Article March 14, 1901 Issue

The Unparalleled Century

William Brooke Sandison with contributions from Whittier

Success

One hundred years ago! What a remarkable story the panorama of the closing century reveals! In 1800, our country was a plucky fledgeling, healthy, vigorous, ardent in hope, high in resolve. Our total population was less than 5,500,000. Germany and Britain each had four times our number, Spain twice as many, and even little Portugal had as big a family of sons and daughters as Uncle Sam. West of the Mississippi, all was wilderness. We had thirteen little states and few cities of prominence except Philadelphia, New York, Baltimore, Boston, and Charleston. The entire revenue of the United States government under our first administration was only $4,500,000, while it now costs annually $98,100,413.33 to defray the expenses of the government of Greater New York. Washington was then a new settlement, with only a few thousand population, and had been only lately made the capital. The total wealth of the country was roundly estimated at $200,000,000, or a very little less than forty dollars per capita.—William Brooke Sandison, in Success.

To-day our hearts like organ keys
Our Master's touch are feeling;
The branches of a common Vine
Have only leaves of healing.

Whittier.

Send a comment to the editors