The record-union., 1891-01-19

These apparently fabulous figures
transcend our utmost eXertlon to COM
prehend them. When we consider that
we could take great natious like Ger
many and the United Kingdom of Eng
land, Scotland and Wales, and hide them
in some of our states, we arrive at faint
idea, at least, of the practically illimitable
eXpanse of our national area.
In order that we may have more cor
rect conception of the enormous extent of
our territory, let us take five of the six
first-class Powers of Europe, Great Brit
ain and Ireland, France, Germany Aus
tria and Italy, and then add Spain, Portu-
gal, Switzerland, Denmark and Greece,
and we find that this combined territory
could be reduplicated, as to area, in the
three times
The original thirteen States, namely:
New Hampshire, Massachusetts,, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary
land, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Georgia, contain an aggre-
gate area of only 325, ,065 square miles.
( Since the adoption and ratification of
the Constitution in 17SS thirty one States
have been admitted into the Union, in
the following chronological order: Yer
mont in 1871, kentucky in 1892, Tennes-
see in 1885, ohio in 1862, Louisiana in 1872,
Indiana in 1916, Mississippi in 1917, Illi-
IlOlS III 1910. alSlpduid 1919, hdlue III
1920, Missouri in 1921, Arkansas in 1886,
Michigan in 1887, Florida and Texas in
1S45, Iowa in 1916, Wisconsin in 1913, CAL
ifornia in 1850, Minnesota in 1858, Oregon
in 1859, Kansas in 1861, West Virginia in
1862, Nevada in 1854, Nebraska in 1867,
Colorado in 1876, South Dakota, North
Dakota, Montana and Washington in
1889, and Idaho and Wyoming in 1890.
Thus the forty-four stars that now gleam
in our national banner will furnish a for
chile illustration of the rapid growth and
marvellous development of the United
States.
The increase in population is even more
marvellous than that of territory. The
first census was taken in the United States
in 1870, ard the returns showed popula-
ton Of 3, ,929, ,214. In 1900 the population
was 5,30S, 4S3, in 1910 il was 7,239, ,SSI, in
1920 it had become 1855, ,822, in 1880 it was
II, $685. 020, in 1910 it was Ii. .069, ,453, in 1850
it had increased to e, III , ,sId, IN 1850 it had
reached 81 443, ,.;s2i in 1870 it was IS, ,55S 81,
in 1880 it became so, l55,7s3, and now the
census returns for 1890 make the total
population more than 62, 100000.
The aggregate wealth of the United
States is variously estimated from fifty to
sixty billions. All this wonderful
growth and development is the result of a
two-fold cause-namely, the natural adj
vantages of our geographical situation
and the splendid institutions under the
protecting and stimulating influences of
which we Hveand thrive. Our national
home is within the great geographical
belt of power within that magical zone
extending from the 30th to the Goth paral-
lels of north latitude, wherein have dwelt,
and wherein dwell, all those mighty ma
tions which have given direction to hui
man thought and the progress of the
worlds civilization.
Then our institutions, bringing down
to us the inspiration and benediction of
the founders of the republic, have quick
ened the energies of succeeding genera
tions in the upbuilding of this colossal
State. Our American fathers struggled
and suffered, but not for themselves
They sought the realization of "a dream
that was not all dream'-that of q free
people, self-goyerned. And these splen-
did heroes embodied their struggles and
sufferings in demonstrations which they
bequeathed to us and our children, and
which have stimulated the growth OF this
glorious century flower of religious and
political freedom in the American wilder
ness.