Russia and the United States.
Russia and the United States are like great national colossi, each standing with one foot on each side of a hemisphere, so that the time will come when the traveler can make a circuit of the earth on the transcontinental railways of the two powers, connected by ocean steamers. Russia has twice the population of the United States, but not half the intelligence or wealth. One of the most significant indications of the relative position of the two people is their railroad systems. The Americans, with a vast sea coast, and 50,000 miles of lake and river navigation, have 60,000 miles of rail, while the Russian, with less than 10,000 miles of inland navigation, have not 8,000 miles of rails. The Americans having completed their first transcontinental railroad, are now working at their second and third. The Russian have not made a preliminary survey for their first one.