The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-03-14
Surprisiug Growth.

The report of the census commissioner on
manufactures shows that the growth of man.
utactures in this country the past twenty
years is unparalleled in modern history and
presents facts that will surprise those who
have considered themselves to be well con-
versant with the industry of the nation.
The manufacturing interests of the country
having nearly doubled their products from
1850 to 1860, have much more than doubled
the same from 1860 to 1870 Some idea NAV
be obtained from the statistics furnished NV
three States. In 1850, the products of the
various manufacturing interests in New York
amounted to S237, 100000; in 1860, it reached
SoI9'ooo,OoO; and in 1870, the value is put at
Sto5,OO0 600. In Pennsylvania for these re-
spectlve dates the value of manufactured pro-
ducts was S155,O00,OOO; s29O,0OO,o0o and
100000, and in Massachusetts, s158,OOO,-
900, 1856, 100000, and 100000. Rhode
Island has multiplied its annual product hve
times in twenty years. The products OF
Maine in 1850 were s24,e61, o57; i'll 1860,
| S3S, 1913, 254 !; ia 1870, $40, 407,52l.
Nor has this increase been confined to the
eastern and middle States. These have made
the greatest actual increase but by far the
| largest proportional increase has been made
nv the new States and in the South. 1t will
he horne in mind that this census was taken
in 1870 since which time manufacturing has
been increasing in the south with remarkable
energy SO that the showing of to-day will be
still more marked.
The Journal of Commerce, journal that
is not accustomed to take rose colored views
IMPRACTICAL matters, comments upon the fig
ures presented by the report as follows:
Nothing more forcibly exhibits their rapid
lty OF growth i'll population and all that makes
up civilized communities tnan the astounding
leaps which those States 1.-THE Northwest have
taken in the manufacturing line in the past
ten years. Iowa mounts up from $14, 900 600 to
100000; Michigan from 1872, 900, 900 t. $118,-
100000; Minnesota from $4,000, 900 to $23, 000,-
600; Indiana from $40, 00O,0 900 to $108, 000, O00
Illinois from $57 oo0, 600 to $2o5, 200; Mis-
souri, frsm Sal 900, 600 to $206 900 000 ana Ohio
from $121 100000 to $269,000,00O. The entire
West-as well as the North--tells but the same
story of enormous gains in the value Of manu-
featured products in the past decade And all
these figures, as foot note apprizes us, do not
tries of the country. For in the tables for 1850
and 1860 the statistics for mining, quarrying
and fishing are included, whereas they do not
appear IN those for 1870. With this explana-
ton the gains which we have pointed out be-
come still more astonishing. Under fully
restored union and fraternity, and a reformed
government wise Just and economical, who can
forecast the wonderful future of prosperity in
store for the United States!'
The Boston Advertiser says that these Gre
suits are not to be explained on the atheists
theory of chance nor are they altogether the
fruit of the boundless resources of the coun-
try. They are the logical and natural OUT
growth of the commercial policy pursued by
our government during greater part of the
period covered by them, and are trium-
plant justification Of the wisdom ofthat pol
low