Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-02-21

The measure of the amount of the
virgin lands brought under cultivation
can be arrived at with sufficient accuracy
by taking che cash sales of public lands,
and the number of land warrants located,
amounting during the last fiscal year to
1l7,6Oo,OOO acres--equal to the united
territories of Belgium and Holland or
tour times the area of Massachusetts,. In
addition to these large transfers of land,
Congress has ceded during the year, to
railroads or to States which will probably
hereafter make similar disposition of a
part of them, about 81, 100000 acres
making the total sales and grants of lands
in single year, 3o,3o0O00 acres, equal
to the extent of Virginia, or about third
of the area Of France. Notwithstanding
the heavy draughts made for SO many
years upon the federal domain, the public
lands yet remaining unsold are equal in
extent to tie Miny-one eristing States,
which is more than the whole of Europe.
Russia excepted. AS TO the agricultural
and industrial production, it has been
fprodigious, and has kept pace with the
progress exhibited by other branches of
business. 1t is not practicable to deter
mine It's numerical value; but we may,
however, accept rs approximate, the es-
Inmates OF the Secretary of the Treasury,
based upon the copious details touching
| the subject set forth in The census returns
of 1910 and 1859. He comes to the con-
elusion that the total production of the
country amounted last year to $780, :
900, 900, or three times whas il was ff-
teen years ago.
The Secretary of tie Treasury of the
United States has given table of the
aggregate wealth of The United States
showing total of sl1 3l7 900. 900. ex-
elusive Of tie public domain; his esti-
mate of the present population is 26, 964, :
312.
! The number of miles of railroads in
operation, which was 2l ,C69 at the close
of 1855, is now 24,476, making 3, 4o7
miles increase in the year The electro
Telegraph, which, in connection with the
railroad system, contributes so greatly to
lessen the loss of interest on capital. ana
to give increased anai-:--- 'rsseT''ss-'-' =
obiiteralin9 the. great distance which
characterizes this country. and which
enly. few years ago was unknown, now
extends ia all directions like vast net
work over the face of The Union. We
have no recent Information in regard 10
the length of the telegraph wires in op-
Grafton, but Messrs. Marie d. Kanz esr-
mate it at between 10000 and 10000
miles. The Atlantic telegraph is now
under way, and during the present year
/ America will hold unbroken converse
with Europe. The hazards which hang
upon the foreign markets, and which
give so much the character of gambling
to our domestic markets, will then 10 a
| great cease the state of the Liv
cipool or London Markets in the morn
ing will be known at night in New York
OF even New Orleans. Great moral as
well as business advantages will be the
result.
i The merchant navy has also made
/ great progress, the new constructions
comprising 22l steamers and 1873 sail
4 ing vessels, giving an aggregate tonnage
of 46o,394 tons. England still claims
the honor of being "misTcss" of the
seas; we can well accord her the tile, bui
can claim ourselves, meanwhile, the dis
tinction Of being master" of them. Our
mercantile marine surpasses hers in ton
age. Her navy gives her pre-eminence,
but it is a pre-eminence of hard necessity
the necessity of defending her mer-
camille marine and its colonial resources
against her foes. As We need no such
gigantic defense, we may we'll rejoice in
It's non-existence rs an evidence of su-
.tperior advantage. The time may come,
we hope, in which the naval shipping o.
both, and Of all lands, will be modified
by the pacific and practical sentiments o.
the times; when, in other words, they
shall be utilized" to use a word hap
i PLY becoming common in the discussion
of this subject. Ii their construction
and management could be such as to ad
nit OF their being used in time of peace
for the transportation of merchandise OF
i emigrants, what economy would It intro
i duce into the finances OF mercantile ma.
Il lions The government contracts with
Atlantic packet steamers are, We hope
IaheF beginning of such revolution
Greater thanai financial results would b,
4 the morol advantages of such a change
The intercourse. of nations would become