The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-01-01
PAST AND FUTURE.

ers, q Happy New Year. One yea
ago this journal saw In the the1
opening 1893, bright hope and fail
promise for this Territory. The
vision has been verified, for as
month after month rolled by, each
found and left the people in the en-
joyment of material and mental
comforts and blessings. All through
the twelve months have there been
peace and plenty on every hand. We
do not now recall year that
was more uniformly kind to Utah
than the one whose death was tolled
by the midnight bell a few hours
ago. There have been years when
individuals were more prosperous
and happier, but 1883 distributed its
goodness generally, all ;sections
being favored and no district suffer
ing. The year has been singularly
free fIom disasters and casualties of
magnitude; we have also escaped
epidemics Of disease, and the health
of the masses has been good. It is
believed that the death rate was
lower than that of any year Of the
past decade.
1t is tire, that we have
INDUCED in no extraordinary
advance in the matter of material
or industrial development; there
has been no business BOOM" no
sensation in the world Ct finance.
Affairs have run smoothly and reg
ularly, the motion being even and
the progress steady; but there has
been progress and in TIE aggregate
it amounts to much. Wise and safe
observers in position to know say
the volume Of business transacted
In the Territory for the year IS fully
twenty-five per cent. greater than
that Of any previous twelve
months. This has been done
through no extra effort; no
attempt to crowd things. It has
come about regularly and merely
marks the natural advance and on
ward march of healthy and pro-
gressive Territory and people. All
must be pleased that we have done
no more. More must have been
through misguided effort and upon
a false basis; it would have indi-
Gated disease where only health
is now felt, and the con-
sequencesz of the over-exer.
ton would have been disastrous.
Communities, like individuals, are
equal to certain achievements;
when the limit is exceeded there
will surely be corresponding set~
back. In other words, there are
compensations and Qualifications in
society as well as in the case Of the
person, and laws, whether Of COM
meree, health or physics, must be
obeyed or the penalty will be in
ficted. Utah has observed the law
of commerce, and as consequence
she is in healthy financial condi- |
ton, and not subject to the censure |
or chidings Of an abused conscience.
The most notable industrial i'm.
provement during the year has
been in the matter Of buildings,
While there has been "building
boom" in every county, it has been J
most pronounced in Salt Lake City,
where a vast sum has been expended
in the erection of business blocks
and residences. some Of which are
in advance of anything heretofore
built in this Territory.
There has been less said of The
mines than in the past, not because
the lodges were narrowing and the
ore decreasing in value, for these
they were not, but our mining in
dustry has finally been systematized
and is being prosecuted as any other
business,upon well understood laws
Speculation has been largely elm
mated from the industry, and the
nwild cat" is no longer encountered
in a business which, with agricu]-
ture, is making Utah rich and
happy. Prospecting has not ceased,
and "blind" mining is INDUCED in
10 a limited extent, but where afew
years age there were hundreds
scampering about the mountains
burrowing here and there, and pro-
claiming themselves millionaires, J