Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-07-24
Prorress of the Country.

philosopher in the statistical tables of the
various industrial and other pursuits Of
this growing country. The facts Of the
Western world seem to vie with the fam
eics of the Eastern, and our realities to
fall but little, il at all, short of the gran.
deur Of their ictions. In oriental story,
magic lamp commands the services of SUI
pernatural beings, under whose agency
gorgeous palaces spring up, mushroom
like, in night, and are, IN the same space,
transported from one quarter of the globe
to another. With us, the spirit of enter
prise, under the inspirations of freedom,
explores the secret caves o. knowledge.
and derives from thence that light OF SCI
ence, which enables man to seize upon
the powers of nature herself and compel
them TO his service. In our history we
daily read of widernesses transformed in
to the abodes OF civilizations OF merchant
palaces rising upon the ruins of Indian
wigwams, and tf regions, which were
terra incognita TO our ancestors, being
brought into close neighborhood with our
selves--and all this with rapidity which
may be likened to the shifting scenes i'll
the action of drama.
Our thoughts have been led into this
pleasing train by the perusal of an article
in the June number of Blackwood's
Magazine, under the caption of the "Re-
cent growth Of the United States of Amcri-
ca"
The statistics which are there ably and
laboriously collated, and brought into COM
parison with such as the earlier records of
the country furnish, indicate progress in
national greatness, which is without par
allel in the history of the world. 1t IS
gratifying, from such evidences, TO find
that our most formidable transatlantic
rival is at last arriving at a just apprecia-
ton of our growing greatness The power
to make itself respected is nations surest
guaranty that its rights will be properly
regarded. A conviction of our strength
will serve TO render our future advances
easy and peaceful.
Within our brief limits, We cannot do
more than state few of the facts which
make manifest our rapid growth as a ma
ton, and which serve TO prefgure the
brilliant future within our reach. The
population of the country, which in 1870
was 1927, 827 OH the LIST of January,
1858, numbered 1854, 900, and indicates
rate Of increase Of about thirty-three
per cent for each future period of ter
years. At this rate. in thirty-six years
from this time, our territory would be IN
habited by not less than 10000 900 Of
souls. Il appears that in 1910 the domes-
Tic manufactures Of the country of all de-
script;ons, we're of the annual value OF
1927 .694 500; these, in 1852, are estma-
ted 10 have reached the value OF 81, 1G3,-
$50 600, showing nearly ientoid increase
during the space of forty-two years. The
agricultural products for the year 1852 are
valued at S1,752,5s3, 042. The tonnage
OF the United States, of all descriptions,
which in 1910 amounted to 2,130,743
tons. had reached in 1852 TO 4,13S, 439
tons, an increase in twelve years OF a little
over 81 per cent. And yet, notwthstand-
ing this vast growth in our own merchant
marine, the entries and clearances of for
eign ships during the same pe.iod inereas-
ed over $50 per cent. The railroads Of
the county, which in l847-8 were est.
mated at $500 miles, and constructed at
an expense Of 166,000.000 Of dollars, are
set down III 1853 at 10, 800 miles, construct
ed at cost of 10000, 900 Of dollars. in
addition to about 10000 more miles in
progress. The cotton crop Of the South,
probably the most important staple of the
country, contributing more 10 the supply
of human wants, AMI entering more large
ly into commerce than any other Of our
productions, is estimated TO have increased
from 500, 600 bales in 1921 to $500, 900 IN
1852; seyeniold increase in thirty zone
years. The census value of this crop in
1S49-50 was 100000 of dollars; its
cultivation and preparation for market en-
ploy upwards OF 100000 agricultural Ia
BOXERS, and leaving out Of view its trans
portation from the interior. it furnishes
freight for 100000 tons Of American
shipping, and $4,000 seaman in the Gulf
and Atlantic coasting trade, and for $780,
600 tons and 1000 seamen for its trans
por, to Europe and elsewhere.
While upon this subject we cannot
overlook the augmentation OF our strength
for such we regard it--resulting from
our territorial expansion. The purchase
of Louisiana, the eession of FloriIa, the
annexation of Texas, the acquisition Of
New Mexico and California-by virtue Of
which last acquisition, we are now incl
dentally in possession of nearly one hun
fred aud thirty millions Of dollars in specie
mara thnn IN 1S46-hayc vastly more than