AREA OF THE UNITED STATES.
All facts relating to the climate and topography of a country are properly included in statistical science. Although we have made but slight progress toward a full knowledge of the meteorology, or physical geography of our continent, like that already attained by the science and statistics of Europe; yet even rough and general details, often approximate in their accuracy, must be of considerable interest. Think for a moment of the countless relations existing between man and the world he inhabits, and you soon perceive that the greater part of these depend on the climate and geography of the earth. It is not a matter of small account or interest whether we have above us skies of lead or azure—a brisk and pure air, like that of Scotland and the Alps, or an atmosphere heavy and surcharged with mist like that of the Norwegian coasts—whether the earth beneath us is regular or abrupt in level, and what is the nature of its forests, lakes and rivers. Science, aided by many practical observations, has already mapped out Europe in all these respects, and more; and we long to see the work begun in our own country, but it must, of course, await the more complete spread and growth of the people. We ought to say, however, that much is being done in this kind of investigation by the Coast Survey, and that, too, in such a thorough and extensive manner as to excite the admiration of Europe itself. Most of the results we shall copy under the present head, were ascertained, either wholly or in part, through the labors of this and the Topographical Office. Seeking for the most natural division of our territory into sections, and one more in accordance with its main geographical features than any hitherto adopted, Mr. DeBow separates the Republic into four great divisions, or slopes. These are—1st. The Mississippi Valley, comprising all that portion of our country drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries. 2d. The Pacific slope, including all that territory whose waters enter the Pacific Ocean. 3d. The Atlantic slope, drained by all the waters which enter the Atlantic north of the Mississippi Valley. 4th. The Gulf slope, or that portion of territory whose waters flow into the Gulf of Mexico. The following table shows the number of square miles included in each of these divisions of the Union, and also the area of several European States, with which the reader may make some interesting comparisons:— |
Square miles, |
Ratio to total area. |
|---|
| Mississippi Valley, |
1,217,562 |
41,47 |
| Pacific Valley, |
766,002 |
26,09 |
| Atlantic Slope north of Mississippi Valley, |
627,065 |
21,35 |
| Gulf slope, |
325,537 |
11,09 |
| Total area, |
2,936,166 |
|
| Area of the United States at the peace of 1783, |
820,680 |
|