Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-10
PROGRESS OF THE u. e., ISOO-I01 g.

An epitomzed record Of the nation 5
growth in area. population, and resources
is contained in pamphlet Just issued by
the department of commerce through It's
bureau of foreign and domestic com
merce. entitled Statistical Record of the
Progress Of the United States. 1900 1914"
In all cases where the statistical data
permit the tables cover more than n
CENTURY; the later Inauguration of GER
tain lines Of statistics necessarily re-
-trcts, in those cases, the period COW
cred.
a half-ccntury retrospect. readily avail
'blc by reference to tables appearing in
the pamphlet, affords a clear perspective
Of the nations growth. Since 1850 the
population of the United States has more
than quadrupled. being approximately
100, Ooo0 oo at the present time. In the same
period. however, foreign commerce has
crown from s3lS.0o0mn to 81 80 900 900 and
the per capita value of exports from 1886
o s23,2'. National wealth has increased
from 5000 ."o.co in 1870 10 approximately
$4,000, 100000; money in circulation, from
S27s,o0,"n to t3,il9oOO Oc0: and New York
pank clcarings have grown from 5000. o.
10000 I'm 1881, the earliest year for which
figures ar" availab bic, to sl7i OOO, 100000 in
9l3.
Evidences Of improved conditions anon;
he people are also found IN tho Stats
teal Record" For example, 100000 chill
dren are now enrolled in public schools
and about 100000 students in colleges and
other higher institutions of learning. and
the total expenditures on behalf OF edu-
cation now approximate $500 10000 a year,
the result being rapid increase in gen
eral intelligence and a marked decrease In
llliteracy. Over 22,060 newspapers and pc
riodicals are disseminating information
among the people, and the report shows a
steady growth IN the number of libraries
in the country. In 1850 depositors in saw
ings banks were 25l 900 in number; to-day
the number is 100000 with deposits. ex-
elusive of those in other wings institu-
tons, aggregating s4,7SOOOO, 900, or more
than 100 times as much as at the mid
die OF the last century.
Increased activity on the farms, in the
factories, and in the great transportation
industries has also developed during the
last half-century. The value OF farms
and farm property increased from $1,000
100000 in 1880 to SAL 900, OO0ODO in 1910; the
'ai"' VI manufactures, from tl,Vu,Ub.UU
to over $4,000 600 600; and the number of
miles OF railway In operation. from 9,G2l
In 1850 to 3S,O33 in 1912. In the last quar-
ter-century the number OF passengers car
RED has increased from 492. 900 to l,00i,-
V",oo and the volume of freight handled
from 6S2O0OO to 1,S46, 100000 short tons
Nearly DoU'CO,0O0 pieces Of outgoing mail
matter are handled annually by the post
once department. which disbursed in this
important public service last year $685.
VV'Wo. or 1910 per capita
The range of subjects included in tho
statistical Record" extends to many 9TH
er FACTORS OF national life. such as farm
production. production of minerals, the
consumption of liquors. prices of staple
commodities, and financial conditions
while broad outlines are shown with re-
spect to the worlds development I'm pop
uiation, production. commerce. carrying
power etc. The hook is sold by the SUI
per,ntendsnt Of documents. washington,
D. G. for 10 cents a COPY.