Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-12-19
DESBREf EVENING NEWS
Deremher Is. 1890.
4. fd ~.
A BiRD'S.EYE VIEW OF THE RE-
SOURCES OF THE UNITED
STATES.

The history of these United
States presents i picture Of marvel
Gus interest 10 all students OF human
progress. The patience and energy,
the industry and ability with which
cur people have worked out the
present realization OF the slupend-
Gus agricultural, commercial aud
industrial resources Of this immense
continent, with Its fertile territory,
Its magnificent rivers, lis inland
seas and its varied climates, con-
nected by a splendid system OF in
ternal communication, may well
claim the attention OF the gravest
historians, the most enlightened
statesman, and Of every one In
teres.ed in the progress OF civillza-
ton.
No such domain, so varied by
climate, 10y products, by mineral
riches, by forest and lake, ny wild
heights and "puleDt plains, was
ever given as the common heritage
Of one people. The principal sources
and resources OF our national power,
progress aud prosperity we shall
name aud consider in the following
order:
/. Climate. The climate OF
country has rs much influence on
thu character, the sympathies and
the industrial tendencies Of it, in
habitants, as well ~ on the in
crease and decrease OF it's pOVula-
ton, a its physical CONFEDERATION.
1t will not, then, be amiss 10 say
something in this sketch concerning
the climate OF tie United States.
The geographical position OF the
American continent insTTes 10 the
United States a mean temperature
favorable TO the greatest possible de-
veiopment Of the physical and in-
tellectuai powers OF man. Various
causes conspiTe 10 produce these
favorable results.
The frs. Is the presence Of the
Gulf Stream, which incessaajiy
bears along with il n quantity oil
warm and humid air, and thus tx
erts powerful influence on the
temperature OF the circumjgcent
land. This current, extending
along the coast from Florida to the
Banks Of Newfoundland, also be-
comes a powerful agent in neutral
izing the effects Of the masses OF
floating ice which drift from Bafii MS
Bay. Without this most fortunate
natural henomenon the coast Of
the United States would for a great
part ot the year lie made the icy
influence OF the north.
Another cause which equally coz
tributes b render the climate Of the
United States temperate AM sa!u-
orious Is its admirable Eydrogr phi
| cal features. EnthToned between
the warm and cold oceans, il is also
watsr5d by large aBd small IiyeIs,
which refresh au1 viyify ell paris Of
its vast and varied territory. In
travelling from tire Atlantic TO the
Pacific tine climate represents almost
all varieties Of temperature and the
seasons gently glide into each other
with impereeptible succession.
Thus salubrious climate Is con-
served aud II physical condition is
/ furnished favorable 10 the growth
ef every product which man can re-
qUire.
.. Tbs Sal. The United States
lead the world in the possession Of
the most prodigally Productive Of
soils, Out Of her 3,6J0, 900 square
milk she has at least :, 900, 900 square
M OF arabic land.
In 1850, total crops OF the country,
after feeding more than 50,0oO,O10
inhabitants, furnished about 800, =
900, 900 bushels Of grain Tor export.
The corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye,
buckwheat and potatoes were that
year raised on los, COZ, $50 acres. or
1874, 2l5 square miles. This was less
than one-thiTteenth OF the whole
area. China supports 4 population
OF more than 800, O10,OGJ and
possesses considerable less than one
half OF our area. Fiileen-sixteeuths
Of the Chinese population are sup
! Ported 10y the cultivation Of The sol.
But their lari j. not as available for
agricultural purposes o. is ours.
They have more than 100000 square
miles Of barren mountains ami
hundreds OF thousands more Of
desert Lands which defy all efforts
| for their redemption ami improve
nren'. II l. safe TO say that n ail
cur available ami arabic land were
brought under cultivation we would
Ice a6undautly able 20 support one
hundred million people. and stlori
millions OF bushels OF grain for ex-
poit. Mr. EdwaEy Atkinson, the
great statistical authority, says
that "one iundEo3 million could bc
sustained without increasing the
area Of single farm or adding one
TO their number" III this IS true,
then numbers are inadequate to eX.
press the actual ability Of our coil to
sustain human life.
The principal cereal production OF
the United States for some years
past were rs follows: