THE resources of the United States, as a nation, have been the gratification and the boast of Americans for years. They pride themselves on being a self-contained nation; that is, that there is no article necessary for life, for defense, or progress in everything that constitutes national greatness in the way of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” that is not produced abundantly in our own land and by our own labors. No other nation can therefore boycott or embarrass us. We can carry on our own affairs, in supreme independence, without being dependent upon any other people for supplies or resources. Our hills are stored with gold and silver and precious stones, with copper and lead, granite, marble, and iron. Subterranean lakes pour forth rivers of oil, which is fast becoming the fuel of the twentieth century for manufactory and transportation purposes. The art of the iron and steel manufacturing has so increased that we lead the world in these important branches of national defenses, prestige, and power. The easy and sweeping triumphs in the late Spanish war are attributed to the proficiency this nation has reached in the iron and steel industries, as exhibited in marvelous engines, invulnerable iron and steel-clad fighting machines, with guns unsurpassed in weight of metal and accuracy of aim. This places all opposing powers largely at our mercy. It is easy to enumerate the kinds of resources upon which we may draw; but do we begin to realize the extent of the provision placed in our possession? New quantities are coming to light continually. A writer in the May Success speaks as follows of the inexhaustible quantities of oil which have just been discovered in California:— “The discovery of oil in apparently inexhaustible quantities in California and Texas, within the last year, emphasizes America’s first place among the peoples of the earth in treasures. Oil is to be the fuel of the furnaces of the twentieth century, and, with oil to burn in our ships, we can steam the seas with light bunkers, and without having to stop every few days for fuel. A navy steaming on oil, with no coaling stations to protect, should be twice as effective as one guarding coaling stations. But not before have we had oil for such a purpose. Charles Sumner Young, writing to Success about the California oil fields, in the Kern River district, says the oil sands are four hundred feet deep throughout ten thousand acres; and from every acre there will come 200,000 barrels of oil, a gross output of 2,000,000,000 barrels of oil, which, at fifty cents a barrel, will be worth, crude, $1,000,000,000. This dwarfs in importance the yield of gold and silver of the Comstock Lode. Mr. Young does not hesitate to say that California oil is worth more than all the gold and silver she has produced or ever will mine. The oil discoveries in the Beaumont district of Texas do not promise so much, but a geyser spouting nineteen thousand barrels a day, was recently utilized. The district is an extensive one, and the oil sands are estimated to be from five to fifteen feet in depth. Oil in smaller quantities has been found elsewhere.” What vast possibilities and probabilities does this open up in regard to the future progress and movements of this nation as it fills out the prophetic outline of its influence and career as the closing power of Rev. 13: 11-16.