The production of Wool has progressed remarkably both as regards quantity and quality. In 1850 the aggregate product was about 52,000,000 pounds; in 1860, 60,000,000; and in 1870, 100,000,000. Ohio, with twenty and a half millions, surpasses all the other states; California follows with eleven millions; New York, with ten millions; Michigan, with eight millions. Vermont excels in producing wool of the very finest quality.

The production of Silk is still in its infancy in the United States. The census for 1870 reports 3,937 pounds of silk cocoons, which were produced almost entirely in California. Here the mulberry (morus alby, and M. moretti) grows well in proper situations; but whether the raising of silk-worms can be successfully carried on with the high prices of labor is doubtful.

MANUFACTURES.

The manufacturing industry of the United States progresses at the most extraordinary rate, and keeps pace with the development of the natural resources of the country. New branches are constantly added to those already in successful operation, and nearly all the commodities that enter into the consumption of a civilized nation are produced within our borders.

In 1870 there were 252,148 manufacturing establishments, employing 1,215,711 horse-power of steam engines, 1,130,431 horsepower of water wheels, and 2,053,996 hands, of whom 1,615,508 were males above 16 years of age, and 323,770 females above 15 years of age. The capital invested was $2,118,208,769; the raw material consumed had a value of $2,488,427,242; the wages paid amounted to $775,584,343; and the value of the products was $4,232,325,442. Deducting from this enormous amount the cost of raw materials, the profit realized by the manufacturing industry during the year was $1,743,898,200, or $45.25 per head to the population. The increase of this great branch of industry during the last decade has been unprecedented.

The subjoined table exhibits the industrial statistics; the states being arranged in the order of the value of the annual products:

The manufacture of Cotton Goods is one of the oldest branches of industry in the United States. It properly began with the erection of the first water frame for spinning, in Rhode Island, in 1790; but since then it has increased even more rapidly than the production of the raw material. In 1850 there were employed 3,633,693 spindles; and the total product had a value of $65,501,687. Ten years later the number of spindles in operation was 5,235,727, and the value of products, $115,681,774. By 1870 the spindles had increased to 7,132,415, and the value of products to $177,489,739; of which Massachusetts produced one-third, or $59.493,155. The states next in rank, as regards the production. of cotton goods were Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, and New Jersey. The Printed Cotton and Woolen Goods had a value of $54,446,044.

The value of Woolen Goods in 1870 was $155,405,358, against $61,894,986 in 1860, and $43,207,545 in 1850. The leading states in this branch of industry were Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine. The census report enumerates fifteen different articles manufactured in this country, among which flannels, cloths, cassimeres, blankets, tweeds, and twills occupied the first places.

The manufacture of Silk Goods has doubled during the last decade. The census for 1860 returned for the total value of the products, $6,607,771; and the census of 1870, $12,210,662. In the former year the production was limited to sewing silk and

twist in the latter there were manufactured 1,026,422 yards of silk goods, 3,224,264 yards of silk ribbon, 370,031 pounds of machine silk, and 127,590 pounds of spool silk.

The value of Hosiery produced in 1850 was but $1,028,102; in 1860 $7,280,606; and in 1870, $18,411,564. The manufacture of Carpets shows also a remarkable increase, in producing the following values in 1850,$5,401,234; in 1860, $7,857,636; and in 1870," $21,761,573.

Ready-made Clothing is manufactured principally in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. The value in 1850 was $40,678,802; in 1860, $64,002,965; and in 1870, $147,650,378. In the production of Cast Iron were invested in 1870, $67,578,961, and the raw materials consumed, as pig-iron, scrap-iron, and coal, had a value of $48,222,550; while the value of products amounted to $99,843,218, against $36,132,033 in 1860, and $25,108,155 in 1850. New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Massachusetts are the leading states in this branch of industry.

Boots and Shoes were manufactured to the amount of $181,644,090 in 1870, against $91,889,298 in 1860.

The manufacture of Machinery has more than doubled within the last decade. In 1870 the products had a value of $138,519,248, and in 1860, $51,887,266. Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and Massachusetts are the foremost machine-producing states.

Sawed Lumber, including shingles, staves, etc., was produced in 1860 to the value of $96,715,854, and in 1870, of $210,159,327, chiefly in Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, and Maine.

Tanned Leather manufacture in 1870 had a value of $86,169,883, and the Curried Leather, of $54,192.017.

The production of Brick and Tile increased from $11,263,147 in 1850 to $29.302,016 in 1870, and is most extensively carried on in New York and Pennsylvania. The Carpenters and Builders trade added to the national wealth the large sum of $132,901,432, and the value of Furniture was $68,522,221, and of Glass, $19,235,862.

No branch of manufacture grows more rapidly than that of Agricultural Implements. The products in 1850 had a value of $6,842,611; in 1860, of $17,487,960; and in 1870, of $52,066,875. The census report for the last year enumerates 21,790 cornplanters, 88,740 cultivators, 19,772 fanning mills, 103,646 graincradles, 207,310 dozen of hand rakes, 9,150 harrows, 3,566 hervesters, 1,298,260 hay forks, 80,619 horse rakes, 39.486 mowers, 60,388 reapers, 59,645 mowers and reapers combined, 864,947 plows, 2,931 threshers, 881,244 scythes, 6,900 seed sowers, and 1,031 separators.

Chewing, Smoking and Snuffing Tobacco was manufactured of

$38,388,356 in value in 1870; and $21,820,545 in value in 1860; and the number of Cigars was 935,868 boxes (of one thousand each), which had a value of $28,299,067.

The value of Carriages and Wagons was $65,362,837.

The Sugar Refineries turned out products to the amount of $108,941,911, and the Distilleries of Liquor, Beer Breweries and Wine Mannfactories of $94,133,014.

Paper of all descriptions was produced in 1870 to the value of $48,676,935, against $23,447,302 in 1860, and the value of printed publications was in both years respectively $32,674,037 and $31,986,433.

Flour and Meal had increased from $248,580,365 in 1860, to $444,985,143 in 1870.

The Iron industry of our country has attained colossal proportions, and is second only to that of England. In 1870 our products were: pig-iron, $60,640,498, iron castings, $76,453,553; iron blooms, $23,389,625; forged and rolled iron, $128,062,627, and nails and spikes, $24,823,996.

MINING.

The United States is probably the richest country in the world, as regards the useful and precious minerals. The Appalachian ranges and the Mississippi valley have immense coal fields, inexhaustible deposits of iron, copper, lead, etc.; while the treasure of precious metals in the region of the Cordilleras is practically without limit. For many years to come the yield of our mines will increase, and mining continue to be a great legitimate branch of industry.

Gold and Silver were formerly obtained to a limited extent in Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia; and the value of the gold annually mined averaged about $1,000,000. But with the gold

discoveries in California in 1848 the United States took the first rank in the production of this metal, and has maintained it ever since. Mining has been followed in the West by several different methods. Placer mining was the first; an inexpensive process by which the loose gold is washed out of the alluvial soil. Hydraulic mining is placer mining on a gigantic scale; and this is still a profitable pursuit in California. The chief process now is quartz mining, by which the gold is obtained from the hard rocks (mostly quartz) of the auriferous veins. This has become and will remain for many years a legitimate industry, which if skillfully conducted, will yield regular returns, but no sudden fortunes. Hydraulic and quartz mining require large investments of capital, and hence are mostly carried on by chartered companies, whose shares are bought and sold in the market. The history of this