Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-09-21
A Great Country.

IN difioult to keep up in our minds
9th che gro With of wealth and popula-
tion of this great country. When the
census OF 1880 Was taken there was an
underlined idee In the mind that In
many respects the country had reached
its maximum Of rapid growth, but
recent review Of the national growth BY I,
the New York Tribune, shows that the
,sreat era Of prosperity ID still gathering
force. and the present decade will show
the most remarkable advanced in wealth
and population that has ever yet been
,ahovn. Since 1880, the population has
Increased from 90, 000. 900 TO 60,000,000,
an increase of 10, 600, 900 In six years.
NhSuld the same ratio Of increase con-
tinue the population In 1890 will be
over 70, 00e, 600 and will be ousranked
only by the British Empire, the Rus
sian Empire and France and her colo
mics, of the civilized nations OF the
globe. The increase Of population since
1880 Ia greater than Great Britain's In
GREASE In thirty years. From abroad
we have added by immigration alone q
population greater than that Of the en-
tire State Of Ohio or Illinois. Pursuing
It's Investigations farther the Tribune
shows that another nation more popu-
lous than this nation was when 1t
achieved its Independence, has been
brought 10 these shores across the sea
since the last census was taken. A
question here may casually arise. what
IL an able bodied inhabitant worth?
That depends entirely upon where bis
lot Is cast and upon the privileges he
enjoys. In some countries where be
oan get neither land nor freedom he ID
worth but little. But In this country
he produces farms, cities and railroads
wealth, more than he consumes; chil-
drep, and they in turn add to the pro
ducing capacity OF the nation.
But while population as large 81
that OF Ohio has come to us from acros
the ocean, another population create
than that OF New York, New Jerse!
and Connecticut together In 1880, ha
been added by natural increase In 81
years. Bat great ss the growth OF thl
country has been In population, tn
growth OF railroads has outstripped 1t
The census reported In 1880 about 81,
GOO miles OF railroad, but on the first o
the present month we had 49,, 900 miles
We stand in mute amszement at tn
figures and think that since then
great rival road has been built throug
our own State aud city, crossing on
own romantic Brsndywine one hur
dred and Ave feet ssove low watel
The Middle States have added one
third to their mileage; the States bt
tween them aud the Mississippi, neafl
one third; the Southern States nearl
One-half, and the States west Of til
Mississippi more than one-half-ovt
0,000 miles. In four States and or
Territory, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowt
Minnesota and Dakota, 10, 600 miles ,
new railroad have been built Br
where does all the money come from
build all these railroads, and have nc
the people been building faster tina
they can with SAFETY, are questions thu
we hear asked on every hand. tt
Tribune also has this ciphered up an
informs inquiriug minds that the pc
pie Of this land Can and do save, goo
years with bad, and add 70 their pc
manent wealth not far from $500, 000, o.
annually, about five cents q day
every inhaoitant. They save enoue
in single year to build all the railwi
that has been built for the last 8
years.
No other country can make such
wonderful showing, and 1t is enabl
to do this because the people have gre
opportunities, because all have gre
stimulus to effort, because all are W,
rewarded for industry, because here t
prizes within reach OF enterprise a
greater than anywhere else, that IL
coun ~ does go forward, when 1t O
advance at all, with great strides
ccmprebensible to observers Of 9th
lands and rarely appreciated by OF
selves. We have great country, 81
when compared with the age Of 9th
great civilized nations OF the earth on
is yet but in It's infancy.