Million Tons. |
+-----------------+--------------+--------------+---------------+
| 1870-74 | 1,178 | 342 | 108 |
| 1875-79 | 1,221 | 353 | 118 |
| 1880-84 | 1,445 | 354 | 136 |
| 1885-89 | 1,467 | 416 | 141 |
| 1890-94 | 1,590 | 475 | 151 |
| Year 1895 | 1,635 | 510 | 157 |
+-----------------+--------------+--------------+---------------+

With regard to the figures for cotton in the above table, it is only
necessary to remark that the British manufacturer, whether for sale
abroad, or for sale at home, is clearly working up more stuff than ever
before. The figures for wool have already been explained. With regard
to coal, the figures necessarily include both domestic and industrial
consumption; but whichever be the more important element, the totals are
remarkably healthy.

PERSONAL AND DOMESTIC EXPENDITURE.

An even better test of the increased spending power of the nation is
furnished by the figures giving the rate of consumption of such articles
of everyday use as tea, sugar, and tobacco. It will be seen from the
following table how rapidly our national consumption of these staple
articles has increased during the past decade--the decade of alleged
ruin:--

TEA, SUGAR, AND TOBACCO.

-------------------------+--------------------------
| Lbs. consumed by every
| 100 persons.
Year ending March 31st. +--------------------------
| Tea. | Sugar. | Tobacco.
-------------------------+------+--------+----------
1876 | 451 | 6,078 | 147
1886 | 465 | 7,028 | 144
1896 | 574 | 8,916 | 169
-------------------------+------+--------+----------

It is useless to worry the reader with further figures. Evidences of the
prosperity of the country are around us on every side for those to see
that have eyes to see--a higher standard of dress in every class of the
community; better built and better furnished houses for artisan and
labourer, as well as for millionaire; new public buildings, new
libraries, new hospitals; improved paving, improved water-supply,
improved drainage; more newspapers, more theatres, more lavish
entertainments; in a word, a higher standard of comfort o