The Republican. [volume] (Maryville, Tenn.) 187?-187?, 1873-12-06
Our Future Wealth.

That our country is eventually to
take the lead of all the world in wealth,
must be plain to any one who fairly
estimates of her as yet undevelOped re-
sources.
Since steam has been applied to COM
merce and manufactures, the produc-
tive coal fields of Great Britain have
been her chief source of strength.
These cOal-fields have been worked for
d great number OF years, and many of
them show symptoms of exhaustion.
They are, moreover, insignificant IN
extent, as compared with what this
country possesses. The aggregate area
of the coal fields of Great Britain and
Ireland Is, at most, but $4,000 square
miles, while that of the United States
is at least 1876, 600 square miles. The
coal area of Canada, mostly in Nova
Scotia, is put down at Is square miles.
If the quantity of coal IN each given
acre be about the same, then Nova
Scotia is richer IN coal than Great
Britain ever was, and the United States
Is more than sixteen times as rich. In
fact, according to elaborate estimates
made by Prof. Rogers, the whole of
Europe y5,,tIUeIus iJu0 -0Tse-s-yslfth fI1e
quantity of coal which exists in this
titv IN the British Islands is estimated
at 100, 900 millions of tons, while that of
France and Belgium is set down at 95,-
600 millions.
Coal and iron go together. One Is,
as it were. a factor to the other without
iron, coal would lose a large portion Of
its value without coal iron ore would
be comparatively worthless. Though
unlike they are still nearly related IN
their range of uses. The iron engine Is
rendered serviceable through the power
which coal supplies, and the iron horse
and iron ship are propelled through the
/ force which it develops.
The rich distribution of iron ores III
/ close proximity to all our gteat coal
+ measures is a prophetic indication OF
our future wealth. All history shows
/ that wealth and population gravitate
toward centres enriched by the valued
/ presence of coal and iron. No other
country is rs well supplied as the United
+ States in these twin agencies of wealth,
power, and population, consequently nc
other country viii be as wealthy, as
p0pulous, and as powerful.
Our largest coal field is that know
as the "Great Appalachian. Passing
through Western Virginia, Eastern Ken
tuckv, aud Eastern Tennessee, it ter
inmates in Alabama, ~ here it makes 1T
nearest approach to gulf and Oceal
waters. As yet this great field is com
paratively untouched; but it is nov
attracting attention, and several bias
furnaces for the production of irol
have already been established, not Onl
ON the line of the Chesapeake and OH
railroad, but in Alabama, toward tn
fields most southern extremity.
When the south is supplied wit
transportation facilities equal to thos
now existing in Pennsylvania, the Goa
and iron trade of Alabama will be
power in this southern land, greatl
exceeding that which the coal and iro
, Of the keystone state are to-day in tn
: land of Penn The field is in ever
respect an inviting one. With a genia
! healthy climate, a generous soil, an
UNPARALLELED facilities for the prOdu
7 tion Of iron and other valuable mineral
, Alabama must soon command the after
ton she deserves. New Birmingham
. and Shenields will soon spring up Will
= in her borders, and new Manchester
, also. for she has all the raw material I
. command which has built up England
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