Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1916 — AMERICAN BIGNESS [ARTICLE]

AMERICAN BIGNESS

Some Figures That Give an Idea oi Magnitude of United States. In his annual report Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the interior, takes a fling at what he calls foreign writers without a sense of the magtitude and importance of this country. He believes that many foreigners think Americans are habitually given to the most amazing forms of exaggeration and that when they write about

this country they look at the great figures cited in government statistics with suspicion. The result is that in the interest of these writers believe to be the truth, they prune the reports to suit their conception of what America ought to be instead of sticking to facts. In order that Americans shall not be deceived by the remarks of foreign commentators, Secretary Lane has gone into the records of his department to show that the United States produces di per cent of the world's petroleum, 60 per cent of its copper-and 40 per cent- of its coal and iron. Within 50 years the government gave in subsidies to railroads public lands which exceeded in total area a territory seven times the size of Pennsylvania, or about nine times the size of Indiana. Thirteen Western states have contributed a total of 67,000.000 acres of good lands for sustaining their schools and other institutions. There is enough water power going to waste in the United States to equal 60,000,000 horse power, and 'the people are so busy enjoying themselves that, they never ntiss it. If the people were not happy and prosperous they would take steps to utilize the water which flows idly to the sea. If this water was turned upon the land that needs it, says Secretary Lane, it would support 50,000,000 people in comfort. —Indianapolis News.