The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-10-18
What the Future Promises.

York Times of 2 recent date sserta-
ton on the extraordinary growth and
prosperity of the country in the. last
decade, which, says the shoe and Leather
Reporter, sis so replete with interesting
ia Is that we reproduce 1t entire. There
is not a word in it that will bear omis-
sion. The last sentence in it embraces
all the comment we see any need OF
making upon it. The picture is not
highly over-colored, and the conclusions
we draw from it are that the future
promise s prosperity ~:
In the ominous predictions that are
being made about the evil effects of the
| recent panic and the constant illusions
TO the panic of 1873, with its years of
subsequent depression, no attempt is
made TO compare the general condition
OF the country at each of these two
periods. The last decade has added an
enormous amount of wealth. popula-
tion and development to this country
az glance al few statistics will show.
To go into comparison of imports and
exports, the increase of trafhc with
foreign countries, the immigration and
| its benefits to business interests, etc,
would require great deal of space and
tiresome detail. A few facts relating to
the chief points that show the growth
and prosperity OF the country between
1873 and 1884 will suffice. In the first
place, the population has increased
from 38,500.OO0 in 1870 to so, 155, 900
in 1880, by last Official census, and
is now probably not less than &c.
tude of our crops. The wheat crop
of 1873, which was the largest ever
raised up to that time, was rs, 100000
bushels. This year the wheat crop will
| probably reach 550,000,000 bushels.
The corn crop of 1873 was 932, 100000
bushels. This year we may expect from
| 1900, 100000 to 1000, 100000 bushels.
The oat crop of 1873 was 100000, 900
bushels. In 1883 it was 571, 200, 900
bushels, and in 1884 will probably be
over 600, 900, 900 bushels. The newspa-
pers have been crying out that England
| would not take our wheat at the high
prices at which it was held, but in the
past nine weeks we have exported 49,
100000 bushels against the same period
last year, when we exported IL, 200, 600
bushels. This, in connection with other
facts, leads to the conclusion that we
shall soon be in receipt of very large
Importation of gold.
The earnings of the Western roads
have more than doubled in the last ten
years. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
showed earnings as follows: 1873,
$11, 400,0 600; 1888, $26, 100, 900. Chi
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul-1873, So
| 600, COO; 1883, 1928, 600. 900. Chicago &
Notwithstanding, $12, zoo, 900; 1888,
1924, 900, 900. Union Pacific-1873, S10,-
| 100000; 1883, $21, 100000. Rock Island
-1S73, Sc, 49, 900; 1888, $12, 1S9, 100.
OF course, these roads have increased
their mileage and their capital stock.
The total mileage in the United
State1 was, in 1873, 70,65O miles; in
1883, 12l ,480 miles. With the increase
of railroad mileage comes the extension
of the telegraph.
The growth of the Western Union
Telegraph Company in the past ten
ports. is an evidence of the rapid in
crease Of business during that period.
This company had in 1873, la, 900 miles
oil wire; 1883, $4,000 miles of wire,
showing an average annual increase of
27,00J miles of wire. Their earnings
were in 1873, SO, 300, 900; in 1883, S19,-
400, 900, an increase of over 100 per
cent The number of messages sent
were in 1873, Ia, 400, 900; in 1888, H.
300, 900. The number of employees was
in 1873. 10000; in 1853, 1900. The
increase in earnings has been in the
face OF a reduction of rates from "a
cents in 1873 to SO cents in 1888. The
consolidated opposition telegraph COM
panies claim to have 65,0UO miles OF
wire and 900 offices. Twenty-Five years
ago day message from New York to
Chicago of ten words, on the produce
market, cost $40; to day single
message OF twenty words can be sent
over the same distance for twenty-five
cents.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company
in 1873 did not absolutely own one iron
steamer. Gu of their earnings in the
past ten years they have paid for 10
iron steamships, have million dollars
in their treasury, and are now paying a
quarterly dividend at the rate OF i've
per cent. per annum.
The anthracite coal trade, was, in
1873, 81 ,220,000 tons; in 1883, $780,
600 tons, an increase of over 10, 900, 900
tons. The pro luction of petroleum
was, in 1873, 1S7,S15,00O gallons; in
1888, 500, 931, 900 gallons.
A few facts relating to the largest
cities East and West will serve as an
indication of the growth and progress
of the whole country. In New York
the perfect system of elevated railroads
has grown from "one-legged" road
to four double-track fully-equiped
+kn To- - A.
haitian Island. The number of passen-
gers carried was, in 1873, GA, 900; in
1888. 92,000,000. The earnings have
increased as follows: In 1873, $64, 900;
in 1888, $6,000,O00.
The telephone and electric light have
been introduced within the last ten
years, and the gold and stock telegraph
is but few years older.
Numbers of very costly buildings
have ben added to the city, notably the
Produce Exchange, costing over S.
100000; the Mills Building, costing
$780, 900; the Mutual Life Insurance
Building, costing about 2,0O0,O 900; the
Washington Building, costing about
81, 900, 900.
The Brooklyn Bridge has also been
built, at cost of $14, 800, 900, and has
proved as useful in the transfer of pas
sengers and merchandise between the
two cities as have the Elevated Roads
in city travel. yet the ferry-boats are
more crowded than before the bridge
was built-just as the surlace-roads Of
New York City carry as many passen-
gers as before the elevated lines were
erected.
The population of Chicago has in
creased from 364,00 in 1878 to $50, 900
in 1884. 1t has become the grain CEN
ter of the world, and the cattle and hog
market of the country. In 1873 the