The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-03-21

Our country in Com sarison With Others
The republic of the United States, Of
which Benjamin Harrison week before
last became President, in wealth and pro
fductive power IS the greatest nation OF
the globe. The great English satisticiau
Mr.. Mnlhall states the energies OF the four
leading countries of tbs world as follows,
J the power being given in millions of foot
tons, daily:
Hand Horse Steam Total
Nation. Power. Power. Power. Power
| United States. ....S.fiD ;t3,6iG 400 So 45l
United Kingdom .29l 500 l5,96o 22,95t
Germany ..........G $40 1850 1880 37.23
France........ 800 800 1850 5U.350
These figures show that the working
power of our country has already become
three times that of France. two and half
times that Of Germany and one and two.
thirds times as great as that of the United
Kingdom, and that it equals the power Of
Great Britain and Germany combined,
Mr.. Mulhall thinks tina. the growth of the
United States has only begun; that the
census of 1890 will show a population of
sixtyesx millions, an energy of one hun.
dred thousand million foot tons per day,
and an accumulated wealth of seventy
thousand millions of dollars, Figures, - he
continues, never before applicable to any
nation in the world On these figures of
Mr.. Mnlhall George W. Cowlam COM
ments as follows concerning the effects of
the building of the Nicaraguan canal upon
the future of the Pacific coast:
Our Pacific Coast States have remark
able advantages of soil and climate, to-
gether with great and varied mineral
Australia. British Columbia, even Penn
sylvania and Maryland, contribute to the
supply, furnishing in all about half the
quantity consumed. The remainder, in
ferior in quality aud unfit for many uses,
ID mined in w ashington Territory. Agri-
culture and commerce are restricted.
Manufactures and mining are practically
pr Uhibted, because the price of coal is
fully twice the figure which would permit
its general use. The Rocky mountain
supply is too far away for railway trans
portation. With cheap coal of good quail
ity an empire would spring up there whose
increased exchanges and greater travel
would crowd the capacity OF our trans
continental railway.
Our Navy Department, has been for
many years surveying Il line for canal
across Nicaragua. All the facts concern.
ing the practicability and cost of the work
are well known. Only forty miles of canal
would be required, the remaining $50
having foundation of river and lake nav.
igation. The lockage would only involve
about 100 feet rise, and the water for it is
unlimited from this great fresh water
lake. A company of practical men, fully
acquainted with the work of our govern
ment's surveys, are asking charter from
Congress for digging this canal. They
estimate the cost at $50 900 eco, and the
expense Of maintenance and operation at
$780, 900 per year
They say that existing commerce would
give the canal 5000, 600 of yearly tonnage,
which. at 81 50 per ton--their proposed
to,l-Woud give the company net reHe-
nue. OF Sl2, 100000 4 year. Should our
government undertake the work a per
cent. bond would be quickly taken. Sup
pose the work to cost $50 900. coo, and
maintenance and operation $4,000 per
annum. Here would only Re a yearly cost
Of So 900, 900, which would permit the toll
to be put at go cents, instead of s. 90, per
ton. But we could do even better. Why
not take some of the troublesome treasury
surplus and carry out this great work and
make the canal free to our coastwise do
nestle commerce, charging small toll on
our own and other foreign commerce auf-
Gcient to pay cost Of maute aance and to
establish {. moderate sinking fund for the
eventual cancellation OF the bonds or REIN.
hursement OF the treasury Cheap coal
to cur Pacific States alone would be worth
many times its cost.