The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1886-01-09

Is essential. 1t is used in most of
the stores and public buildings, and
for street purposes it has no rival.
But we do not desire to discourage
the introduction Of gas in Morgan
town. If the Monongalia Improve
ment Company will give us both
water and gas we ought to be salts
fed. If they have enough gas to
serve for both lighting and heating,
that would be an improvement on
electricity. We are only adding an
other string to our bow. IF we have
water--which we must have--we
should have with it, either gas or
electricity. If gas will be too costly,
or cannot De had in sufficient volume
to furnish both heat and light, then,
we might well consider the feasibil-
ity of adopting the electric light.
We have waited hundred years
for the F.. NJ. u F., perhaps we can
pull through another month or two.
If Mahomet will not come to the
Mountain, the Mountain must go to
Mahomet. Let's adjourn to the
Round Bottom.
We congratulate the people Of
Monongalia upon the propitious
opening Of the new year.
In all lines of business the outlook
is much more hopeful than at the
beginning of the year 1885.
At this time last year we were
still on the down grade. Distress,
depression and dependency lowered
over every industry. 1t was hope
against hope. Men, in all vocations
were outstanding their resources.
There was no liberality or confidence,
and very little activity in business.
The people we're scared. Men who
had means we're too timid to use it,
and the large majority were SO
straitened, pecuniarily, that they
were compelled to remain inactive.
Business panics have become so fire.
quent that we have come to antici-
pate their periodical return with as
much assurance as the return of
winter after the spring and summer
seasons. The speculative craze has
this inevitable attendant feature.
Hence when we have run a period
of excessive and reckless dealing
everybody begins to tighten up in
anticipation of the consequences.
The consequences naturally follow
when everybody begins to draw in
the lines. But the wisdom which
anticipates, mollifies the results and
lets the country down easy. The
late period of depression was a mol
lifted form of an old time business
panic.
We have every confidence that
this beginning of new year finds
us starting on the up grade, with
a cheerful outlook for prosperous
season. The reports from the bust
ness centers all concur in this opin-
ion. Renewed confidence and in
creased activity are noticeable in all
lines of trade.
In Monongalia, and throughout
West Virginia, the past period Of
business depression has been felt
more severely than is usual in agri-
cultural districts. The long, cold
winter of 1884-5 exhausted the pro-
vision of the farmer and compelled
a large outlay Of our capital for food.
But the same experience is not like
ly to follow this year. We are al
ready considerably advanced in the
winter and. have yet had no hard
winter weather. The fields are still |
green and affording adequate pas
ture, in many localities for the farm
ers stock. The supply Of hay and
grain in this county has scarcely
been touched, and unless we should |
have an unusually late spring we
shall have large surplus of rough |
feed on hand when the summer
opens. All this is cause for con-
graduation at the opening of the
year 1886.