Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-16
THE DESTINY OF OUR couNrRY.

The following statistics, extracted from, the
Boston Post, present, in compact and com
penoious form, the astonishing extent of our
country, Its boundless resources, and its won
dertul development. In view of our recent or
igin and unparalleled advancement in all that
constitutes national greatness it is not wonder
ful that the nations of Europe, that for long
time looked uponus with Indifference or disdain,
should now regard us as the great and growing
Power of the world. Who, save omnipotence,
can limit us, and who, save omniscience. can
tell the surprising grandeur of our destiny-of
the American Republic? Let it guard against
assaults from within, and it can easily shield
itself from all external enemies.
" The thirty-one States, nine Territories. and
District OF Columbia comprising the United
states OF America, are situated within the par.
aiieis OF lO0 east longitude and 49, west of the
meridian OF Washington, and extending on the
Atlantic coast from 25o, and on the Pacific
coast from 32o to 400 of north latitude. and
contains geographical area of 3,3O6.S65
square miles, being one-tenth less than the en-
tire continent of Europe. They contain a DON
ulatlon at the present time of 25,0OO, 600. of
whom 2l,000,000 are whites. The extent of
its sea-coast exclusive of islands and rivers In
the head of tidewater, is 1869 miles. The
length of ten of its principal rivers is 10000
miles. The surface of its five great lakes is
10000 square miles. The number of miles of
railways in operation within its limits is 20 900
constructed at cost of $600,000,O0O. The
length of its canals is 5000 miles. Its con.
tains within its limits the longest railway upon
the surface OF the globe-the Illinois Central
which is 73l miles.
"The annual value of its agricultural produc.
uons IS $1,000, 100000. Its most valuable pro
Duct Is Indian corn, which yields annually 400,
ooo,ooo; ana In surveying the agricultural
productions of our country, we are NOT onIv
struck with their abundance. but with their
great variety. Our territory extends from the
trigid region of the north to the GENIAL climate
OF the tropics, affording almost eyery variety of
temperature and every kind of grain and yepe.
tables Her productions range from the cold
ice and hard granite of the North, the golden
corn OF the West to the cotton and sugar of the
South; and nearly all in sufficient quantities
10 supply our domestic consumption, and fur
nish large supplies for expectation, thus furnish
ing nearly all the value as well as the bulk of
our ioreign commerce; suggesting thereby the
irresistible conclusion that agriculture is the
great transcendant interest of our country and
upon which all other interests depend.
he amount of registered and enrolled ton.
mage is i,40l ,0lO tons. The amount of capital
invested in manufactures is 5000, 900. The
amount of its foreign imports in 1853 was
67,97S,647, and of exports $3.50, 976l57.
The annual amount of its internal trade is
S6,O0O,O0O, 900. The annual value of the pro-
ducts of labor (other than AGRICULTURAL is ST.
5OO,0O0,O0o. The annual value of the incomes
OF its inhabitants is 81 O00, 900, 900. The value
OF its farms and live stock is SIS, OO0. 600. 900
Its mines of gold, copper, lead, and iron are
among the richest in the world The value of
the gold produced in California is SlOO. 600 600
per annum. The surface of its coal fields is
1873, 1872 square miles. Its receipts from Gus.
toms, lands, &C., in 1853, was SCI, 1927, 274, and
its expenditures $43,543, 263 Its national
domain consists Of 2,l74,lSS square miles of
land. Its national debt is but $50. 600. 600.
The number of its banks at the present time is
about ! 100, with a capital of $500, 0OO. 600
Within her borders are $1,000 schools, 6 ,O6O
academies, 234 colleges, and $500 churches.
Only one IN twenty-five of its white inhabitants
is unable to read and write, land nineteen of its
twenty.one million Of white inhabitants are ma
tive BORN