Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-12-06
Our Progress in Five Years.

It is astonahingt 10 remark the progress
Of improvement which has taken place in
this coSnrry. end The developments in the
dfts and sciences which have been brought
to hight during the present century. But
yhe advance which has been made in oil
that concerns the material interests Of man
kind. since the year 1890, has been get
mora remarkable. Inventions and disco
vsries, almost incredible for their number
and importance. have crowned with success
the study amd rssearch Of men indefatigabIe
in their efforts for the advancement OF
science though thess discoveries have been
less in the field Of abstract science itself.
than in the application Of science. 1t was
the partof the earlier philosophers and schoi
srs to reveal the former to us was left the
task Of Supplying it TO the perfecting Of the
various branches Of human Industry. and
TO the promoting Of what would ,coaduce
most 10 the welfare and interests Of man.
Much has been done in England. 'nnd else
where. to further the progress ofimprove-
ment bat our resaarks will nov be con-
fined to this ceantfy alone.
in regard to many Of the valuable arts
ard manufactures. as well as inegricuI,ure.
adegree OF perfection truly surprising. has
been attained. The mere mention of reap
ing. moving and ,hreshing machines, fire.
arms and sewing machines. will suffice
'Paper hiss been msde from.wood and straw !;
American plate glass rivals the Belgian !;
calorsc has been added,to the various mo-
tors for tbe Propulsioa OF vessels. The pro-
gress Of the stesmboat and railroad has been
immense. Forty thousand miles of railroad
: ara completed: or in. progress Of completion.
in the United States. The electric tele
graph has been greatly improved in its
modes Of operation. But for untowsrd &C.
Gent, we mightshave claimed as its greatest
triumph, the spsnning OF an ocean by its
wires.
Two rontes-those of The lsthmus and
Nicaragua-the former BY the Panama rail
road, HHd'the latter mainly by steamboat.
unite the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Dr..
Kane has but just returned from the Arctic
Seus.sso receive nations and worlds Fri
butte. for the successful achievn,ept OF
, having made new discoveries and explora-
Stions of regions before untrodden by civil
~zed feet. The existence of a northwest pas
cage has been fully proven. The great
valley OF tie Amazon has been explored
from the Andes to the mouth of that vast
river. which is navigable for large ships to
the distance Of nearly 3 500 miles. The
river La Plata has also been thorough,
explored. Explorations in the lsthmus o'
Darien have resulted favoraby as to the
prsciicability Of constructing an inter.
oceanic ship canal across it. though no,
without great difficulties and hardships en-
perienced by Strain. G,bbon and Others sent
toinvestigate the important matter. A treaty
favorable 10 commerce and trade. though
not without uncomfortable restrictions. has
been successfully concluded with the Japan.
csc Government. and already have advan-
tageous results followed. Lieut.. Manry has
made discoveries in relation to the currents
Of the air and sea. Of the greatest impor.
lance to navigators. Much has been done
to explore the great lakes and some impor-
tsnt points have been settled. Five aster.
ODDS have been discovered since 1880. and
two OF these very recently. Within i've
years. towns and cities have grown in Cali
fornia. 10 rival many oil the Oldest and most
en,erprising cities Of the east and civiIIiza,
ton has stamped its impress everywhere. A
college will soon be founded with liberal
endowment. and possessing every advantage
for the requirement Of finished education.
Under the auspices Of the various State Co
Ionixation Societies, the colony Of Liberia
has ,quadrupled it's population. and become
prosperous enlightened, and independent
republic. Subscriptions to considerable
amount have been made. to establish steam
communication between that country and
the United States; sffarding a new chan.
mel for new branches of trade. and the in.
fux Of increased wealth into this country,
as soon ss the enterprise is completed.
Nep Haren Register.
When the British German Legion left
England for the Crimea. one oil the priva.