The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-24
our NATIONAL WEALTH.
The Unparalleled Material Progress OF tine
United States.

The Unparalleled Material Progress OF the
United States.
A glance over recently-published sta
tistics shows us that the progressive al
vance of the United States during the
past century has been almost fabulous;
and unless some immediate means De
found of increasing the population and
wealth of Europe as rapidly as those OF
the United States do, the American Ma
ton will in no distant period become
foremost in Importance and political In
fuence among the governments OF the
globe. The United States of America,
which separated from England in 177o'
and elected their first President in 1859,
now consist of forty-twO States, SIX Ter
ritories and one Federal District The
area of the Union, including Alaska, Is
about 3,6O5,OOO square miles. In fifty
years Great Britain's population has in
creased 100000: Frances. 100000;
and that of the United States, 81, 600, 600.
Since 1890 the population of North
America has doubled about every
twenty-six years. In 1890 the popu-
lation of the Union was not 4,O00,-
600; now it exceeds 62,00O,0O0 in
habitants If a corresponding IN
crease continues, in seventy years
more the United States will be as popu-
lous as Europe. Four-fifths of the pres
emit population consist of Americans
of English origin and the other
fifth consists chiefly of Germans.
The French, Italians and Spanish
who have emigrated here are so COM
paratively few that they are swallowed
up in the immense mass of AnglO-Ger-
mans. AS for the financial condi-
ton of our country, it is, with it's fort
une of $50, 900, 600, 900, as estimated in
1884, the richest country in the world.
At that time the fortune of Great Brit
ain was estimated at $45, 900, 600, 900; OF
France, about $40, 900, 900, O00 and of Ger
many, $4,000, 100000. The United
States are also, Notwithstanding the i'm
mense sacrifices made during the war OF
rebellion, in the most prosperous finan-
cial situation of any in the world. The
commercial imports and exports OF
America, about 81, 500, 600, 600 per annum,
do not come up to those of England
600, 900, 0O0--but they nearly equal those
of France and Germany. The merchant
marine of the Republic ranks next to
that of England. The United States
possess the most extensive telegraph
system in the world, and the American
pOstal-service exceeds all others in it's de-
velopment. There are 57,376 ptst-offices in
the United States, and over 240, 900 miles
of postal route; while the nearest ap-
proach to this are the 1888 post-offices
of Germany, which has 81, 900 miles OF
postal routes. Last year more than
$3.50, 900, 600 letters and printed docu-
ments of all kinds were sent by Ameri-
can post-ofhces, costing $4,000, 900 for
the postal operations Such prosperity
may be easily explained by the fact OF
the great areas of the country, which
are 50 fitted to receive a dense popula-
ton; and by the consideration that SO
many of the American colonists are re
cruited from the most enterprising and
courageous of Europeans. Another fac
tor is the lesser military budget which
the United States is required to support.
aud the few men kept from the pursuits
of peace in the maximum of their
strength. The severe military systems
of the Old World, which force innumer-
able immigrants to leave, are not neces-
sary here. for we have not, like Euro.
pean nations, had rece struggles to es-
tablish ourselves in new territories.
Peace has brought us prosperity, and
let us hope that our continued prosper
ity will continae to bring us peace
Demorest Monthly.