The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-09-20
The Destiny OF our CoulRR-
HrY,

IN 81
The following statistics, extracted
from the Boston Post, present, in a
compact and compendious form, the
astonishing extent Of our country, its
boundless resources, and its wonderful
development. In view Of our recen,
origin and unparalleled advancement
i'll all that constitutes national great.
ness, it is not wonderful that the ma.
tions of Europe, that for long time
looked upon us with Indifference or
disdan, should now regard us as the
great and growing Power Of the
World. Who, save omnipotcncc, can
limit us, and who, save omniscicnce,
can tell the surprising grandeur of our
dcstiny-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 Terri
tories, and District Of Columbia, com
prising the United States Of America,
are situated within the parallels of 10
deg, east longitude and 4S min, west
of the meridian OF Washington, and
extending on the Atlantic coast from
% deg, and OH the Pacific coast from
81 deg, to 40 deg, Of north latitude,
and contains ii geographical are;. oi'
3,3O6,9GJ square mites, being one
tenth less than the entire continent of
Europe. They contain population
at the present time Of 25,00O,OO0, of
whom 2i,000,000 are whites. The
extent OF its sea.coast, exclusive Of is.
lands to the head Of tide water, is H.
6G9 miles. The length of ten of it's
principal rivers is 10000 miles. The
surface ofits five great lakes is 10000
miles. The number of miles of rail.
ways in operation within its limits is
10000, constructed at cost Of $780,.
000,Q The length Of its canals is
5000 miles. 1t contains within its lin
its the longest railway upon tho surface
OF the globe-the Illinois Central
which is 73f miles.
" the annual value OF its agricultur-
al productions is S2,O0O,OOO,OOO. It's
most valuable product is Indian corn,
which yields annually 4O0,OOOOOO;
and in surveying the agricultural pro.
ductlons OF our country, We are not
only struck with their abundance, but
with their great variety. Our terrific.
ry extends from the trigid region Of
the north to the genial climate of the
tropics, anording almost every variety
OF temperature and every kind Of grain
and vegetables. 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 oil in sufficient guam
titles to supply our domestic consump.
ton, and furnish large supplies for
expectation, thus furnishing nearly all
the value rs well as the bulk of our
foreign commerce.; suggesting thereby
the irresistible conclusion that agri-
culture is the great transcendant inter
est OF our country, and upon which
all other interests depend.
"Ihe amount of registered and en-.
rolled tonnage is 4,407 ,OlO tons. The
amount of capital invested in manu-
tactures is $6O0,OO9,O00. The amount
Of its foreign imports in 1853 was
s26G,97S,647, and the exports $780,.
976,,57. The annual amoant of it's
internal trade is $6,0OO,OOO,OOO. The
annual value of the products Of labor
(other than agricuIturaD is 81 100000.
The annual value Of the incomes
of its inhabitants is 81 100000, 0,OOO.-
The value of its farms and live stock
is S5,0O0,000,000. Its mi les of gold,
copper, lend, and iron are among the
richest in the world. The value Of the
gold produced in California is $4,000.
600 per annum. The surface OF its
corn fields is l32,l32 square miles,
Its receipts from customs, lands, &c, in
1858. was SOL 1877 ,274, and its expcn-
ditures $43,543,263. It's national do.
main consists Of 2,l74,lsS square
miles of land. Its national debt is but
S5O,OO0,0O0. The number of its banks
at the present time is about l,lOO,
with capital of s3,O0O.0OO,OOO.-
Within her borders are 8 900 schools.
G,060 academies, 234 colleges, and
$500 churches. Only one in twenty.
two of its white nhabitats is unable to
read and write, and nineteen Of its
twenty-one million of its white inhabi.
tunts arc native born"