Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-05-13
WE HAVE OUTsTRIPPED EUROPE
The United States Has Become the
Greatest Manufacturing Country. i,

1
Mr.. r. II. Edmonds, one of the most
eminent authorities on the conditions of
| recent progress in the United States, con-
tributes to the Engineering Magazine an
interesting and valuable paper entitled
"A Decade of Marvellous Progress
| from which a few conclusions are ex
| tracted.
The United States is now the leading
manufacturing country in the world
We have far outstripped all other ma
tions in the magnitude of our industrial
operations. 1t is almost incomprehensI-
! bic that in ten years the increase in capt.
/ tai invested in manufactures shoulG ex-
/ coed the total invested only twenty
| years ago. The value OF our manutac-
tured products increased about 90 per
cent. ; add go per cent. to the output or
1890 and we would have $13y 100, 100000
in lI00--but that is too much to expect.
The same rate of growth in mining in
terests in this decade as in the last would
make our mineral output in 1890 nearly
81, 200, 600, 900, while a smaller percent
age of gain, only equalng IN volume
the total increase in 1890 over 1880.
would bring the figures over $780, Co.,
O00 If our coal miners add to the out
put of 1880 as many tons as they added
to that of 1880, ignoring in this the per-
centage of growth, 217, COO 900 tors will
be the production of 1900 No other
countryia the world ever advanced in
population and wealth as the United
States is doing. The progress of the
past shows no signs of hating. In fact,
the development of our foreign and do
nestle trade and commence and of cur
industrial ,interests is steadily broadening
out.
Contrast our position and condition
with Europe, with resources surprising
those of all Europe, with wealth creating
possibilities in soil, minerals, timber
and climate unequaled by Europe, and.
practically without limit to their profit
able utilization, with q, homogeneous
population of 65, 100000 people unvexed,
by the arbitrary regulations of half a,
dozen different governments and free
from the drain of standing armies, the
United States justly commands the won
der and admiration of the world.
Great BritainaiS'no longer the manufac-
turing center Of the world, for we have
taken the foremost position IN that line.
Its vast iron and. steel business is yearly
increasing in cost of production, while
ours is decreasing. 1t cannot meet the
worlds growing demand for iron md
steel because il cannot increase its pro-
duction to any great extent. 1t produces
less pig-iron now than it did ten years.
ago. Much of its, oreit imports from
distant countries. Its cotton is all inn
ported. 1t spends about $3.50, 900, 600 a
year for foreign food stuffs On the
continent every nation is burcened with,
debt and none of them can everhope to
pay off its obligations. Measured by
their natural resources and advantages
for continued growth against their debts
and the many disadvantages under which
they labor they are practically bankrupt.
In all of them the cost of production and
living must steadily increase. In the
United States We have scarcely laid the
foundation for our future greatness. In
natural resources we are richer than all
of Europe; we are paying off our debts
faster than they are DUE, we have barely
scratched the gpoundin the developments
of our mineral wealth and our agricul,
tural growth eau scarcely belimited