The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-04
THE DYING CENTURY
PASSED In REVIEW
AMAZING GROWTH OF THE
AMERICAN REPUBLIC.
What Made the Nations Rise Posi-
BILE and the Condi ton of Other
Free States Which Have Had
Equal Opportunities with the
United States.


From the Chicago Times -Hrald.
From the fifteen sparsely populated
states that in 1900 stretched along the
Atlantic seaboard as the United States
of America, the republic today reaches
westward to the Pacific in an un-
broken chain of forty1ve states. From
a population of 100000 in 1900, the
census of the new year is promising
grand total of 7O,OOO,OOO inhabitants.
In riches, from the almost bankrupt
original states, the census Of 1900 may
show q total visible wealth of $90,OOo-
100000, a per capita increase from $9OS
in 1850 to $1,2S5 in the present year.
Nothing in the accomplishments of
the last 100 years can compare with
such national progress as has been
shown in the United states. From
governmental experiment, froWned
upon by European economists, to
leading place in the procession of the
world has been beyond the dreams or
an Aladdin.
It was stupcndous task that lay
before the young republic in its first
steps toward the shores of the Pt-
cifc. Unexplored wildernesses, un-
tracked by civilization and harborinS
a thousand dangers for the adven-
turer, stretched through forests, plains,
mountains and deserts to the west
ward. Years after the Mississippi
valley had been peopled "the Great
,tya1
geogra phical district, in which today
millions are gaining livelihood.
OF the tyres which made this great
west Daniel Boone was One-hunter,
trapper AMI Indian fighter and lover
of forest soltudcs. Fremont. Lewis
and Clarke were of another; Kit Car .
son, Jim Bridgsr and Buffalo Bill still
another. Joseph Smith, head of the
Mormon church. had his part in the
work Adventures from the old
world Joined in the great march
toward the sunset end European i'm.
migration became n factor to be reck-
oned with in the development of the
republic.
GROWTH OF IMMIGRATION.
In 1850 just after the discovery of
gold in California, the returns from
the census showed nearly 10 per cent.
of foreign born residents in the Unit
ed States. In 1860 it was Is per cent;
nearly Il per cent in 1870, IA per cent.
in 1880 and nearly Is per cent in 1890.
And in this period the total popula
ton was growing steadily, with an
average of more than so per cent. in
crease for each decade.
immigration to the United States
more than once has been checked by
legislation, but as "a factor in its ad-
vancement it will not be questioned.
In the stormy period of Napoleonic
conquests in Europe these tides set in
strongly toward the new world. The
alien law, under which the president
of the United States might Danish any
foreigner whose presence was suspect
ed of being prejudicial to the welfare
of the country, was one of the acts
of the Van Buren, administration di-
rected against immigration. But still
Castle Garden in New York became
one of the evolutions of the century
The foundations of the republic had
been laid in opportunity for the in
dividual. The right of earning citizen
ship and it's accompanying privilege
of a voice in government were strong
incentives to the European emigrant
and in addition to these We're the nat.
ural opportunities in a new country
These opportunities may be measured
geographically by the census returns
of the government. In $780, for in
stance. the population of the two Da-
kotas was shown to have increased
nearly 219 per cent, and in that Sec
ton in general nearly 26 per cent. oi
the inhabitants We're foreign born
New England and New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania had 23 pc,
cent. of foreign residents. while ir
the south only 2,@ per cent. of the
!. people were aliens-tigures which
show that where the wheels of the
factory are turning and whc"e ;hf
desert is being made TO blossom tbs
immigrant is busy with a helping
hand.
INCENTIVES TO EMIGRATION
In the development of the great ives
the IarCeling out of gOvernmen
lands and the passage of homestead
laws have been of signal import. Th'
riches of the great forests. the wealth
of furs from the native animals, and
above all, the gold of the California;
and of the Rocky Mountain regions
have lured the settler until the tern
wilderness no longer finds place oil
the continent.
In all that makes up the picturesque
the adventurous and the romantic thi
peopling of the great west stands on
in startling Vividness and color.
has not found las ting reflection in tn
worlds letters, but one day, as witt
the forests nf the CarbOnifprors nor
iod. it's wealth will be uncovered onl!
ripened and accentuated by the cours
of time. Adventurer and Indiai
trader, soldier and priest, gold-seeke