The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-05
From the Albany Journal, June 81.
AN INTERESTING LESSON IN AMERICAN
GEOGRAPHY

These, the three sources of National power,
and the rules which govern their increase are
what the census was instituted to ascertain. 1t
is little singular that in the comprehensive
and compendious 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 a correspondent of the National
Intelligencer has undertaken the task. In a
long table of figures taken from the census re-
port, he arrives at the following results, which,
although they are as precise and certain as any
other sum in arithmetic, large part of the
people of the Union steadfastly deny or pur.
posels ignore.
A traveller who should set out at the Texan
frontier, or anywhese else on the southwestern
side of the National domain, and journey
towards the North and East, would meet on his
road the following facts, one after another, in
as regular succession as the steps of ladder ::
/. Farms regularly diminish in size and
increase in number as we proceed from South
to North and East.
2. The proportion of improved land steadily
increases and that of unimproved land steadily
diminishes, irrespective of the density of popu-
lation, as we proceed from South to North and
East.
g. The cash value of farms, both in the az
gregate and in the price per acre, regularly in
creases as we proceed from South to North and
East
f. The production of corn and wheat regu.
larly and steadily increases, without an excep-
ton, as we proceed from South to North and
East.
5. The productive industry of the people,
both in the aggregate and as individuals, regu-
larry increases as we proceed from South to
North and East.
creases as we proceed from South to North and
East.
Z. The rate of increase of population regu.
larry increases as we proceed from South to
North and East.
8. The number of manufactures regularly
increases as we proceed from South to North
and East.
9. The amount of shipping regularly in.
creases as we proceed from South to North and
East.
10. The amount of capital regularly in.
creases as we proceed from South to North and
East.
IL. The number of railroads regularly in.
creases as we proceed from South to North and
East.
II. The number of canals and post roads
regularly increases as we proceed from South
to North and East.
IL. The number of telegraphs and telegraph
stations regularly increases as we proceed from
South to North and East.
IA. The number of persons who cannot read
and write steadily diminishes, and that of
schools and scholars regularly increases, as we
proceed from South to North and East.
Is. The number of churches, and those who
worship therein, steadily increases as we pro-
coed from South to North and East.
These are the facts shown BY the unerrine
figures of the census. They do not depend
upon the comparative age, nor upon the fertility
of the States; for whether we proceed from the
older to the newer, or from the newer to the
older, from the fertile to the sterile or the
sterile to the fertile, the result is Just the same
This constant order of succession would