Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-11-12
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGo.-Less thar

,ruenty-fye years ago, the first successful ex-
neriment with electro,telegraphy was made,
hough it had been the subject of investigation
some years previous. A wire was stretched
from Washington TO Baltimore in 1914, and
,oon after extended to New York, and very
rapidy throughout the country and the world,
ill at length the earth is girdled, and time
and space are literally annihilated. The author
ftkis wonderful discovery still lives, in the
enjoyment Of green old age, rich in houors
and the substantial rewards Of his genius.
twenty-five years ago ocean steam naviga-
ton was new thing, and its practicability had
inst been demonstrated. True. years before,
aittle steamer known as the Savannah, had
crossed the Atlantic, but her daring feat had
long been forgotten, never, perhaps, TO be re-
called, had not the Western World been walked
up one morning by the astonishing news that
the Sirius, q small English built steamer, had
arrived from London. The Sirius was soon
followed by the Great Western thence
forth ocean steam navigation became a fixed
fact. Before there had been no steamships,
only steamboats, craft on lakes and
rivers, and other island Waters-but the idea
that steam could he made available for naviga-
ing the ocean had long been secuted in high
places.
twenty-five years ago, there we're no steam
ships of war but ocean steam navigation having
been demonstrated as practicable, the nations
ceased to build sailing vessels for war purposes,
and rapidly substituted steamers.
twenty-five years ago most Of the einventions
oPo 1tur mo NJ ca tIuh htop
the labors OF the farmer, while they increase
his gains, were unknown, Who ever heard OF
the reaping machine till it made sensation al
the London Exposition in 1850? ltmust have
had brief existence before that, for it was
sent perfected engine, from Chicago to Lon.
don, but how few had ever heard ot it; and
ty acre farm withoutits aid?
Twenty five years ago there were railroads
with locomotive engines, but they date only q
remembers reading the accounts Of Mr.. Ste
phenson's first success in England, and he has
not forgotten when the first short line was put
in operation in this country. Twenty years
ago railroad connection between the Hudson
River and Lake Erie was scarcely completed,
the Erie and the Hudson River lines were
hardly thought of, and in the great West,
where the railroad may be said to have achieved
its greatest triumphs, it had not existence at
all. If the last twenty-five years did not wit
ness the origin Of the railroad, it has seen its
wonderful expansion until this country and west
ern Europe have been converted into gigan:
tic gridirons by the crossing and inter-lacing of
iron bands, and all other modes of land travel
have become nearly obsolete, and a five mile
II L. l..
to be dreaded than a hundred miles in rail-car
Twenty fveyearS agoC California was un-eXplo-
red and uninhabitea, save by Indians ADD a few
Mexican Adventures S and outlaws, and its wealth
OF precious ores was well kept secret; and
the other gold producing States and Territories
Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Montana, and
ldaho-nOw so familiar to every ear: had no
existence, save as they formed parts Of the
great unexplored farW est Of the Rocky Noun
tain region.
Twenty five years ago hundred thousand
dollas was regarded as a magnificent fortune,
to which, though many aspired, few attained /;
and the number in the metropolis of the Western
world whose estates reached this figure could be
counted on ones fingers. There are more men
IN New York to-day whsse annual incomes
reach one hundred thousand dollars, than there
were twenty five years ago Of those whose en-
tire possessions amounted to as much. Twenty
i've years ago there were possibly, half dozen
mllllonaires in the whole country. To-day
they may be counted by hundreds,
;, Twenty five years ago the population of the
Empire State was less than two and a half mil
lions. To-day it cannot be less than five mil
lions. p - sat s1si1':@s - 49,"
twenty-five years ago the population Of the
entire country was only seventeen millions
10 day it is nearly forty millions
twenty-five years ago there we're twenty
eight States in the Union 70 day there are
thlrty-siy, with half dozen more to be added
Within a few years
The world moves; but such wonderful
strides as it has made within the last twenty
I'VE years former generations never saw. Every
department. Of life has telt and seen its ac-
eelerated motion; and it is almost enough to
make one feel giddy to look back over the last
quarter Of a century and witness the rapid sue
eSesslon of discoveries in art and science, and
the wonderful increase in wealth and popula-
uon.-S scientific american.
A large meeting was held on Thursday even.
Ing at Cooper Institute, n Y, to aid in the
Establishment of national asylum on the Po
fnnnn -.