The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-03
A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE.

Chauncey ". Depew once said that the
celebration Of the Fourth of July in the
future would not be SO much commemora-
tive, perhaps as IL would be declaratory,
and he meant by that that upon this day
in the future the magnificent social and
industrial progress of the United States
would be the theme of celebr alton, and
would itself furnish the most impressive
demonstration OF the wisdom OF the act OF
the fathers in l776. Orators, Mr.. Depew
thought, would be more likely 20 make
prophecy than TO recall the past
Some things there are which men who
have expert information say we may have
reason TO expect TO see established in the
United States when the 10th anniversary
If the Declaration of Independence is
reached.
Colonel Albert Shaw and Mr.. Depew are
of opinion that within the next seventy
i've years Bgfalo is likely TO become the
greatest manufacturing city in the United
States. Colonel Shaw predicts popula-
ton of more than / 900 900 and Mr.. De-
pew believes these figures are not
too large. This development will be
due almost entirely TO the utiiiza-
ton of part of the enormous water
power of Niagara Falls. Already the east
ern tunne. is nearly completed. and on the
west bank of the Niagara river another
tunnel will be cut for water power which
Will drive enormous electric dynamos. 1t
IS the opinion OF Colonel Shaw that cleo
triclty will be furnished here sufficient 10
light ali of the great cities of New York
Pennsylvania and Ohio, and TO furnish
motive power for many manufacturing es-
adjustments. Ii is regarded as certain by
-.f- y.
Buffalo TO the Niagara river viii be occu-
pied by manufacturers because permanent
and cheap power can be furnished by this
capture of 2 part of the enormous force
generated by this great waterfall and
which in the past has gone TO waste.
Although c. ?. Huntington does not e1-
pect 10 live 10 see 1t, vet he is convinced
that on the Fourth OF July, 1876. there will
be great city at Newport News Va, Mr..
Huntington regards that port as sure TO
concentrate the traffic from the south and
southwest which seeks the ocean. Railway
lines will center there in his opinion: the
main shipments OF cotton and tobacco
abroad Will be from this point, and he IS OF
the opinion that on the level plain where
on once General Buffers armies were en-
camped and whence frightened Union
soldiers witnessed the sea fight which
reyolutionszed the navies of the world
there will be built a city containing 225o,-
Go people.
Mr.. Austin Corhin believes that early in
the next century new seaport will have
been created az the eastern extremity of
Long Island whence the swiftest of ocean
steamships will sail for Great Britain,
making the distance between land and
land in perhaps less than four days. Pro-
lessor Adams Is OF the opinion that a
great seaport and metropolis will have
developed somewhere on Puget sound
by 1915, and Jay Gould has said some
things TO friends OF his which suggest that
he is of the opinion that somewhere in
the vicinity of e Paso a city of consider
able size and great commercial import
ance viii have been established and will
flourish early in the next century.
THE POPULATION or GREAT CITIES.
1t is comparatively easy TO estimate ap-
proximately what the population of the
greater cities will be on the l5oth anniver-
sary of the nations birth. General Fran
els 4. Walker estimates that in round
numbers at that time the population of
the United States will be from LOO, coo. 600
10 100000. OF course If there should
come the annexation Of the Canadian do
minions this estimate should be increased.
Mr.. Andrew Ii. Green estimates that the
population of New York city as il now is
viii not he far from 3.0oo. 600 in 1875; but
il is his idea-and thai OF many other OF
the abest men in New York
that before the twentieth century
there will have been con-
solidation with New York city of
various outlying districts. including
Brooklyn. and If that is done the popula-
ton OF the greater New York at the one
hundred and iiitieih anniversary will be
not far from 4,no,0o. Philadelphia is
likely - have n present rate OF growth
nearly 1000, 0tsl. Boston !. 00sl. 600, with Bal
Iinore and s.. Louis nearly equal num-
Der. Ii Is harder 70 estimate the probable
popul alton ofChIcaso. Certain prodigious
Developments now in contemplation are
likely 10 make thar clty--if not = seaport
al least great port. II the canal which
Is in contemplation IS cut across the lower
Michigan peninsula, and is made deep
enough 10 tioat ocean steamships, and il
the shin canal is cut from Chicago 70
the Mississippi, then il is easy 10
see that Chicago-in sdiition 70 being
great rsllway-wIll also be a CREST
shipping center. Vessels loaded at its
piers on Lake Michigan would carry grain