Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-01
THIS COUNTRY's ADVANCE.

|
| Richard II. Edmouds. editor OF the
| Manufacturers Record. printed at Bal
| tmore. Md. has written an article on
| America Amazing Advance. in which
| the facts as to this subject are given
| IN a very striking array of figures. 1t
is an article that is of immense gem
eral interest.
The author shows that, between 1900
and 1907 the value OF farm property in
the United states increased from $40
10000, 900 to s2S. 900, 900 900. gain of 81
500. 900. 900 The total capital. he says,
OF the national banks of the United
States is ssos 900 900. OF only one-ninth
as much as the actual increase made
In farm wealth IN seven years More
over this increase OF farm values III
seven years is equal to about so per
osnt of the capitalization Of all the
railroads OF the United States built up
during the last &c years. What the
farmers have done IN seven years. which
is really the most striking fact IN
American business history. is typical
OF the amazing progress and prosper
ity OF the whole country OF late years,
though in no other lines OF develop
ment has the advance been quite so
wonderful as that of the farmers.
The railroads furnish another index
to the growth of prosperity. In 1880,
we are told. there we're only twenty
three miles OF railroad in the United
States. In 1860 at the beginning of the
war of the Rebellion, there were 3d.
626 miles. In 1880 there were 1667O3
miles, and In 1905 there were 2l7.35o
miles. II double track and sidings are
taken into consideration, this railroad
mileage should be increased to 3d.
600 miles.
The increase in tho production OF va
rious articles OF industry relate an in
teresting tale. The pig iron produce
ton per capita has increased from 1903
pounds in 1900 TO $40 pounds in 1906,
while the steel product which was L.
2i7 900 tons in 1850, increased to t.21J.-
600 tons In 1890, to 1O,1SS.oO0 tons In
1900, and to 2O.O2s.0 900 tons in 1905, In
1880 we were producing l.4l tons OF
coal annually FOR each person m the
United States. In 1900 we were produce
ing ; 10 tons, and in 1906 II Is estimat-
ed that tho United States produced six
tous Of coal Tor each man, woman and
child living in the country. IN 1900
this country produced about 63ls mill
lion barrels Of petroleum, Five years
later this product had more than dou-
blod the record for 1905 being 1874 mill
lion barrels. In 1890 The entire Unit
ed states produced 935 thousand bar
rolls ef Portland cement, Ten years
later this product had Increased to
S's million barrels, In thu next i've
years the product OF Portland cement
WAS more than quadrupled. the figures
Tor 1903 showing over rs million har-
rels. with AN estimated product for
1905 Of 30 million barrels. This Ii the
most rapid development of amy large
industry this country has ever known.
The copper product Increased from i15
thousand tons In 1880 TO 27O ihousa nd
IN 1900 and to il3 thousand in 1906
In the nfteen years from 1890 10 1905
the value OF tho entire mineral output
of the United states more than dou.
blcd. The American cotton crop NOW an
nualy cXceods In value the total annual
gold aud silver production of the whole
world, The value OF American manufac-
lures Increased from 81 billions In 1880
to 10 billions IN 1900 and for 1905 is es.
tlmated at II billions
Talking about coal shortagel Me-.
Edmonds asserts that we have $50 600
square miles Of coal area In tho United
states, against 10000 square miles In
all Europe. West Virginia ana Ken,
iuckY each have 50 per cent more coal
territory than Great Britain. and by
reason OF thicker seams many times as
| much available coal
The record Of the past. we are told
| Is but an indication of future cxpan-
sion. According 10 MI, Edmonds
forty-fonr years from now We ought
TO have population OF 100000 900 souls
Have We room enough for such a
crowds The author replies
IN area the United states cover,
100000 square miles, with an aVerag,
OF less than % persons 10 the mile SGT.
tled as densey as France, we could ar-
oommodate biO,OO0,00O neople az dense
~ as Great Britain and Ireland va
would have over 1000, OoO,0 600 people, On