e found that the total area drained
by the rivers of the world is as follows:

_Sq. Miles._
Europe, emptying into the Atlantic, 532,940
Africa, emptying into the Mediterranean, 198,630
----------
Total Old World, 1,731,570
==========
Asia, emptying into the Pacific, 1,767,280
Asia, emptying into the Indian ocean, 1,661,760
----------
Total Asiatic, 3,429,040
==========
North-America, including St. Lawrence and
Mississippi emptying into the Atlantic, 1,476,800
==========
South-America, emptying into the Atlantic--
Amazon and its confluents, 2,048,480
La Plata and all others, 1,329,490
----------
Total South-American 3,377,970
==========
Total American to the Atlantic, 4,854,770
==========

"From the above statement it will be seen that the proposed line
of steam communication will bring within thirty days of each
other, the commercial outlets of navigable streams which drain a
back country greater in extent than that which is drained by all
of the navigable streams which empty themselves into the Atlantic,
the Pacific, and the Indian oceans, from those portions of Europe,
Asia, and Africa, which are accessible to American commerce.
Settlement and cultivation will, in the course of time, make these
American river basins as rich in products as those of the old
world.

"The question next arises, who are to be the carriers of the trade
which is hereafter to spring out of these American river basins,
the English or the Americans? If Great Britain be suffered to
monopolize commerce as she has heretofore done by her steam
navigation, her people will enjoy this great boon; but if, on the
contrary, the United States take advantage of circumstances as
they should, the prize will be won by Americans."

"Y