The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-09-22
No CAUSE ron < CHANGE.

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Tho Wonderful Prosperity OF til, Conntr
/ Since the War.
Iresoystrida Banner (non.polltcui.) |a.t
The people OF this country, notwitk
standing the tremendous struggles, cx
pendlture OF human lie and waste Of
money in the suppression OF the war o.
the Rebellion, and the financial overturn,
ings that have since taken place, have
made progress in population, wealth, tho
means OF INSTRUMENTATION, the 70.
wards OF labor and the comforts Of life,
which they arc slow to appreciate. Our
entire population was in 1860, 3l,44S,32l.
Now it's over 55,600,OOO. And our in.
crease in wealth owing To the building OF
railroads, the extension OF tho farming in
terest, the growth Of manufactures, :,n,,
the discovery OF precious metals, oil nd
natural gas, has even been proportions: .tc.
y greater. The advantages OF this " On.
deriul progress have been shared by :,ll
classes Of people.
Farmers, it Is true, do not in general
get higher prizes for their products, but
improved methods OF agriculture have
added much TO the yield OF their fields.
The introduction OF machinery has less
ened labor and toll aud also decreased the
expenses incurred by hiring. Facilities
for marketing have been added to IN cx-
tent not dreamed Of q generation ago.
Every thing the farmer and his family
wear is much lower in price. He has bet
ter horses, better cattle, better sheep, bet
ter hogs, better wagons, better carriages,
better burns, better house, better illrni.
turc, and lives better than lie did previous
TO 1861, and his children have better means
Tor securing an education. No class OF
people in the world have more cause for
gratitude than American farmers, and to
none isthe outlook for the future brighter.
Consumers OF food and wearers OF cloth
ing. who live by the labor OF their hands
are in much better condition in regard
to the necossaries OF life than at that time.
1t has probably escaped the attention OF
very many that now the cost OF food, ex-
cept meat, is very considerably less than
it was in 1860. The present high rate OF
meat is owing to the drouth OF 1881, from
which cattle and hogs suffered so much
and especially to the manipuIations OF the
dealers in Chicago and other places.
Every class OF manuiaCturedg goods, except
linens, which are not produced to any
considerable extent in this country, is
lower III price than twenty-iour years ago.
And even imported linens, although the
duty has been increased from fifteen per
cent to tl,irty-three percent are very
nearly, ifnotaltogcther, as chcapa in 1860.
g 1.-Two tn In
port OF the Massachusetts, Labor Bureau,
iaborers' wages have been raised from All
average OF SS.lS per week in 1850 to SlO.5O
in 1883. The advance has really been
much greater, since now much larger
number OF children and women are en-
ployed than in 1850. The fact that the
number OF hours OF daily work has been
lessened must also be taken into account.
So that the working man OF to-day re-
celves more money Tor his labor than he
did in 1860 and pays less for what he buys
| than he did then. For the number OF days
necessary for him 10 earn 500 in 1860 lie
earned about Sl2S in 1883, while working
fewer hours; and now he only pays So
Tor what then cost him SlG0, 4 total differ
ence OF SAG. The consequence is that at
which every well-disposed person rejoiccs
people working with their hands now are
better clothed, live in better houses and
eat better food than they did previous to
the outbreak OF the civil war, and their
children have far better educational adj
vantages. AT the same time their depos-
its in savings banks have increased very
largely. In Massachusetts, according to
the census Of 1880, there were $50, 900 fam
lilies, and the savings banks OF that State
in lsSl-S2, had $4,000 depositors. New
York, according to the same census had
l,079,000 families, and not quite two years
ago had l,095,97l depositors in savings
banks. u
In view OF all these things it is evident
that there is no occasion for discomfort and
disqniet on the part Of the people OF this
country whatever may be their vocation in
life. All suffer together in adversely; and
the rejoicing should be mutual in pros
perity. All share in the general advance,
and opportunities are open to all.
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