New-York tribune., 1867-02-21
THE PARIS EXHIBITION.

Is INFLUENCE on EMIGRATION AND THE PUBLIC
cRFDIT-A LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR, by SAMUEL II. RUGGIEs, COMMISSIONER
OF THE UNITED STATES.
EEw-YORK. Feb. 7. 1867.
SIX: In recent interview l had the honor TO pre-
sent verbally To your consideration the Importance OF
STRENGTHENING the Commissioners of tho United States TO
the Universal Exposition" at Paris By such documents
official statements and maps, duly authenticated by the
Department Of the Interior might fully exhibit the
magnitude and extent OF our physical resources.
Pursuant to your request reduce 10 written form the
views then expressed respectfully claim IN behalf
OF myself and my colleagues in the Commission:
First That the due exhibition 10 the nations Of the
civilized world Of the principal material elements Of our
national wealth and strength, must inevitably elevate
our national credit Among those elements stand pre-.
eminent cereal and mineral products. In the
comparison which viii be made IN the coming cOncourse
Of naOns Of the cereal and metallic strength OF the d
forcnt portions Of the world the United States be
placed in the foremost rank With such prominence
clearly established the question must immediately pre-
sent itself EurOpc Why should the United States pos
sessng material resources so abundant and uneNamped
pay from TO per cent for money which smaller and
feChler nations readily borrow at even per cent
| In the coming Exhibition, we can show 10 Europe q
yearly cereal product already exceeding l,HO,OJOO0
bushels vived and set in motion by yearly product Of
gold aud silver little short OF NOOW1OO and destined
10 large and rapid increase on the completion OF the great
interior railways directly connecting the mining districts
with the oveIfOwing granaifes IN the Mississippi Valley
Must not such exhibition made palpabo TO the vision
u
value OF the bonds which we must shortly negotiate 20
meet or lessen our national indehtedneSsf with the
inventory Of assets thus unrOlled, Will London or
Paris Amsterdam, Frankfort hesitate 10 trust
VIII not the sagacOus capitalists o the 0lder world. 81
by age, prefer 20 lend their money 10 nation Of
the newer world. 80 young 80 vigorous. 80 rapidly
grOWlngt
ant result TO be attained by the proposed exhibition
These visible evidences Of food and mineral wealth
officially shown 10 be scattered broadcast through the
continent-wH all be kept months. prominent
and conspicuous in the "Paace," living witnesses to
be daily examined by the European world
The story they will tell will hc repeated from mouth 10
month from the Atlantic 10 the VOga Penetrating the
feach ana 10 animate the overWorked uhI'llcu HnlnS
millions longing for country offering such refuge from
pecunlary and political effects of such exhibition. IN
swelling that vast and "soemn stream" Of emigration
which has been flowing for the last forty years In such
ample volumes from the old world to the new Z
The present population Of Europe is about 9oOOoOO
having slowly but steadily increased since the general
peace OF 1875 The yearly rate 0 increase IN France h'
been little than half OF par cent IN Prussia
two per cent. The annual increase in the whole
Of Europe, may therefore he assumed 20 he from one
bers the existing population OF 2JOOO0OcO. about
100000 annually From this number Europe can easily
spare, and the American Union easily take, at
least 100000 yearly. In the 40 years from 1920 TO 1860
we took from Europe 4,5l2,l7l cIigpns. The number
in the year 1866 just closed, falls little short Ol
275OOO a majority OF whom Germans. Az the pres
rate shall receive 5OOO in the next 20 years
surely Is among the Irayes Of the political problems Of
the present century, ana shOIid ne anOng me mghes!
aims Of American craftsmanship TO accelerate. and vet
egCnces, this mighty movement OF the population Oi
Europe into our broad continental Republic.
This immense but peaceful exodus OF civilized men al
ready operating scale vast and 10 far transcend
ing any past example in human history, furnishes In
truth cardinal II not the dominant fact for estimating
not only prospective growth but the future compare
tive rank Of The two wOrdsbringng within the reach
mathematical demonstration the epoch when the power
Of the Western Continent fiscal and POLITICAL must fully
equal that Of the Eastern. The coming cOncOurse NJ
Paris of the civilized nations from both hemsphercs will
furnish opportunity not soon again TO be enjoyed fOr
the proper comprehension and discussion OF such
ton On the part OF the United States IL cannot be ade
quatey presented without full and accurate maps OF
unoocuped territory open to the European world
embracing nearly 2O0OO Of square miles. accompanied
by official statements Of the natural products In the DIFF
ferent portions, with documents authenticity showing
the progress and present condtOn OF continental ra
ways and other OF interchange between the grand
divisions Of the Republic from ocean TO ocean
From this official Information, duly certified the un
deTsigned in behalf Of himself and his colleagues now
respectfully applies TO the enlightened head Of the De
partmcnt Of the Interior, and to the various bureauX
under his direction being specially charged with tho
cBrc OF the public domain and the material statistics OF
the United States.
With high respect, your obcdient servant,
SAMUEL H. RUGOLEs,
Commissioner OF the United States for the Paris ExpOs
ton, For himself and Colleagues.
To the Honorable Oryile H. Browning Secretary OF the
Interior, etc, etc, etc.