The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-01-06


vented aud contagious dsea ses sensibly confined
or mitg It'd, by th7 Observance of few saui-
tarv precautions which are now ignOrantlv or
wifully neglected. II is our duty as legislators
to secure the lives and health and happiness Of
our people by all the means that the knowledge
and ingenuity Of the age place within our reach.
state board Of health, having general super
vision over local boards, investigating systemati-
callv and scientifically, and dissent Mating cor
among the people and enable intelligent and
salutary laws to be framed for the preservAtionf
of life and health.
CENTENNIAL.
The centennial closed amid general commen-
datiou. Nothing can he con eiYod more ad mira
BILE th IN the temper in which IL was undertaken +
and the manner in which 1t was car
ried out. In size, interest and attendance, IL
is admi ted 10 have surpassed all previous eXhi-
billions. Many things contributed to this signal
success. The cooperation of other states and
the United States and the cordial good will of
foreign nations materially aided the enterprise.
But the main cause is to he found in the untring
energy and zeal, the prudence, Judgment aud l.
ability of the distinguished managers, aud in
the unexampled liberality and hospitality of the +
people of p Pennsylvania and PHILADELPHIA,
Throughout the exhibition the utmost good or
der prevailed, and its associations hav power
fully strengthened the reciprocal COED wilt Of
the nations of the earth.
The results have been great and far-reaching
1t has deepened and widened the public mind
at home, and contributed to a better UNDER
standing aud higher opinion of our nation
abro I'd. It has been An exhibition not only of
the material products of our institutions, in the
necessities, comforts and luxuries of civilized
life so lavishly displayed, but 1t has also shown
the mental chsract .rstics which are at once the
source and security of the same institutions, the
patriotism and li6erality, the love of Law and
order, and the superior average intelligence Of
the American people. It has brought the work
of our people iuto comparison with that Nof
civilized nations, and in summing up what va
which we must proceed. II has crowned the
century with unall0yed satisfaction, and We can
enter upon the work Of the future with the con-
hdence and hope derived from the progress OF
the past.
rRoakBss OF THE CENTURY.
The past year was the centennial of the state
as well as Of the nation II is natural to review
the progress Of the century; 20 trace the riso Of
the useful and ornamental arts, and 70 mark thei
the latter part of the eighteenth century the
province contained about four hundred thousand
inhabitants. The population scarcely extended
beyond the Susquehanna, except q few settle
ments that struggled into the wilderness and
held Ptecarious existence amid hostile tribes Of
Indians and the difficulties of com municating
were chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits;
few In the east were manufacturers and mer-
chants, and the rude distilleries of the west
turned the product of that region into merchan-
disc There were faint traces of the mining,
man lfacturing and lumber interests OF thek
present day, and only suspicion existed OF thu
incalculable treasures buried in the earth. Thu
means of disseminating intelligence and knowH
edge were scanty, and while the higheN
classes were educated and refined, illiN
A hundred years have wrought won-\
derful change. The population has increased
ten fold, the area under cultivation a hundred
told, and wealth almost beyond comparison(
Thousands of miles of canals and railroads IN
tersect the commonwealth. Immense mini
manufacturing, agricultural and carryi
tsrprises give employment to the toiling. .-.,t
of the state. All the products of the ''hrtt
within our reach; fuel and provisions
brought to our doors gas and water are in
laid on our breakfast tables in the morninl
Thousands of schools and colleges are scattkr
over the state, and the post is burdened dal
with millions of letters attesting the general
fusion Of knowledge. The people are more inte
ligent freer and happier; more cheerful, tole
ant aud liberal. The charges of modern dege
erAcy are refuted by tbs clear testimony ofv
hundred years. The cant of politics is a viii Z.
perverslon Of the trhth of history. Compari
1876 with 1776 1t Is apparent that we have
vanced not only in Population and wealt
in freedom, 10 intelligence, in morals
general welfare. i.
PER1oDroAI pEpRrss1ors.
In common with 9th ommercial N
have had periods of \ Apression, U
have not been caused by pAblic and 81
travagance and are no PROOF of the 49,
and degeneracy Of the times is ed
The aggregate taxes of the Unite e..
ess than those of any other nation 49,
centage Of the cost of collection andV 'l.o
the treasury through defective laws an
amount per capita is greater than forme
also the relative proportion of capital to el j.
individual is greater still. Other nations pro
per under greater burdens; no good reason can n
given for a different result in the Un II
ted States TIL 1t the people spend mo
and live better is undoubtedly true. Such
pen iitures are not hurtful unless they IN
pair the principal of the nations wealth. If tfBI
purchase of luXuries is ruinous in ITSELF then 4
purchase of anything beyond bread and but BrI
and coAr sc clothing is ruinous also. Nations as
well as individuals, ought to live within their I'm
comes and save wealth fast enOugn to employ
the natural increase Of laborers. Within that
limit comforts and luxuries are The just rewards
of industry As the capital accumulated since
The war and inv sted in ext nding old ndustriasl
and starting new ones is amply sufficient to en-
ploy the labor of the country, the cause cf
hard tim Is evidently not The extrav agance of
the people. The capital OF the country has uct
been wasted in fiotous living but is locked
up in Improbable enterprises. Over-prOdue-.
ton, and not Over-consumptiOn, is the cause olk
| the stagnatiJn in business. The war, for the
time being, changed the entire ind astrial rela
| tiOns of the country The demand for some pro
ducts was enormously increasedi aud the indus
| tries supplying them became very profitable
capital flowed steadily for some years II
! that direction, and the result was an alb
normal grOwth of those interests at til
| expense of all others aud increased pro
| ductlOn. When the war ceased there was Il
! certain industries an enormous production tina
! could not be absorbed by peaceful cOmmunity
| @ pita sought an outlet by projecting new rail .
| road enterprises and other improvements far h
adv tnce OF the natural growth of the countf
Fer while there was period of intene
! activity and apparently of eXtraOrdinqk
growth. But capital invested in und
inflated Industries will in time become u
munerative When that happens those NJ
tries and the interests connecte with them
wholly or partially fail the capital, or so n
| thereof as can be realized, must seek other
vestment and the labor engaged find other
! plO, ment Hard times are the period of
! tivity consequent upon the read IstmenI of j
| relations. Auy legislation tending 10 make
readjustment easy and exped tOus viii have
etf, ct Of preventing pauics. lns,ead of sin
attempting reductions, winch even II advise
would not have accomplished the Oh
intended congress should have dew
measures to release capital from q
porariy unproductive enterprises to
sist labor in changing TO other fields
operations and to foster, encourage and prot
the neglected industries of the country.
legislation would go to the root of the ma
For such legislation we must depend almOs
lirely upon the national government. 1t W
n It be proper for me 10 refer TO the subiec
cept that our state policy must also
cord with correct principle. BY encoura
the closer corporation OF capital aud
I'D. "a a