UNITED STATES, THE. structed in California at a cost of $15,000,000. The present chief sources of gold production are (1) old placer-mining regions, where the ground is worked with sluices by miners in partnerships and gangs; (2) deep placers and cement deposits, worked by drifting and blasting and by the hydraulic process, usually by joint-stock companies; (3) quartz-mines, operated by individuals or companies. Gold and Silver product of the U. S. for the year ending Mar. 31, 1880. (From U. S. Census.) Gold.. Silver.. 1,614,741.2 33,379,663 31,797,474.3 41,110,957 Total gold and silver, $74,490,620, coining value. "The Pacific Coast Ranges upon the W. carry quicksilver, tin, and chromic iron. The next belt is that of the Sierra Nevada and Oregon Cascades, which upon their western slope bear two zones, a foot-hill chain of copper-mines and a middle line of gold deposits. These gold-veins and the resultant placer-mines extend far into Alaska, characterized by a small amount of that metal, which is entangled in iron sulphurets, and by occupying splits in the upturned metamorphic strata of the Jurassic age. Lying to the E. of this zone, along the E. base of the Sierras, and stretching southward into Mexico, is a chain of silver-mines, containing comparatively little base metal, and frequently included in volcanic rocks. Through Middle Mexico, Arizona, Middle Nevada, and Central Idaho is another line of silvermines, mineralized with complicated association of the base metals, and more often occurring in older rocks. Through New Mexico, Utah, and Western Montana lies another zone of argentiferous galena lodes. To the E., again, the New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana gold-belt is an extremely well-defined and continuous chain of deposits." (See GOLD and SILVER.) Agriculture. The statistics of agriculture in the census of 1880 showed the number of farms in the United States to be 4,008,907, against 2,659,985 in 1870 and 2,044,077 in 1860. Of the farms of 1880, 4352 were under 3 acres, 134,889 were of between 3 and 10 acres, 254,749 of between 10 and 20 acres, 781,574 of between 20 and 50 acres ; 1,032,810 of between 50 and 100 acres; 1,695,983 of between 100 and 500 acres; 104,550 of 500 acres and over. The average size of farms in 1880 was 134 acres; in 1870 it was 153; in 1850, 203. The total number of acres of improved lands in 1880 was 284,771,042. The present cash value of farms was returned at $10,197,096,776; the value of farming implements and machinery at $406,520,055; the value of live-stock at $1,500,464,609. The aggregate value of the product for the year (sold, consumed, or on hand) 1879 was estimated at $2,213,402,564. The number of horses upon farms was given in 1880 at 10,357,488; of mules and asses, 1,812,808; of milch cows, 12,443,120; of working oxen, 993,841; of other cattle, 22,488,550; of sheep, 42,192,074; of swine, 47,681,700. The amounts raised of the principal crops were, in bushels, as follows: wheat, 459,483,137; rye, 19,831,595; Indian corn, 1,754,591,676; oats, 407,858,999; barley, 43,997,495; buckwheat, 11,817,327; potatoes, Irish, 169,458,539; sweet, 33,378,693. Of cotton there were raised 5,755,359 bales; of tobacco, 472,661,157 pounds; of rice, 110,131,373 pounds. The wool-crop of the same year was 240,681,751 pounds. (See article STATISTICS OF CORN, OATS, WHEAT, etc.) Manufactures.-The statistics of manufactures in the United States in 1880 showed the number of establishments to be 253,852, employing 2,738,895 hands, of whom 2,025,335 were males above 16; 531,639 were females above 15, and 181,921 were children and youth. The total amount paid in wages during the year was $947,953,795. The value of materials consumed was $3,396,823,549; the value of the products, $5,369,579,191. Population, Census 1880.-Whites, 43,402,970; colored, 6,580,793; Chinese, 105,465; Indians, 66,407; Japanese, 148; total, 50,155,783. Native-born, 43,475,840; foreignborn, 6,679,943. Total pop. 1790, 3,939,214; 1800, 5,308,483; 1810, 7,239,881; 1820, 9,633,822; 1830, 12,866,020; 1840, 17,069,453; 1850, 23,191,876; 1860, 31,443,321; 1870, 38,558,371: 1880, 50,155,783. (See CENSUS.) Centre of U. S. Population.-The centre of population, as defined in the U. S. Statistical Atlas of 1874, "is the point at which equilibrium would be reached were the country taken as a plane surface, itself without weight, bat capable of sustaining weight, and loaded with its inhabitants, in number and position, as they are found at the period under consideration, each individual being assumed to be of the same gravity as every other, and consequently to exert pressure on the pivotal point directly proportioned to his distance therefrom." In brief, it is the centre of gravity of the population of the whole country. The following table, with the accompanying map (from U. S. census of 1880), shows this movement of the centre 191 1810 39° 11.5 77° 37.2′ 40 m. N. W. by W. of Washington, D. C... 1820 390 5.7' 78° 33 16 m. N. of Woodstock, Va. 1830 380 57.9 79° 16.9 19 m. W. S. W. of Moorefield, W. Va 1840 390 02 802 18' 16 m. S. of Clarksburg, W. Va.. 1850 380 59' 81° 19 23 m. S. E. of Parkersburg, W. Va.. 1860 39 0.4′ 82° 48.8′ 20 m. S. of Chillicothe, O..... 1870 90 12 83° 35.7′ 48 m. E. by N. of Cincinnati, O.. 1880 390 4.1' 84° 39.7' 8 m. W. by S. " Total.... 41 36 50 39 55 55 81 42 58 457 Cities. In 1790 the U. S. had only six cities of 8000 or more population. In 1880 there were thirty-five of over 50,000 population. Among them are New York, 1,206,299; Philadelphia, 847,170; Brooklyn, 566,663; Chicago, 503,185; Boston, 362,839; St. Louis, 350,518. Government. The U. S. of America is a federal republic, composed of 38 sovereign States, 8 organized Territories, the District of Columbia, Indian Territory, and Alaska. The government is based on the Constitution of Sept. 17, 1787, and amendments made thereto in 1791, 1798, 1804, 1865, 1868, and 1870. The electors of the most numerous branch of the several State legislatures are qualified voters in the States respectively for all elective officers of the federal government. All legislative powers are vested in a Congress, which consists of a Senate of two members from each State, elected by the legislature thereof for six years, and a House of Representatives, the members of which are apportioned according to population, and elected by the people in districts for two years. Each State is entitled to at least one representative. The Constitution provided for a specific number of Representatives to the first Congress, but afterward the number was designated by a vote of Congress itself after each decennial census. Besides its ordinary legislative capacity, the Senate is vested with certain judicial functions, and its members constitute a high court of impeachment. No person can be convicted by this court unless on the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators present, nor does judgment extend farther than to removal from office and disqualification to hold a federal office thereafter. Representatives have the sole power of impeachment. The executive power is vested in a President, who is elected by an electoral college chosen by popular vote, or by the legislatures of the States, the number of electors voted for being equal to the number of Senators and Representatives from the States in Congress. His term of office is four years, but he is eligible for re-election indefinitely. The electors forming the college are themselves chosen in the manner prescribed by the laws of the several States, but an act of Congress provides that the Presidential electors shall be all chosen upon the same day-viz. on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. A majority of the aggregate number of votes given is necessary to the election of President and Vice-President; and if none of the candidates has such a majority, then the election of President is determined by the House of Representatives, and that of the Vice-President by the Senate, from among the three candidates having the highest number of electoral votes, and in doing so the vote is taken by States, the Representative of each State having only one vote, and the result must, of course, be determined by a majority of the States, so it would be possible to elect a President by less than a majority of the Representatives in the House. No person can be President or Vice-President who is not a native-born citizen. The President is commander-inchief of the army and navy, and of the militia when in the service of the Union. With the concurrence of twothirds of the Senate, he has the power to make treaties, appoint civil and military officers, levy war, conclude peace, and do all that rightly belongs to the executive power. He has a veto on all laws passed by Congress, but so qualified that, notwithstanding his disapproval, any bill becomes a law on its being afterward approved of by two-thirds of both Houses of Congress. The President has a salary of $50,000 per annum, and the "White House" at Washington for a residence during his official term. The Vice-President is ex-officio president of the Senate, and in case of the death, resignation, or other disability of the President the powers and duties of that office devolve upon him for the remainder of the term for which the President had been elected. This provision of the Constitution, for the first time since the foundation of the government, came into operation in 1841, on the demise of the lamented William H. Harrison, who died Apr. 4, just one month after the inauguration, when John Tyler, the Vice-President, succeeded to the Presidency. VicePresident Fillmore also succeeded President Taylor under this provision. Vice-President Johnson succeeded President Lincoln in 1865, and Vice-President Arthur succeeded President Garfield in 1881. In case of the disability of the Vice-President, the president pro tempore of the Senate takes his place. Presidents and Vice-Presidents. Term. Presidents. Vice-Presidents. Held office. 1. Geo. Washington, Va.John Adams, Mass.....Apr. 30, 1789, to Mar. 2. Geo, Washington, Va.John Adams, Mass.....Mar. 4, 1793, to 3. John Adams, Mass... Thomas Jefferson, Va.. 4. Thos. Jefferson, Va... Aaron Burr, N. Y.. 5. Thos, Jefferson, Va... George Clinton, N. Y... 6. James Madison, Va.. George Clinton, N. Y... 7. James Madison, Va.. Elbridge Gerry, Mass.. 8. James Monroe, Va... D. D. Tompkins, N. Y.. 9. James Monroe, Va... D. D. Tompkins, N. Y.. 10. J. Q. Adams, Mass...John C. Calhoun, S. C.. 11. A. Jackson, Tenn....John C. Calhoun, S. C.. 12. A. Jackson, Tenn..M. Van Buren, N. Y.. 13. M. Van Buren, N. Y.. Rich. M. Johnson, Ky.. SW. H. Harrison, O..John Tyler, Va... 14. John Tyler, Va.... Secretaries of the Nary. Benj. Stoddert, Mass......May 21, 1798 John Y. Mason, Va.... .Sept. 9, 1846 ..Mar. 8, 1849 July 22, 152 Mar. 6, 1957 Mar. 5, 1861 Mar. 5, 169 June 25, 1889 .Mar. 12, 1877 Jan. 6, 1981 Mar. 5, 1881 B. W. Crowninshield, Mass. Dec. 19, 1814 Isaac Toucey, Conn..... 1797, to 1801, to 4, 1793 1797 1801 1805 J. Thompson, Miss. 1837 O. H. Browning, Ill.. Jacob D. Cox, O.... Apr. 15. James K. Polk, Tenn. George M. Dallas, Pa... Mar. Zach. Taylor, La... Millard Fillmore, N, Y.. M. Fillmore, N. Y... 16. July 17. Frank. Pierce, N. H.. W. R. King, Ala.... Mar. 18. James Buchauan, Pa.J. C. Breckinridge, Ky.. 19. Abraham Lincoln, Ill. Hannibal Hamlin, Me.. 20. SA. Lincoln, Ill.....Andrew Johnson, Tenn. A. Johnson, Tenn...... 21. Ulysses S. Grant, Ill..Schuyler Colfax, Ind... Mar. 22. Ulysses S. Grant, Ill.. Heury Wilson, Mass.... 23. R. B. Hayes, O....... W. A. Wheeler, N. Y... Jas. A. Garfield, O..C. A. Arthur, N. Y..... ** C. A. Arthur, N. Y.. ..Sept. 25. G. Cleveland, N. Y... T. A. Hendricks, Ind... Mar. 24. 1849, to July 9, 1850, to Mar. 4, 1853, to .Mar. 5, 1869 Postmasters-General. Sam. Osgood, Mass.......Sept. 26, 1789 Horatio King, Me.... T. Pickering, Mass........Aug. 12, 1791 Montgomery Blair, Md.....Mar. 5, 1861 Jos. Habersham, Ga...... Feb. 25, 1795 Wm. Dennison, 0... (See TABLES on pages 193 and 194. The administrative business of the nation is conducted by several high officers with the title of secretaries, etc., who form what is termed the Cabinet, or advisory council, of the President. These are the secretary of state, the secretary of the interior, the secretary of the treasury, the secretary of war, the secretary of the navy, the postmastergeneral, and the attorney-general, the last named being the official law authority for advisement in administrative affairs. The several departments of the government are under the direct control and supervision of these officers. The following gives the names and dates of appointment of those who have held the several offices since the adoption of the Constitution: Secretaries of State. Thos. Jefferson, Va.. .Sept. 26, 1789 James Buchanan, Pa......Mar. 6, 1845 John C. Calhoun, S. C.....Mar. 6, 1844 Secretaries of the Treasury. A. Hamilton, N. Y........ Sept. 11, 1789 James Guthrie. Ky.. Oliver Wolcott, Conn. .Mar. 6, 1857 Dec. 17, 1860 .Mar. 5, 1861 .Mar. 5, 1869 Mar. 11, 1869 .Mar. 12, 1877 .Mar. 5, 1881 June 4, 1874 .Mar. 7, 1853 .Feb. 2, 1795 Howell Cobb, Ga.... .Mar. 6, 1857 Samuel Dexter, Mass.. .Jan. 1, 1801 Philip F. Thomas, Md.....Dec. 12, 1860 Albert Gallatin, Pa........May 14, 1801 John A. Dix, N. Y. .Jan. 11, 1861 G. W. Campbell, Teun... .Mar. 7, 1861 Alex. J. Dallas, Pa.... .July 1, 1864 W. H. Crawford, Ga.... .Mar. 7, 1865 Richard Rush, Pa.... Mar. 11, 1869 Sam. D. Ingham, Pa.. Louis MacLane, Del... Wni. A. Dunne, Pa.. Roger B. Taney, Md Levi Woodbury, N. H.. Thomas Ewing, O... Walter Forward, Pa.. J. C. Spencer, N. Y. George M. Bibb. Ky.. R. J. Walker, Miss... Wm. M. Meredith, Pa... Thomas Corwin, O... .Feb. 9, 1814 Salmon P. Chase, O.. ..Oct. 6, 1814 W. P. Fessenden, Me... Oct. 22, 1816 H. McCulloch, Ind...... Mar. 7, 1825 G. S. Boutwell. Mass.... .Mar. 6, 1879 W. A. Richardson, Mass... Mar. 17, 1873 .Aug. 2, 1831 Benj. H. Bristow, Ky. May 29, 1833 Lot M. Morrill, Me.... .Sept. 23, 1833 John Sherman, (). June 27, 1834 Wm. Windom, Minn.. .Mar. 5, 1841 Chas, J. Folger, N. Y. .Sept. 13, 1841 W. Q. Gresham, Ind... .Mar. 3, 1843 Hugh McCulloch, Ind... June 15, 1844 D. Manning, N. Y... .Mar. 6, 1845 .Mar. 8, 1849 July 23, 1850 Secretaries of War. .Mar. 5, 1881 Oct. 27, 1881 ..Sept. 24, 1884 .Oct. 28, 1884 .Mar. 5, 1885 .Sept. 12, 1789 Geo. W. Crawford, Ga..... Mar. 8, 1849 Timothy Pickering, Mass...Jau. 2, 1795 Chas. M. Conrad, La......Aug. 15, 1850 Jan. 27, 1796, Jefferson Davis, Miss. Mar. 5, 1853 James McHenry, Md. Mar. 6, 1845 Dec. 10, 1879 .Sept. 26, 1789 J. J. Crittenden, Ky......July 22. 1850 ..Jan. 28, 1807 James Speed, Ky.... ..Mar. 5, 1861 June 22, 1863 .Dec. 2, 1864 July 23, 1758 July 15, 1868 .Mar. 5. 18 Apr. 26, 1873 .Dec. 11, 1811 Henry Stanberry, O... .Feb. 10, 1814 Wm. M. Evarts, N. Y... Nov. 13, 1817 E. R. Hoar, Mass... ..Mar. 9, 1829 Amos T. Akerman, Ga....June 23, 1×70 Roger B. Taney, Md.......July 20, 1831 Geo. H. Williams, Or......Dec. 14. 1871 B. F. Butler, N. Y.. Nov. 15, 1833 E. Pierrepont, N. Y.. Felix Grundy, Tenn........July 5, 1838 Alphonso Taft, O........ May 27, 1676 Henry J. Gilpin, Pa.... Jan. 11, 1840 Charles Devens, Mass. .Mar. 12, 1877 J. J. Crittenden, Ky.. ...Mar. 5, 1841 Wayne MacVeagh, Pa...... Mar. 5, 11 Hugh S. Legaré, 8. C.....Sept. 13, 1841 Benj. H. Brewster, Pa... Dec. 19, 1881 John Nelson, Md... ..July 1, 1843 A. H. Garland, Ark.. Mar. 5, 1885 John Y. Mason, Va.... ..Mar. 6, 1845 Nathan Clifford. Me..... Isaac Toucey, Conn.... Reverdy Johnson, Md......Mar. 8, 1849 .Oct. 17, 1846) June 21, 1848) Courts. The judicial powers of the U. S. are vested in a supreme court and such other inferior courts as Congress may from time to time establish. The present judicial establishments consist of a supreme court, circuit courts, and district courts. The supreme court, the highest judicial tribunal of the Union, is composed of a chief-justice and eight associate justices. One session is held annually at the capital, commencing on the first Monday in October and closing generally early in May. Six justices are required to constitute a quorum. The jurisdiction exercised is both original and appellate, but chiefly, in practice, the latter. The original jurisdiction extends to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a State is a party, except that in the latter case no suit can be prosecuted against any State by the citizens of another State. (See COURTS.) Chief-Justices, and Dates of Appointment. John Jay, N. Y...... .Sept. 26, 1789 Roger P. Taney, Md.......Dee. 28, 1933 John Rutledge, S. C........July 1, 1795 Salmon P. Chase, 0.. Dec. 6. 14 O. Ellsworth, Conn..... .Mar. 4, 1796 Morrison R. Waite, O......Jan. 21, 1874 John Marshall, Va........Jan. 27, 1801 The circuit courts are held by a justice of the supreme court and the judge of the district in which the court sits, conjointly. The U. S. is divided into nine judicial circuits, in each of which a session is held twice a year. |