The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-12-01
THEN AND NOW.

Five and thirty years since, New
York suffered by q con1lagration then
estimated as having cost her little less
than SAC, 100000. Now, Chicago has
suffered under similar visitation, 20
the extent, as at present estimated, of
$3.50, 100000. ..-
Then, there was decided tendency
toward the creation OF q panic, but q
few kind words from the President OF
the United States Bank, combined with
little judicious assistance, did much
toward casting oil on the troubled wa
ters, and at the close of very brief Pc
Rod, the matter had almost passed
from the recollection of all but the I'M
fortunate individuals on whom loss had
fallen.
Now, bears are rampant, threatening
loss and commercial trouble. and labor
ing with all their energies for the de-
struetion Of their neighbours property
thus producing q state of fear calculated
to aggrandize the few who have money
to lend, at the loss of many who have
need to borrow; and il is with q view
to q eounteFaction OF their efforts in
this direction that we here furnish q
comparative view of the condition of
the country then and now, as follows :
Then, our whole population was but
4O,OOO,ObeO1 INV 10 EOhOOO1OOOs
Then, the whole property OF the
country could not have exceeded 3d.
600, 900, 900, and it is very doubtful If it
reached even that amount. Now, 1t
exeesds' $50, 600, 900, 600; and were al
lowance made for the labor saved by
the hundreds throughout the country,
it might be set down as being ten fold
greater than in the former period.
Then, our iron product was but ESQ.,
600 tons, and our whole consumption
$50, 600 tons. Now, our production has
reached 100000 tons, and our total
consumption 100000. .~
Then, the coal mined east and west
could scarcely have exceeded 100000
tons. Now, it has grown to
nearly 100000 the application of
four-ffths of which is in the direction
of economizing human labor and Gle
waiting the labOrer.
Then, we worked up 100000 bales of
cotton. Now, we do the same by l, Co.,
600 bales, nearly the whole of which is
consumed at home by those who labor.
Then, our wooden manufacture was
confined almost entirely to the com
monest products of the loom. Now, 1t
embraces, almost every description of
goods, TO the very finest; its amount
approaching to nearly S20,000,0o0.
4A6u, IAO VI
were but poorly clothed. Now, they
are by far the best clothed population
in the world.
Then, we had 900 miles OF railroad.
Now, we have more than $4,000.
Then, the lake and river ship build
ing of the West was scarcely known.
Now. it reaches 100000 tons per an
mum. tlH
Then, we lived under the regime of
President Jackson's Western and South
ern wildcat banks, busily engaged in
contracting obligations that wore never
to be redeemed. Now, every note Of
every bank in tAe Union is gladly re-
oeived at every counter Of every chop
in every State.
Then, we mined but very little OF tho
precious metals, and our total coinage
for the year was but $1,000. Now, our
produet Of those metals is 100000
The n, our banks were pretending to
pay speciei doing this with full
knowledge that it was pretense and
more, and that a foreign de-
mand might at any moment cause them
to fall Of payment. Now, our CONNER
cial system is based on greenbacks, not
likely to be withdrawn or reduced In
quantity, and always availablefor every
commercial purpose.
Then, those who desired to replace
their commodities and machines de-
stroyed were in q great measure com
PEELED to look abroad, thereby adding
to the demand for those precious met
ais of which so small q Quantity could
be found in the vaults OF the banks.
Now, nearly all of these supplies are 20
be obtained at home, making large de-
mands on our mills and workshops,
and giving to our own labor the en-
ployment which before had been given
to that OF England. -
Then, the blow was struck at the
heart of the commercial tree, and its
effect was felt in every village, town
and city of the Union. Now, it is bnt
q branch that has been affected, leaving
nine-tenths of the body almost as it has
stood before.
Then, insurance as now carried on,
was scarcely known, as a consequence
of which an immense proportion of the
loss was to be borne by New York her.
self. Now, it is so scattered from Lon
don to San Francisco as to cause the
weight in any individual quarter to be
comparatively light.
Then, our customs revenue was but
$50, 100000, or half the loss by the New
York fire. Now, it exceeds 100000
900. or third more than the now est
mated loss by the Chicago fire.
Then, we had just entered upon the
free trade policy, which brought such
speedy bankruptcy in 1887, and such
utter ruin in 1S40-42. Now, we yet re-
tain the protective system, under which
the reward of labor has doubled; and
by means of which we have been saved
from financial crisis like the free trade
ones of 1918, "a, 81, AZ, '57 and go.
Let those, then, who fear crisis, rec
ollect that nothing of the kind has ever
yet occurred in the periods of protec-
ton. Letthem next study the remark
able facts above presented, and then
determine for themselves if the New
York fire, from which the country so
promptly recovered, had not, when
compared with our commerce and our
means, an Importance almost ten fold
greater than that of the unfortunate &C.
currence of the fortnight that has just
passed. Let them do these things, let
thems reflect coolly and calmly on the
situation, and the day of triumph for
panic makers will soon have passed
away.-PhIddelg'hia North american.