THE GEOLOGIC ATLAS OF THE UNITED STATES 



In the course of his study of the elements of greatness of na- 

 tions, Buckle concluded that there are three normal stages in 

 national development — the stage of agriculture, followed first by 

 the stage of manufacture and eventually by the stage of foreign 

 commerce. Buckle's conclusions were based on the study of 

 nations confined by territorial limits, and so situated as ^o derive 

 support through commerce with other nations of different re- 

 sources and (generally) inferior intelligence and industry. Since 

 Buckle's time the population of the world has increased and 

 spread far beyond his realization, and new factors have been in- 

 troduced in the problems of statecraft. This is particularly true 

 of the First Republic of America, which controls a vast territory 

 and possesses within itself nearly every necessary resource! By 

 reason of the new conditions, the actual histor}^ of this republic 

 has become a great object lesson in statecraft ; and the experience 

 of the nation, built as it were on a new foundation, has wrought 

 out conclusions of even weightier significance than those of Buckle. 

 One of these conclusions is that the nation desiring to progress 

 well in the race for success must have within itself the territory 

 requisite for agriculture, the resources for manufacture, and the 

 facilities for extended commerce, all growing up together and all 

 fostered by a single people united in interest and purpose. An. 

 other conclusion wrought out by national history is related to 

 those formulated by Buckle ; it is that national progress is as- 

 sured by increase in intelligent activity on the part of masses 

 and leaders alike. With the normal increase of population and 

 of national intelligence, the economic problems and the means of 

 meeting them gradually change ; intensive agriculture makes 

 " two blades of grass grow where one grew before " and converts 

 coarse vegetal tissue into richer animal food, wholesale manu- 

 facture diversifies industries, and abundant commerce at once 

 differentiates the individuals and welds their interests into per- 

 fect solidarity. As agriculture grows intensive through more in- 

 telligent cultivation, so all industries are made intensive by pres- 

 sure of need and reaction of intelligence ; and current thought 

 adjusts itself to constantly changing conditions. 



A significant expression of the national growth of the United 



