistible conclusion
that agriculture is the great transccndant
interest of our country, and upon which all
other interests depend.
"The amount of registered and enrolled
tonnage is 4, 4,407,O1O tons. The amount of
capital invested in manufactures is $6OO,OOO,-
600. The amount of its foreign imports in
1853 was $267,97s,647, and of exports
.$2so,e7e,157. The anual amount Of it's
internal trade is $e,oOo,oo0,ooo. The. an
nual value of the products Of labor (other
than agricultural) is 100000. The
annual value Of the incomes OF lis inhabit-
ants is, $l,000,0oO0OO. The value Of It's
farms and live stock is IS, 900, 100000. Its
mines Of gold copper, lead, and iron ore,
are aaaong the richest in tho world. The
value Of the gold produce in California is
Si0o,oo0,ooo per annum. The surface Of
its coal fields is 1892 square miles. Its
receipts from customs, lands, DC, in ! s5s,
we're 60 ] ;s37,274, aud its expenditures $4a,-
5l3 3,28S. Its national domain consists Of
|2,174, 1873 square miles Of land. Its nation
|ai debt is but $50, 100000. The number Of
its banks, at the present tine, is about u
loo, with q capitalof $500, 100000. With
In her borders are 1000 schools, 5000
'academiea, ss4 colleges, and $, 600 churches
t0nly one Ia twenty-five Of its white inhab.
litants 4 unable to read and write, and
lninateen OF ita twenty -one millions of wlite
inhabitants .ars native Born s .s ~, ~,