The Washburn leader., 1916-12-01
more to sleep-because of the price
of mattresses and beds-and more
to awaken-because Of the increased
price of alarm clocks.-St. Paul Dis
patch.
CAUSES FOR NATIONAL.
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

CAUSES FOR NATIONAL.
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Thanksgiving Is good time to
think of the many blessings which
have come to us as nation, and to
the land in which we nve.
When Abraham Lincoln placed
Thanksgiving day permanently on
the annual calendar, there were only
one fourth of the present number, Of
people in the United States. About
three hundred millions of dollars Of
money was in circulation then as
compared with over three and q half
billions now. The per capita wealth
of the nation has increased to over
two thousand dollars, as compared
with about three hundred dollars
then. Great have been the material
blessings which have rolled up dur
ing the years; tremendous has been
the increase in manufacturing and in
dustrial operations. The total value
of manufactured products is over
twenty billion dollars, and the manu-
featuring establishments number
nearly three hundred thousand. Forty
one billion dollars is the estimated
value of farms and farm property,
whose production is listed at over
eight billion dollars. Farm animals
are valued at six billion dollars.
Colossal figures, almost beyond the
grasp of the human mind, apply also
to the deposits in savings banks, and
to the operations of railroads. OF
the latter there are now two hundred
and fifty thousand miles. The total
deposits in national and savings
banks aggregate over twelve billion
dollars, deposited by over eleven
million repositories.
Vast additions to the nations
wealth are made each year by the
production of wheat, corn, cotton,
wool, cane sugar, gold, silver, and
coal. The production of petroleum
at last annual report reached twelve
million gallons.
Exports enriched the nation to the
amount of three billion dollars last
year. Four billion pounds of cotton
were exported. Exports of manufac-
turers reached total of one billion
dollars. This year the total is much
larger.
These vast sums and quantities are
causes for thanksgiving. They mean
that already is being fulfilled the pro-
phecy of the great British statesman
Gladstone concerning the United
States, made less than half cent
ury ago: "she will probably become
what we are now, the head servant
in the great household of the world.
the employer of all employed be-
cause her service will be of the most
and the ablest." This British states
man declared of tha United States:
"The nation has u natural base for
the greatest continuous elaplre ever
established by man" When one
thinks of this cclntry's natural ad-
vantages of location, one is impress
ed with the tr'l,a of this statement
ca either side tho great ocean high
ways stretch tae,r protecting and
uniting arms.
Crossing the continent gives one a
sense of the magnitude of the ma.
tion, with its three million miles Of
area and forty-eight great common
wealths grouped as a single nation
under a common flag. In the field Of
invention, this nation is unequalled,
as well as in the provisions of educa-
tional opportunity and in the up
holding of the highest ideals which
govern individual, civic, and national
life.
s, In Europe, men are slaughtering
each other and performing deeds
that arouse the horror of mankind.
In reviewing the many blessings
which crown our national life at this
time. the greatest source of thank
fulness must be found in the fact
that there is nothing to disturbe the
peace and wholesome influence Of
our nation
. 1 T.