, 1889-04-12
RATES OF ADVERTIsISG.
JNO. r. CARROLL. Editor
A E. COUNTRY Y.

the Belfast, Ireland, Nclos Letter which
contains one Of the most ably written ar
ticles on the of the United
States that we have ever read. 1t gives
a man better conception of his own
country and a better idea, of its capa-
b:lities than he may have had before. We
make a few selections:
The ~capability of the United States of
America to afford room and sustenance to
a vast population is admirably shown in
DIR. Strong's great work, from which a
few chapters have been selected and re-
published in pamphlet form. Even those
who have pondered upon the subject can
only form an imperfect idea of it. A
republic of eighteen states, each as large
as Spain; or a republic of thirty-one
states, each as large as Italy; or, a repub-
lie of sky states, each as large as Eng
land and Wales. These are three views
OF the territory.
With tine exception OF Alaska, the
territory is compact. unified by railways
and an ~unequalled system OF rivers and
lakes, the latter said TO cohtain nea, ly
one-huli of all the fresh water on the
globe. In relation to rivers we are told
that east OF the Rocky Mountains there
is a river flow Of more thar 40, 900 miles,
while Europe in n larger space has only
1900 miles. Excluding Alaska, the area
of the United States is $50, 900 square
miles. OF which 100000 square miles
are arabic land. Then, think of what has
been done and what may be done with
the soil.
The crops Of 1879, alter feeding 80,
900, 900 inhabitants, furnished more than
2s3, 10000 bushels grain for export.
The food crops of that year were pro-
duced on LOG. 097, $50 acrels, or lG4,2l5
square miles-abOut one ninth of the
smallest estimate of the arabic lands. If,
therefore, all the agricultural land were
brought under the pow there would be
produced food sufficient to maintain 49,
600. 600 people. leaving a surplus of
2,554, O00, 600 bushels OF grain to be ex-
ported. Yes more, an excellent author
ity says that where so, 900, 900 people are
supported, one hundred million could be
sustained without increasing the area of
a single farm, or adding one to their
number, by merely bringing the produce
up to the average standard of reasonably
good farming, leaving for export twice
the quantity o sent out of the country.
And this is not all. Under the soil, rs
well ms on it, there Is abundant wealth.
From 1870 TO 1880, the value of the pre-.
cious metals raised was estimated at
1872, 900, 900. One-half the gold supply
of the world is furnished by the United
States, which could also satisfy the de-
maud of the world for iron. The coal
measures are inexhaustble, and are
twenty times larger than those of all Eu-
rope. The mining industries exceed those
of Great Britain; and are greater than
those of all continental Europe, Asia,
Africa. South America. Mexico, and the
British colonies collectively; yet, thous-
ands of square miles OF mineral wealth lie
wholly untouched. In regard to manu-
lectures. the Americans are destined to
take the lead. They have the coal and
the iron and eve. Ything else at hand.
England must send at least 5000 miles
FOR cotton to spin. The Americans grow
their own cotton, and they are building
mills in the South where the raw material
ia obtained. They have also in abundance
the wool, the woods. the hides, the metals
of all sorts. They assert, in addition, that
their operatives arc the most ingenious
and intelligent in the world.
In mechanical appliances the Ameri-
cans are ahead of all nations. The best
machinery and the best mechanics in the
world involve ultimate supremacy IN man.
ufacturinG industry. Indeed, the suprem.
acy appears to have been attained already,
the products in 1880 having exceeded
those of Great Britain by $3.50, 600, 900.
While the manufactures of France. from
1870 to 1880, increased S23O,OOO, 600,
those of Germany 1880, 900, goo, and those
of Great Britain $3.50, OOO. 900, those OF
the United States increased 81, O30, OOO,-
90. As matters stand, the Americans
can lay down their steels in Sheffield,
their lower grades OF cotton in Manches-
ter, their electro plate in Birmingham,
and their watches in Geneva, undersellinR
European manufacturers at their own
doors. What may be expected when,
with a larger population and cheaper
labor, they enter INTO keener competition?
A great deal is heard about the Irish
element; but when nationalties arc care.
fully analysed the Irish are unimportant
numerically. According to the returns
for 1880, there were 80, 200, 900 persons
born in the country of American parent
age, or 20 per cent Of the total. In the
same year the number of Germans was
4,S79,000; of Irish, 1926, 900, and OF
other %nationalities 5,552, 900.
Here is something for the working
classes: The smallest increase during the