The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1855-07-11
An interesting Lesson in American
Geography.


The three sources of national power,
and the rules which govern their in.
crease, are what the census was insti.
tuted to ascertain. IT is little singular
that in the comprehensive and compen-
dious volume issued by the United States
Government last year, there is no state
ment showing the comparative rapidity
with which each is advancing, in each of
the several States.
From the figures therein contained,
however, it is not difficult to frame such
a statement. We observe q correspon-
dent of the National Intelligencer has
undertaken the task. In long table of
figures taken from the census report. lie
arrives at the following results which.
although they are as precise and certnio
as any other sum in arithmetic, large
part Of the people Of the Union stead,
fasily deny or purposely ignore.
a traveller who should set out ot the
Texas frontier, or anywhere else on the
southwestern side Of the national do.
main. and journey towards the North
and East, would meet on his road tho
following facts. one after another, in as
regular succession as tho stcrs of lad
der
l. Farms regularly diminish in size
and increase in number as we proceed
from South to North and East.
9 The proportion of improved land
steadily dimiuishes, irrespective of the
density Of population, as we proceed from
South to North aud East
>. The cash value Of farms, both in
the aggregate and in the price per acre,
regularly increases as we proceed from
South to North and East.
4. The production Of corn and wheat
regularly and steadily increases, without
an exception, as we proceed from South
to North and East
5. The productive industry ofihc pco-
pie both in the aggregate and in iudivid-
uals regularly increases MS we proceed
from South to North aud East
6. The density Of population regularly
North and East.
7 The rate Of increase of population
regularly increases as we proceed from
South to North and East
6 The number Of manufactures reg
ularly increases as We proceed from
South to North and East.
Q The amount of shipping regularly
increases as We prcccol from South to
North and East.
10. The amount Of capital regularly
increases as we proceed from South to
North and East
|. The number of railroads regular
ly increases as We proceed from South to
North aud East.
II. The nuuGcr Of canals and post
roads regularly increases as We proceed
from South to North and East.
l3 The number photographs and tel
egraph stations regularly increases as We
proceed from South to North and East.
IA. The number Of persons who can.
not read and write steadily dimiuishcs,
and that of schools and scholars regular
ly increases, as We proceed from South
to North and East
Is The number OF churches, and
those who worship therein, steadily in.
creases as We proceed from South to
North and East -
These are the facts shown by ihs un.
erring figures of the census. They do
not depend upon the comparoiito age.
nor upon the fertility of the States, for
whether we proceed from the older to
the newer. or from tho newer to the old.
er-froin tho fertile to the sterile, or the
sterile to the fertile, the result is just
the same
This constant order Of succession
would seem to indicate some fixed law
or constantly operating cause But
what that law or cause may be- the cen,
sus does not state Neither does the In.
telligoncer. Neither do we. But we
think it is written plainly enough, and
that too in black and white all over
tho face Of this broad continent. Al
JaHy Journal.