The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-07-23

pie. san francisco was blessed with
500. Think of it, friends! After this
country had lain for 230 years the
proud City of Chicago had 5000 inhabi-
tants, and San Francisco 500. The
of Chicago in 1900 was
100000 and that of San Francisco
was $4,000.
l have cited these two instances to
demonstrate to you that if there is
any value in immigration, it is entirely
dependent on railways. II the value
of immigration is not dependent on
railways, if the value of immigration
is the boast of water vessels, will some
one explain why water vessels after
800 years of precedence in this hemi-
sphere has accomplished so little?
Why, railroads after brief existence
of 60 years have accomplished literal
thousand times as much! But 1 beg
pardon for pleading a point so obvi-
Ously true.
1t cannot be denied that the record
of railway Development in the United
States since 1880 is an impressive one.
When we consider that from no exist
ence whatever it has built up a capital
of $4,000 100000 in 70 years; a capital
that stays at home to augment and
stimulate our national finances; cap
ital that operates among us for our
prosperity, that gives employment to
a million and half of our people and
yet itself enjoys great remuneration.
meditating Of these things we know
that we could not do without railways.
To lose them would mean degeneration
for US
The clouds of our Civil War drifted
in when our activity in railway con-
struction had just nicely begun, and
for few years the momehtous import
of that bloody struggle occupied mems
minds and our railways were neglected.
But when peace with it's consultations
had come, when the warning brothers
stacked their arms and began the pain
full task of national reconstruction,
the advance of the Giant Horse was
again launched, with fairer hopes and
greater industry. Finally in 1869 a
transcontinental line between San
Francisco and New York, that crossed
nine mountain ranges, that rose at
times over 1000 feet toward the heav-
ems, that spanned deep gOrges and
chasms, that arched great rivers, was
built to insure new civilization and
more exalted prestige. Then came
in quick succession more transcOnti-
mental railways and then we lose our
selves in the vast maze of tracks that
spread away to the south and south
west, to the north and northwest.
Truly, say, mans mind cannot trace
the miracle. We can but bow in rever-
ence when all the shapeless grandeur
of boarded hopes: when all the hidden
secrets of mankind's quest, spring
forth in their virgin splendor to- heap
at our very feet their grandest gifts.
At the present day no country in
the world equals the United States in
railway equipment. In no country of
the world are railways so extensively
operated. Nowhere but in the United
States do railways enjoy such magnif-
icent roadbeds, smooth, balanced and
true, such infinite appliances Of ele-
gance and comfort. 1t has been said
that our mileage is greater than that
of all other world systems combined.
We have 2 4 miles.of railway to every
1000 people, while England has scarce
ly 4 mile to every 1000 people. In
1904 our railways had in use over 25,-
100000 tons of steel rails, over 10000
locomotives and as many more coaches
and baggage cars, while the number
of freight cars totaIed over ~ million.
And this equipment hauled in 1904
over 147,OOO,OOO,OOO tons of freight.
These figures would make an astrono-
mer literally gasp.
Our chief Industries are mining,
farming, and manufacturing, lumber
ing and fishing. Our miues furnish
about Il, our forests about Il, our
farms about i-9 and our factories
about II OF our total national output.
! have briefly touched few represent
qtive features Of our chief pursuits,
for single purpose. A purpose which
l know is respectabIe. Chas. H. Coch-
rane. in Modern Industrial Progress