Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1875-12-16

NAL year of our National existence
as free and independent people, it af-
fords me great pleasure to recur to
the advancement that has been made
from the time Of the colonies, one
hundred years ago.
REVIEW.
We were then people numbering
only 100000, now we number more
than 100000. Then industries
were confined almost exclusively to
the tillage of the soil, now manufac-
lures absorb much of the labor OF
the country. Our liberties remain
unimpaired. The bondsmen have
been freed from slavery. We have
become possessed of the respect, ii
not friendship of all civilized nations.
Our progress has been great in all
the arts, in science, commerce, navl-
CATION, mining, mechanics, law, medi-
cine, etc, and in general education
the progress is likewise encouraging.
Our thirteen States have become
thirty-eight, including Colorado,
which has taken steps to become 4
State, and eight Territories, inclu-
ding the Indian Territory and Alas
ka, and excluding Colorado, making
territory extending from the Allan
! tic tethe Pacific. On the South we
have extended to the Gulf Of Mexi-
On and in the West from the Missis
sippi to the Pacific.
1776.
One hundred years ago the cotton
gin, the steamship, the railroad, the
telegraph, the reaping, sewing, and
modern printing machines, and nu'
merous other inventions of scarcely
less value to our business and happi-
ness, were entirely unknown. In
1776, manufactures scarcely existed,
even in name, in all the vast terri
tory.
In 1870, more than two million per
sons were employed in manufactures,
producing more than $2,l0O,OOO,OO
of produce, an amount annually
nearly equal to our National debt.
From nearly the whole of the pOpula-
ton of l776 being engaged in the oc'
cupation of agriculture, in 1870 so
numerous and diversified had become
the occupations of our people that
less than 6,000,000out of more than
4O,000,000 were so engaged.
THE GROWTH OF THE CENTURY.
The extraordinary effect produced
in our country by resort to such oc-
cupations has built market for the
products of fertile lands, distant from
the seaboard, and the markets of the
world. The American system oil
working various and extensive manu-
factories, next to the plOw and the
pasture, and adding the connecting
railroads and steamboats,, has pro
duced in our distant country result
not equalled by the intelligent parts
of other nations. The ingenuity and
skill of American mechanics have
been demonstrated at home and
abroad in a manner most fiattering to
their pride. But for the extraordi-
nary genius and ability of our me-
chanics the achievements of our ag-
riculturists, manufacturers and trans
porters throughout the country would
have been impossible of attainment.
The progress of the miner has also
been great. OF coal our production
was small, now many millions of tons
are mined annually. So with iron,
which formed scarcely an apprecia-
BILE part of our products half a cen
tury ago; we now produce more than
the world consumed at the beginning
of our national existence. Lead,
zinc, and copper, from being articles oi
import, we may expect to be large ex-
porters of in the near future. The
development of gold and silver mines
throughout the States and Terrific
i ries has not only been remarkable
but has had a large influence upon
the business of all commercial ma
tions. Our merchants in the last
hundred years have had success,
and have established a reputation fol
enterprise, sagacity, progress, and in,
. tegrity unsurpassed by people o'
older nationalities. Their good name
is not confined to their homes Dn'
goes out on every sea, and into every
port where commerce enters. WIN
equal pride we can point to our pro
gress in all of the learned proies
-sions. AS we are now ABOUT 70 en'el
upon our second Centennial, com, J.
mencing our manhood as a nation y
is well to look back upon the past
and study what will be best to pre-
serve and advance our future great
ness.
DUrIEs OF THE PEOPLE.
i From the fall of Adam for hi