The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-10-01
INTERESTING STATISTICS.
Wonderful Increase of the Country
In Wealt, and Population

Z
In Wealt, and Population
EDIroR SoxEzsEr HERALD Information
| OF the results oilhe Eleventh. Census is nee
essarily given { the public as yet by piece
meal but what las been obtained foreshadows
not only largi increase ofpopulasion, butts
growth in the Industries of the nation and
an improvement relatively in the public and
local finances s1ce 1880 far exceeding that
of any decade il the history of the country.
The increase of oopulation from 50,i55.7s3
in 1850, to Gl, ~, 600 in 1890, or about A.
100000 in ten years. of itself is equal to the
entire population of Brazil, three times more
than that OF Can.da, or as much as that of
Canada and MEXICO together. To have fur
nished this increase would have completely
depopulated Norway, Sweden, Switzerland,
Denmark and Portugal Yet each Of these
countries are, home, reckoned Of no
little importancs Thus the nation which
century ago modestly asked 70 be recognized
in the map Of the world IS now exceeded in
population only by Russia, India and China,
and Of its vast population Il per cent. has
accrued since 1880. 1t would seem as If the
people of the world had accepted in good
faith the general invitation Of the song to
Come along, and make no deisy."
OF material industries, only three reports
have been published, and of those two are of
local or minor Importance.
Quicksilver, the production Of which is
confined mostly to California, employs in
its production less than thousand operators
and 81 400, 900 of capital. The annual yield
seems to be diminishing somewhat though
the operations of last year have been con-
Quoted at a profit Of $3O0,0o0 The worlds
aggregate annual production ofthis metal was
generally lessened in the last decade, and
the United States, which in 1880 furnished
e-half OF the product, still furnishes more
than three-eights.
Slate for building material and other pur-
poses, employed in its production, in 1889,
about 6,000 operatives and si,o00000 of CAPT.
ital, yielding a product in value of about
s3,50o,0o0 at net profit ofover s6o0.o0o on
the capital employed. More than two thirds
Of the capital was employed in the State of
Pennsylvania, and the total value of the
output of 1889 is more than double that of
1880.
Pig ron, product of great and growing
importance, shows yield in 1890 of $780,,
900 tons as compared with 3.7sl 900 tons in
1880, and 2,0520 900 tons in 1870. Ofthis pro-
duction about one-half comes from Penn
sylvanis, fourteen per cent. from Ohio and
nine per cent from Alabama, and the rest
mainiy from the Central Northern States.
In Alabama, the production between the
dates mentioned has risen from 62,000 to
nearly 100000 tons per annum. The price
OF this metal per ton has meanwhile dimin-
ished from $3.50 per ton in 1880, to only
sl775 per ton in 1882 but in 1890 was ad-
vaDced to about $25 per ton, and the indus
try is flourishing with profit to the labor and
capital employed, of which, however, no
statistics Is yet given. The value Of the pig
iron produced in 1880 at the high price sta
ted, was Sl06 56S, 900, while in 1890 it was
s237 500, 900, an increased value of product OF
$l3O 932 900, though at decreased price per
ton.
In 1850 this country imported of pig iron
600 TONS which at the rate stated above,
had a total value of $2I $40 900. In 1869
there was imported III, 900 tons, which at
the rate given, would have had value of
only $5,I4o,UUO. Inc importations OF 1880
are not yet reported.
Great britain, which hitherto has led the
world in the production of pig iron, reports
yield of this metal for 1899 of only 9,32l,-
0)o tons or about 100000 tons less than the
product of he United States in 1889, and 1
only 100000 more tons than its product of
1880.
The wonderful expanse of this industry
during the last decade cannot fail 10 have
marked effect upon the economic condition
of the country, requiring as it does an in
creased army of laborers, and the product of
this labor, if converted into manufactured
articles in this country, would employ still
another army of lahorers, and it is doubtless
TO such an increase of material industries
and the employment of iaborers therefrom,
that the great tide Of emigration is absorbed
in our midst, with no disturbance to the
conditions Of the country and that the mar
ket for our agricultural products is found
nearer and nearer to our doors
The increase in the wealth of the country
is also shown by the marked decrease in
public and local Indebtedness which must
eventually give great relief in reduction of
taxation throughout the country.
The following table shows the changes in
the State, National and County debts since
1870