The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-30

Though the Progress Of this Nation Has Been
Unparalleled Prosperity Has Come TO Stay,
Declares Senator Nelson w. A1drich.
NELSON W. ALDRICH
Omitted States Senator from Rhode island.

The industrial ascendency of The United
States is established by Il comparison of
the magnitude and character of her in
dustries vita that of her great rivals
Great Britain ana Germany. 1t is evil
Genced alike by the larger aggregate and
per capita value OF her industrial pro-
ducts and by iac much greater collective
and individual earnings OF her people 1t
is emphasized by rapidity of growth
unparalleled in the worlds history. | snail
not attempt 10 enter upon an inspection
OF the Whole range of our important
industries, out shall con:ine myself TO an
examination, which will necessarily be
general in its character. of the growth
ANA prospects of American manufactures
Tie great importance Of an Investigation
Of this nature must he apparent when
We consider that our continued industrial
supremacy depends upon the assured pro
gross and prosperity of our manufa ctures.
1t is a gratifying fact that in 1923, for
ire first tine. the production of coal IN
the United States exceeded That OF Great
Britain. This statement becomes more III
tercsting from the fact that a generation
ago Great BIitain's output was four times
that OF the United States and more t2ian
,,le-half of The worlds total. Germany 5
output a; that lime was 10 per cent. moro
tia. that cf the United States. while III
lS,A the output Of the United States was
;. per cent. more than that Of Germany
In 1865 the coal production Of the United
States exceeded that OF France by seven
teen millions of tons. while in 1899 the OK
cess OF the American over the French pro-
duct was more than two hundred millions
OF tons. The increase in the production
OF pig iron in the United States in the
,lcsi ten years was As per cent.
Tae increase in the number OF cotton
sp,ndies was SO per cent. III the United
States and 80 in Great Britain The PER
tenlase Of increase in this case IS smaller
than any of the others under conslde:at On,
doubtless owing to the unusual depression
in cotton manufacturing which continued
curing 4 considerable portion of The LIST
ter, wears. The consumption of cotton, how
ever, increased SO per cent. IN the Uni
led States while the increase IN Great
Britain was per cent These figures show
Very plainly the marked increase which
has recently taken place in the productive
capacity Of American cotton machlneij-
OUR IMPORTS.
our IMPORTS of raw silk increased '26
per cent during the period namei. wolse
those Of Great Britain increased la.S Pc
cent and those of Germany SOB per cent
The increase in the general BUSINESS
of The United States IS shown by me III
crease in the transactions of tae NV
York Clearing House of 623 Der ecu, Il
deposits In national banks OF $50. and OF
deposits in savings banks OF 90 per GEN.
We can assume that the number OF / cl-
sons employed In our manufacturing es-
tahlishme.Fts increased proportionateiS
With the increase OF production
Another indication of relative industrial
growth is furnished 10y the fact that he
domestic exports OF the United States IN
creased 42.+ per cent. during the last len
years. vale those OF England Increased
Ills per cent. and those Of Germany rs
per cent, During the fourteen Yeas enc
ing 1889 the value Of the domestic exports
OF Great Britain increased So millions OF
dollars. those OF Germany s12 mili.o-.s
those of the United States AS millions CO
dollars.
The figures 1 have given. taken to-
sother. show probable increase In the
manufactured product of the United States
from 1880 TO 1883 of from 40 10 50 per cent
Taking into account the decline in prices
which has taken place. il Is safe to assume
that the total value Of the manufactured
products of the United States for the CEN
eus year 1900 viii be more than twelve
thousand million dollars.
II Is evident from an analysis OF the
comparative figures have given. that
notwithstanding drawbacks the progress