The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-08
FIFTY YEARS AGO AND NOW.
185O-19OO.

Fifty years ago our population was 3D.
1856. while now 1t is 76,3oi,SS7 exclu-
sive of our non-contguous territory.
FIFTY years ago our ational wealth was
ST. i3j, $50 600 while now II Is S94,3O0 900. 900.
exclusive of the thousands of millions
of dollars worth of property destroyed
in the Civil war
Fifty years ago the total value OF our
farms and farm property was $780,
3i3 $50, while now 1t liz $20514 ,0O1 ,S3S.
Fifty years ago our yearly government
revenue was $S3o6i, ,5i5. while now 1!No)
II Is 81, ,O95, 1913 $50 or nearly Si5 per capita
of our population.
Fifty years ago our exports were Slil
375 726. while now they are 81 ,39i, aS3OS2
Fifty years ago our imports were HI},-
5O9526, mainly manufactured articles,
while now they are sSi,94l i5i. of which
fully one-third was materials for manu-
featuring.
Fifty years ago the years balance OF
trade was against us to the extent of
SO, 13;sS00, while now 1t Is In our favor
to the extent of sj5e,5i1 sos, an improve
ment for one year only of S5S1.6Io.GW. or
nearly IS for each man, woman ana
child in the country.
Fifty years ago we had only 123.Oso facto-
res. while now we have 5l2734. with o.
75O. 900 employes-and yearly output of
over thirteen thousand million dollars.
Fifty years ago We had to be content
with 9.0.l miles of steam railroads,
while now we are able to travel on 19i-
32l miles. If we SO desire. besides the
thousands of miles of electric trolleys
Fifty years ago our daddies had only 49,
All postoffices to go to, for their infrc-
Qient mail, while now we can get Our
letters daily or oftener at 5S.26l postof-
1ices or one post office for each 1e5 of
our population, to say nothing of rural
free delivery.
Fifty years ago our postoftices receipts
were 81, 5,i99, 9SJ, while now they are $lO2-
354 so.
Fifty years ago our wealth per capita
of the population was $3O7, while now it
is 81 1,23J.
Fifty years ago we We're dependent for
our knowledge of public events on only
2.52G newspapers and periodicals of
small size, infreQuent issue and meagre
contents while now we can read 20S06
frequent, bright and pungent issues.
Fifty years ago our cotton mills used
yearly 595. 900 bales of our own raw cot
ton. while now they use 3,j4i,000 bales.
while our export of the same product
grew from 102o, &C., 2G9 pounds to 3,1Oo-
5S3,1SS pounds.
Fifty years ago our annual disbursement
for school teachers salaries did not eN-
ceed so, coo, 900, while now 1t Is $l36, 900.
posts were $43, l,13O. while now they
are s., ,4i9, ,547 ,SS5, a siXtyfold increase.
These are gains, immense gains but We
have one serious loss. to record. in that
fifty years ago, the tonnage of Amer
lean vessels engaged in foreign trade
was 1,5S5.1ll tons, while now we have
only S2G.G94 tons. u loss of T59,0l7 tons.
Fifty years ago the United States count
ed for little or nothing as Il world
power, while now Uncle Sans counsel
is sought by all the great powers of
the earth. and his wishes deferred to.
The success of recent American diplo
macy in China is one of the most strit-
ing evidences of this
Fifty years ago the United States was a
practically disorganized nation, on the
eve of the greatest intcrrecine strife III
history, while now the Union is a union
in fact as well as in name. The sons of
the union South. now vie with the sons
of the union North in doing what is
hest for the Union as a whole, and for
the glory of freedoms emblem the wide
world over the Stars and Stripe.
Waiter j. Ballard.
Schenectady, n. V, Oct. I.