The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-07-21
LET'S COUNT OUR BLESSINGS
LEST WE FORGET
Looking Backward Sometimes A
Good Thing, Especially for Pes
simists-Hurrah for "UncIe
SAM

Good Thing, Especially for Pes
simists-Hurrah for "uncIe
SAM
When Liberty Bell rang out 195
years ago it told the world that a
nation was born, born to struggle and
epdeavor, born to hope and purpose,
9orn to toll and suffering and born
to accomplishments the equal of
which the world had never seen.
On that day we were a nation of
less than 100000 people: now we
number 90,0OO,OOO, with nearly TO-,
100000 more in our possessions
across the seas.
On that day our western boundary
of occupation was barely 500 miles
from the Atlantic coast: now that
boundary is the Pacific Ocean, with
Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines
marking our way across that ocean
to the far east
On that day it took days and some
times weeks to send a message only
j., few hundred miles; now in single
hour we can send message to Man
lila and receive it's answer.
On that day our exports did not ex-
coed a value of $2O,0OO,00O yearly;
now their value is $4,000, 900 900.
On that day, our imports were
covered by $25,O0O,0OO; now they APP
proach $1,000, 100000
On that day school houses were
few and far between; now nearly
100000 common schools are centers
for the creating of good American
citizenship, besides several thous-
and universities, colleges, special
schools and other institutions OF
American educational advancement,
with more than 20,OO0,000 pupils and
students therein.
On that day the few factories in
our country barely supplied the wants
of our few people; now more than
half million factories supply the
wants of S5,OOO,OOO people at home
peoples by a yearly export contri
button of manufactures worth $780,
100000 and have a total yearly out
put of about S17,O00,O0O,0O0 in value.
On that day the deposits in our
savings banks did not total $1,000
600; now those deposits total 3d.
500,00O,O00, besides $4,400, 100000 on
deposit in our national banks and al
most as much in our state banks.
On that day our total circulation
was about $20,OOO,O00; now it ex-
ceeds $4,000, 100000.
On that day our yearly postal re-
ceipts were less than $250000; now
they are over $2000OO.000 a year.
On that day not a mile of steam
railway existed in our country; now
our steam road mileage in operation
is over 100000 miles, besides our
enormous electric railway milage.
On that day Is stars glimmered
feebly on our flag; now 46 stars shine
forth, each representing a strong and
4. independent American common
y wealth.
On that day our annual production
of cotton was less than 10000 bales;
now the yearly output exceeds II,
100000 bales.
On that day our national wealth
was considerably less than $1,000
100000; now it is fully $120,000,-
100000.
On that day a very few millions
of dollars covered the yearly value
of our farm products; now their year
" value exceeds $7,500,000, GOO
On that day our chief national as
ordinary receipts and ordinary ex
penditures were much less than s.,
10000: now they are each more than
5000, 100000
On that day OUR chief national as
set were faith, hope, courage and pat
riotism; and they are the same, plus
accomplished effort. strengthened
national union a firmer grasp on the
principles and practice of freedom,
stronger hope for the future, difficult
les overcoming difficulties yet to be
faced, a spirit which enables us tc
- dare and do because we have dared
4 and done, and the confidence born OF
the fact that we are Americans
citizens of the strongest and mos
g hopeful nation of the family of ma
tions.-Xenia (O) Journal.
- One hundred and thirty-five years