The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1882-09-28
NINETY YEARS, Peoeeess

NINETY vEAkS' P6000e9S.
IL Mr.. Francis A. Walker has not
succeeded i'm giving the people his
bound volumes Of census investiga-
tons. he has nj least presented an ex-
cellent general view of his work In the
last number of the Century Ad0n.ine.
He has traced in q remarkably inter.
esting manner the territorial and pop-
ulatiOn growth of the United States
since 1870. Ninety-two years II q con-
siderable time in the life Of individu-
ais, but in national history II is q mere
speck. Taking the space of time into
consideration the result accomplished
in American development are startling
in their vastness.
Starting with q strip Of territory In
cluded by seventeen degrees Of lati-
tude. and extending to the Mississippi
river the republic contained In 1870,
$50. 900 square miles with population
Of 3.9a9.2l4. Then there were 40 in
habitants to. the square mile. The
same total would to-day furnish |. g I'm.
habitants to every square mile Of our
territory. The nation then bOasted Of
six cities having a population Of 5000
or more. Agriculture and fsheries oc-
cupied the main attention of the peO-
pie, and foreign trade was of the most
limited character. Cotton was not ex-
ported and its position "a king was not
obtained until after the invention Of
the cotton gin.
In the space Of thirty years from
1870. or at the census of 1880, Mr.
Walker takes another view Of the ma
ton. At that time the territory Of the
United States has been pushed to the
base Of the Rocky mountains and ex-
tended even to the Pacific coast on the
north. Florida has teen added to the
nation and the territory of the United
states comprises about 900 600 square
miles. The population had increase
tn 1888, SD Instead Of six cities we
now have thirteen with population
Of less than 10000 In 1890 Ii can be
said that the nation had fairly made
start. Its population was scattered
and agriculture was still the main re-
lance. Cotton had taken the front
rank i'm American industries. The
census of 1850 showed another extern
sion Of territory. out of which Texas,
California and other States have
grown. The area Of the country has
expanded to 5000. OOO square miles, and
the population has increased to . ,l67..
2'j2 In 1850 the cities are found to
number eighty-five. with an aggregate
population Of 100000. At that time
the country was entering a course Of
manufacturing and the wonderful gold
and silver developments had com.
menced.
The thirty years from 1850 to 1880
have covered the critical period in the
history Of the nation, but in srite of
the war the record of advance has been
Kept good, and the nation passes its
tenth census with an increase of terri. |
tory in Northwest and South west and |
with population of over, 80. OOO, 900 Of /
of people. In 1880 II was poor. weak |
and without influence; i'm 1870 Il was /
its boundaries, but was still |
without foreign trade or home indus
tries. In 1850 ii had consolidated its
territory and had commenced the
work ola nation. In 1880 Il has passed
all its competitors, and i'm industrial
and governmental development takes
the acknowledged lead OF all nations.
Such. in brief, is the story of m.
fional life OF about ninety years. II
attracts the attention of the world be-
cause II has no precedent in history.
To many this remarkable growth may
seem to be more the result of the nat.
lral development of a new country.
This cannot he the case. If Il were
We should find here and there q paral.
el case in the old world Mr.. Walker
accounts for our manufacturing pro-
,ress by reason of the remarkable me.
.hanical genius of our people and our
abundant stores of raw material. He
ioes not get Mt the real causes.
The people Of other nations have
nave had and now have mechanical
,enius and abundant raw material.
'ut they have not like orr people had
he free use of their genius or material,
The resources of the United States be-
ong to the people The genius that
N American citizen develops is in his
agriculture prOspered because every
erson who improved a strip of land
id it for his own benefit. The man
'ho could produce by the exercise Of
Intelligence and industry forty BUSH
Is of wheat per acre Instead of twenty
aved twenty bushels. In England
is intelligence and industry is divided
nth the landlord in the shape of in
ieuStu EtUt. 1
The same rule applies in all depart
rents Of American industry. Men
'orking for themselves develop pe.
ius. men working for themselves
iake the most Of raw material.
.nerica has more people working for
than any other nation,
lerefore her progress has been UMPIRE
.dented. The secret of the whole
hing is government. 1t is illustrated
broad and in our own country.
The New England State. founded
ne prosperity of this nation. They
ere thus successful because they
arted with free land and free men.
rec land and free men make success.
II men.
The South never knew what true
-osperity was until il commenced to
loDt the New England principle, and
hen II has entirely recovered from
e effects of the old system it will be-
II to take its place with the North,
I'd thus demonstrate that good gov
nment is as necessary IA raw mater
and genius.-Kdn,ds City Journal.
More attra iya Than tho rooas. tho