The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1917-12-03
OUR UNITED STATES

become accustomed to the use O
superlatives in referring to the
wealth, resources and industry OF
their country, and recent statistics
show that they cannot be referred tC
otherwise. Europe continues to call
on us for vast sums of money and for
the materials of construction. De
velopments in railroad building, man
ufacturing and commercial activities
in South America and Asia will in
crease this demand
our credit is incOmparably the
highest in the world. Our wealth
exceeds $225, 900. .000, 900 and is con-
stantly growing. Our banking re-
sources exceed S35,OOO,OO 900 and
the savings of the Nation last year
are estimated at 000,000,0O0. With
three-fOurths of the $4,000, 100000 in
American securities formerly held in
Europe repurchased by American in
vestors and with our loans to the AL
lies, we will have a huge credit bal
ance in foreign markets that will
still further enable us to dominate
the worlds finances.
The population of the Nation in
1890 was made up of 3,172,444 whites
and 757,1Sl negroes. Ninety-One and
six-tenths per cent was from the ma
tiOns composing the Entente Allies
of today. The present Germany con-
tributed only SO per cent; of the
present neutrals the Dutch contribu-
ted 2.5 per cent and all other whites
3 per cent.
On July l, 1917, the continental
United States had an estimated pop
ulation of 103, ,635. 300. 1t is distribu-
ted as follows: Descendants of
whites enumerated in 1890. 3S,S2S,- |
000; descendants of immigrants. |
lS2O-1SSO. 17,6S7.952; native whites
of foreign parentage, 21,5S1. 1923; |
white foreign born, 14662.261; total |
white population. 92.759,542. Negroes,
Indians and Asiatics make up the re-
manning I0.S75,75S, 10.41225S being
negroes, 100000 Indians, $1,000 Chi
nese and 100000 Japanese. Less than
per cent of this population is COM
posed of German descent.
The United States embraces an
area exceeding 100000 square miles,
excluding Alaska, Hawaii and the in
sular possessions, which are empires
in themselves. While our population
in the last half-century has increased
from 35,000,OO0 to more than 100000
900, our wealth has increased from
25 to 225 billions of dollars, or more
than three times the rate of the in
crease in population. We are entire
ly within the temperate zone and,
were intensive cultivation practiced
here, the entire world could be fed
and clothed from our surplus.
On July l, 1917, the United States
still held 255,OOO,OOO acres of land
which was not reserved. More than {
One-half of this area has been sur
veyed and is available for settlement.
The prosperity following the panic
of 1898 established this country as q
supreme in agriculture as well as -,
industry. r
No other nation is able to produce t
so completely within its own borders |
the products which its people use. l
The country has an export surplus
of food supplies, great supply of
cotton and supply in less measure q
of wool, and of coal. iron. copper and L
lumber. Its chief dependence is on l
the non-European countries for its
coffee, tea, sugar, hides and fur, silk
and rubber. a
The total value of all crops and
animal products for 1916 was $13,- "
449 ,000, 200, although it was an off n
year. The wheat crop varies in n
amount from one-third to One-half u
that of Europe in normal times. The p
1917 crop is estimated at about CO.
DOC, 900 bushels. The corn and hay a.
crops are our largest and most val {
liable, though. These are the basis u
Df the great stock-raising industry of
he West. The United States produces ~
lbout four-fifths of the worlds supply ~
If corn and its acreage is about as W
arge as that of all other crops COM tn
,ined. II is estimated that the 1917 W
,rop will reach the huge total of NJ
'.250 .000.00 bushels, with the stu 81
,endOus market value of around
e, 900 ,00O. 600, as against value last
ear of $2,295, $4,000. The 100000 pr
ons of hay produced last year were 81
'alued at over 00O.OOO,00O. This /.
ears crop will be smaller, but prob
bly worth as large a total. The de
'nitpd States Prnws ahont e. nor