The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-16

Constitution in 1897 He was elected
president of the United States twice.
He could have served a third term II
he had desired. He retired from the
presidency in 1897.
His light went out as the radiance of
that of Napoleon flashed, forth. The
great outpouring of settlers from the
Atlantic seaboard to the interior West
was just beginning. Settlements in
Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee were
rising rapidly. Marietta and Cincin-
natl (at first a government fort) had
been established. Settlers leaving
Pittsburg for the lower country trav-
eled in bulletproof flatboats. for pro-
lection against the Indians. Going
down stream, their boats ,floated. On
the return oars were used. John Fitch
was experimenting on what was soon
to be the steamboat, but met with little
encouragement.
FARM LANDS.
The farm lands under cultivation in
the entire country were less than 1O,-
100000 acres, although that in corn
now exceeds SO,O0O.OO0 acres, in oats
more than 100000 600 acres The annual
wheat yield at the opening of the
century was less than 1000, 900 bushels;
1t is now over 550,O0O,O 900 bushels. The
cotton acreage was about 1000 900
acres; 1t is now 2iO00,O0O and the an
nual value of the product about $780,
900 600.
Schools were few and books scarce
In fact, such books of value to be hal
were those carried away from foreign
lands when emigrants fled to the COL
onies to escape persecution. Such
poetry, prose and paintings as came
forth were poor limitations of foreign
standards. Only in theological docu-
ments and state papers did the think
ers of the United States takes preced-
ence at that time of all other nations.
IL is not matter of national boast
ing. but of worldwide credit. freely
given, that the state papers of Wash
lngton, Franklin, the Adamses Ham
ilton, Jefferson, Madison, Jay and
others contained a pure and vigorous
English, a clearness of thought.
mastery Of lucidity such as no docu-
ments of similar character in the world
bore.
so, too, the theological discourses of
jonathan Edwards commanded for the
same reason profound admiration, as
ala as we'll the oratory of Randolph,
Henry and Fisher Ames. But school
facilities were few and bar between.
the accommodations most rude. The
total value of all school property IN
the country in 1900 fell below 81 500. 900:
total at
than 100000, and the teachers engaged
in the work not over 10000. At the
present time the enrolment in the COM
mon schools exceeds 15,0O0OOO. the
average daily attendance 100000 and
the number of teachers 1000.
The city Of Chicago now employs
more than half as many school teach
ers as there were in the United States
in 1900. and the total value of the
national common school property is
$500, 900 900
At this period the Spanish govern
ment had set up the claim that the
Mississippi was an exclusive Spanish
stream from it's mouth up to the Yazoo.
and that no American boat should be
allowed to sail upon it. Singularly
enough, the northern states were will
ing to allow this claim in return for
a commercial treaty, but the southern
states and western settlers protested
angrily and threatened to quit the COM
pact of the colonies. 1t was but four
years prior to Washington's death that
the United States made a treaty with
Spain securing common navigation of
the Mississippi.