Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-08-01

IBItdt III a uSbIce WhiCu liudBlHdilOD
finds almost as difficult to grasp as
Ito realize astronomical quantities.
America is still growing, and grow
ing at a rate of which housekeeping
wits among us can hardly form the
faintest conception. When we are
prepared to believe the largest con-
ception we can rise to the truth out
strips the estimate before we have
time to mend our ideas.
Take, for instance, the develop
ment OF the Canadian Dominion. Its
commercial expansion is magnificent,
and in time It will become a state
for populousness and wealth second
to none, not even to les republican
neighbor. But here Is some danger
lest Englishmen should suppose that
in Canada at least the empire will
be made itself, and that the inn
petus of natural resources Is begin
ming to place It beyond competition
as respects rate of progress. But
this Is so far from the fact that We
can only fairly realize what Is going
on In the United States when we
measure its wonderful march, evel
against the present advance of Can
ada. The Dominion is receiving emf
grants at the rate of nearly 100000
a year. But they are bumped into
the Industrial and political system of
the United States at the. rate of
more than a million a year, and, fast
as our greatest colony increases, the
number of new citizens across the
border multiplies four times as fast
That Is the tremendous fact; the
republic Is adding, and for some per.
iod will almost certainly continue
TO add, an increment of inhabitants
every decade equal TO the whole white
population OF the kings dominions
outside these islands. These com
parlsons beggar all rhetoric, and
throw all eloquence back upon
figures. When we are dealing with
he reflections suggested by the 4th
IF July we are compelled TO recognize
hat there is something like epic
poetry In the sheer splendor and pow
'r of American statistics. The re-
iubic is rapidly rising. In a word,
oward the 1OO.0OO,OOO standard of
population, and in n very few years
viii have attained that marx. That |
VIII he the feature OF world politics !
IS massive and conspicuous I'm ITS
way as are the Egyptian pyramids IN
heirs And as with the human
ensus. so with every other factor I'm
he equation.
In spite OF all superficial impe1-
ions sometimes entertained to the
ontrary, there is no doubt that ma
erial prosperity per head rises in the
Inlted States as fast as the number
4 heads increases. The energy % \
iechanicaI invention never stops, AMI
he efficiency OF the Tabor-saving ma
hines IL intensified with every many u
lillioned addition TO the hands avail I
he for working them. The soil,
be forests. the mines. the mills are
tilted. not with a slackening. but
nth an accelerating rapidity OF ex-
loltatiou. II Is sometimes thought
hat American agriculture Is ap-
roaching It's limit OF production.
IN the contrary the vast haryests OF
ood aud raw material become even
lrger year by year. though the In
atiable consuming power Of the
ountry Itself devours more and
lore OF the product. and does not al
Nv the margin for export TO widen
: proportion to the volume OF pro-
uctiou.
The United States has the wealth
nd technical resources required to
reate the largest irrigation system
nown. and even American agricul-
are Is only beginning In many ways
, realize It's possibilities. The case
equally astonishing. but OF course
'ss satisfactory, with respect 10
lineral resources. the best deposits
eing worked out with fierce speed
hieh threatens 10 pat the compare
veiy near future at serious disad-
autage. Throughout the unprece-
ented industrial progress OF the last
To or three years there has never
zen labor enough. transport enough.
,oney enOagh. though the men, tho