106 HISTORY OF THE WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



industry, intelligence and enterprise of the toilers of this 

 nation, upon a continent rich in all the natural elements 

 of production, blessed by Providence with every variety of 

 climate and soil demanded? 



u The total meat product in the United States in 1884 

 was 1,497,356,943 pounds ; in 1885, 1,577,932,305 pounds ; 

 in 1887, 1,619,126,582 pounds, an average annual increase 

 of five and one-third per cent. ; at this ratio the meat 

 product would double itself in eighteen and three-fourths 

 years. The total production of cotton in the United 

 States in 1867 was 2,019,774 bales; in 1868 it was 

 2,593,993 bales; in 1869 it was 2,439,030 bales; in 1885 

 it was 5,669,021 bales; in 1886 it was 6,550,215 bales; in 

 1887 itwas6,5i3,624bales, an increase in production of over 

 two hundred and fifty per cent, in twenty years, while the 

 average increase of population for the same period of time 

 is only sixty-six and two-thirds per cent. We are pre- 

 sented then with this anomalous condition. We find the 

 ratio of increase of production to the ratio of increase of 

 population two to one, the ratio of transportation facilities 

 is equal to the ratio of production. We find that the peo- 

 ple with greatly enlarged production and every facility for 

 transportation and communication, are growing poorer. 

 We conclude, therefore, that the cause of depression and 

 poverty among the producing classes is not a lack of 

 industry and attention to business ; it is not because a 

 generous soil has refused to respond to the efforts of the 

 agriculturist ; it is not because the earth has refused to 

 yield up her precious ores ; it is not because our forests 

 are exhausted ; it is not because fat kine are not upon the 

 thousand hills; we must look elsewhere for the present 

 depressed condition of the masses of our people. This 

 great increase of production results in a corresponding 

 increase of national wealth ; but where is the wealth ? It 

 is not with the producers; it must be with some other 



