THE EVOLUTION OF NATIONS i8i 



discharge of the German rivers is not above one fourth that of the 

 Mississippi system, as contrasted with one fifth for Britain. Greater 

 ruggedness of surface marks a part of the German territory, but on the 

 other hand, a very large part of the drainage area of the chief streams 

 lies in the North German plain at altitudes under 600 feet, as unfavor- 

 able for power development as they have been favorable to river 

 navigation. At the best, therefore, the German streams could 

 hardly be counted on for more than 10,000,000 horse power, or 

 again less than the amount of mechanical energy actually employed at 

 present. The position of Germany offers little prospect for the use of 

 power from the sea on any such important scale as seems feasible in 

 Britain, and other likely sources of water power do not appear to afford 

 the necessary relief. The future of Germany seems, therefore, to pre- 

 sent a case in which the question of power and a stage of evolution 

 arising from its use is likely to involve readjustments of a far-reaching 

 character. 



The contrast of these two examples, Britain and Germany, may 

 serve to illustrate the extent to which permanent natural sources of 

 mechanical power are factors for national strength, second in impor- 

 tance only to the capacity of the soil to produce food, since under favor- 

 able circumstances both afford a solid basis for large national develop- 

 ment. It must be recognized, however, that in assuming a logical and 

 permanent stage of evolution based on the possession of power alone, 

 it is necessary to take into account the likelihood of there always being 

 some areas so endowed as to produce surplus necessities of life* while 

 they, or other areas, are unable from their own surroundings to satisfy 

 their needs for the products of power. 



Mineral Wealth. — The part played by one sort of mineral supply, in 

 national development, has been indicated in the discussion of coal as a 

 source of energy. With respect to the products of the mines in general 

 and particularly if the term be liberally interpreted, to include all 

 inorganic products of the earth, it may be said that they as a group 

 represent one of the most important of physical factors in the modem 

 progress of nations. Leaving coal entirely aside, it still remains true 

 that the tremendous development of every phase of modem industry, 

 from the cultivation of the soil to the most complex manufacturing 

 process, has become possible only through the constantly increasing 

 employment of mineral products. In fact, the critical difference 

 between the nations of to-day and those of the past is found in the 

 present dependence on materials won from the earth's crust; and it 

 might almost be said that the nations rank to-day and will in the 

 future continue to rank in direct proportion to the wealth of their 

 mineral resources. 



The question needs, however, to be considered carefully, since some 



