Gold, 2,774,935 ounces; worth $57,363,000. Silver, 53,860,000 ounces; worth $32,316,000. Copper, 220,571 long tons. Lead, 212,000 short tons. Zinc, 99,980 short tons. Aluminum, 4,000,000 lbs.; worth (37½ cents lb.) $1,500,000. (This was three times the product of 1896.) Mercury, 26,691 flasks; worth $993,445. Nickel, 23,707 pounds; worth (33 cents pound) $7,823. CHAPTER XXX. FIREARMS AND EXPLOSIVES. THE CANNON THE MOST ANCIENT OF FIREARMS--MUZZLE AND BREECH LOADERS OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY--THE ARMSTRONG GUN--THE RODMAN, DAHLGREN AND PARROTT GUNS--BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE--RAPID FIRE BREECH LOADING RIFLES--DISAPPEARING GUN--GATLING GUN--DYNAMITE GUN--THE COLT AND SMITH & WESSON REVOLVERS--GERMAN AUTOMATIC PISTOL--BREECH LOADING SMALL ARMS--MAGAZINE GUNS--THE LEE, KRAG-JORGENSEN, AND MAUSER RIFLES--HAMMERLESS GUNS--REBOUNDING LOCKS--GUN COTTON--NITRO- GLYCERINE AND SMOKELESS POWDER--MINES AND TORPEDOES. Strange as it may appear, the evolution of an enlightened civilization and the deadly use of firearms have developed in parallel lines. What relation there may be between the adoption of the teachings of Christ to men to love one another, and the invention of increased facilities among men for killing one another, is a problem for the philosopher. Is it because killing at long range is less brutal, or does the deterrent influence of this increased facility operate as a check appealing to the fear of the individual, or is the cannon one of God’s missionaries in working out the great law of the survival of the fittest? Whatever it may be, there does seem to be some relation of cause and effect between the two factors, and doubtless all three of the causes have exercised a contributory influence. In the olden days the wage of battle was almost universally decided by the strength of brawn, and the higher qualities of mind were subservient. The advent of firearms has changed all this. It has made the weakest arm equal to the strongest when supported by the same or a superior mental equipment, and this has made a great step toward the supremacy of the intellectual against the attack of the physically strong. In the fifth century the great civilization of Rome fell under the ruthless attack of the northern barbarian. Could such a thing have been possible with the gates defended by Gatling guns, magazine rifles, and dynamite shells? On the contrary, we find to-day a handful of trained soldiers equipped with modern firearms putting to flight a horde of ignorant savages. The history of modern wars is filled with illustrations of the shifting of the contest among men from an issue of brute force to a contest of brains, and of the support rendered the latter by firearms. But is war really necessary, and may we not hope that it shall cease? We can only say that the ideal sentiment of beating the sword into the plowshare is as yet the dream of the