The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-23
THE DAILY BULLETIN.
A Wonderful Country

a WONDERFUL oOuntry
Al the first annual meeting Of the
American Society Of Mechanical Engi-
neers in New York. Professor Thurston
delivered the address.
much he said remains TO be done
hy the General Government in tho
development Of the resources OF this
country. The new organization OF the
geological survey is such in form and
in the character of its administration
that we hope 10 see the work OF dcterm-
ming the value of our mineral resources
done with maximum rapldity and
efficiency. In tracing the progress IN
the various departments of American
enterprise he said that ninety-nine years
ago Samuel A Slater started the first
successful cotton spinning mill at
Pawtucket, r. |. To-day we raise
1900, 200, 600 pounds of cotton to supply
mills in nearly every New England
State and in nearly every other State in
the Union, which manufacture $780,
600, 900 worth of goods.
From the day in 1894 when the first
rude wooden mill was established at
Newbury, Mass, our wooden manufactu-
res have grown in extent and in excel
lence of product, until to-day our 12,-
600 or Is, 600 sets of machinery, hand
led BY nearly 100000 Of the most skillful
operatives TO be found in the world,
produce SO, 100000 worth Of goods,
which, in point of chcapness and excel
lence, compete with the best work in
Europe.
I'VE have seen the silk manufacture,
after struggling with difficulties of every
imaginable sort for half century,
finally secure II foothold and enter upon
a period of prosperity which is as
marvellous as it is encouraging. The
enterprise of the Cheneys during the
past generation, and the steady persist
ence of the Paterson, n. j., manufac-
turers, have borne fruit in the erection
of $50 mills, with production OF $50
100000 worth of silk goods, which in
strength and durability excel, and in
beauty are fully equal to the finest pro-
ducts of its French competitors at
Lyons.
.'In the manufacture of iron and steel
the story is the same. We have furna-
ces which are supplied with every
variety ofthe best ores, and we are max
ing 1000 900 tons of pig iron per annum.
Our people consume our whole pro
duct, and that is nearly ID per cent, OF
all the iron used in the world. OF our
enormous coal yield, j0,000,000 tons
year, large fraction is consumed in
making and working this iron, ! 100000
or more tons of which goes to market
as wrought iron, in a thousand different
shapes.
THE growth of our Bessemer steel
production is even more marvellous.
Twenty years ago this wonderful illus
tration of the marvels of chemical
science was looked upon as merely an
interesting and curious process, of no
immediate value and of most uncertain
promise. To-day single establishment
is making 100000 tons a year.
The United States is looked upon as
the home of all ingenious and effective
labor-saving devices. The Corliss
engine has revolutiOnized the steam
engine manufacture of the world. The
class of men from whose ranks the
members of this society are principally
drawn direct and labors of nearly
100000 of working people in third
of million mills, are responsible for
the preservation and profitable utiliza-
ton of S2,500,000,000 worth of capital
direct; the payment of $1,000, 100000
of wages the consumption of $1,000
100000 worth of raw materials, and
the output of $50 0,0O0000 worth of
manufactured articles. Fifty thousand
steam engines and more than an equal
number of water wheels turn the ma
chincry of the hundreds of thousands
of workshops throughout the country"