Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1908 — Uncle Sam the Wealthiest Nation. [ARTICLE]

Uncle Sam the Wealthiest Nation.

That the United States is the richest nation In the world is an undisputable fact. The following statistics give one an Idea of Its great natural wealth. It produces 33 1-3 per cent of the coal In the world, 30 per cent of the Iron, 50 per cent of the copper, 50 per cent of the lead, 23 per cent of the gold and 30 per cent of the silver. Besides its natural products, from Its rich and fertile soil is produced 80 per cent of the com in the world; 20 per cent of the wheat, 33 per cent of the tobacco, 80 per cent of the cotton, 25 per cent of the oats and 33 per cent of the lumber. From its waters are caught 20 per cent of the fish and 33 per cent of the hogs raised in the world are raised in the United States. We produce 33% per cent of the world’s total manufactures, carry on 25 per cent of the world's foreign commerce and 90 per cent of the domestic. We have 50 per cent of the railroad mileage of the world. An average of 18 mineral and agricultural products of the United States produces 42 per cent of the world’s produce. Our population of 77 millions of people (not including island possessions) constitute but 5 per cent of the world’s population. Thus 5 per cent of the people annually produce 45 per cent of the world’s wealth. The American people In general, are the best classed; best clothed because they have at their disposal nearly half the wealth of the world. The usual breakfast of the French factory hand is a slice of cold bread flavored with onions. The general scope of the people of Holland cannot afford meat but must resort to the cheapest food obtainable. The principal diet of the Belgians is potatoes. England, the land of lords and ladies, can’t afford meat but dines on bread and cheese, thin washy cider or Impure liquor. } In Russia. China and Italy the people are so numerous and the soil so poor that famines are frequent and yearly hundreds of people die of stai> vation. Thus we see the reason for the "rush” to America. No country in the history of the world has developed so fast as has the United Btates. From 10 millions a century ago to 77 million today. The Japanese and Chinese still look to us with longing eyes as the land of milk and honey.