The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-31
GOODBYE! 1889!
Putting the Old Behind We
Press on to the New.
AN EVENTFUL YEAR CLOSED
Fire. Flood, Death, and Enterprise have
c,,,.s I'm Their Work-A Mass OF His-
tory Made by a TweIve-Month-"h" hat
Richmond and Virginia Hope for the
Euturo.


Future.
Good-bve. old year. To-day 1889 appear
for the last time ON bill-heads, newspaper
headlines and letters. Tomorrow NV
takes its place. Before entering upon Its
new year, THE TIMES presents to It's read
ers resume Of the events in this country
and abroad Of the old year, with running
commentary upon local and state affairs
1t has been ayear Of eyentful happenings
of floods. Of devastating fires, OF progress
in discovery and invention. Of violence re-
sulting from futile attempts Of puny man TO
stop the onward grind Of modern ciVili%a-
ton. of success by many, fail re by some
ambitions Of others gratiiied, or hopes Of
many disappointed. Men whose names are
bound up with rich associations in the MS
tory Of the Republic. have, IN answer 10
summons Of death, stepped from the bus!
stare Of human action. end have entered
upon their reward
There are a few Of the many Thoughts
which throng upon one As he casts MS men
tai eve over the last twelve months ana po-
fore entering upon the new unknown year
prepares 10 lay aside in memory or lorgeF
nlness the impressions OF the old.
Details here might be TEDIOUS sut ioI III III
vcnieuce they are published IN anothef
column. But i'm general every body VIII r.
call The MANY storms that have swept along
the Atlantic coast and in the Chesapeake,
the whirlwind AT Reading. the Hoods al
! Jobn.fo,yn in India and China. the eaflh-
ouakcs i'm Japan and elsewhere, anu the
/ storm al samoa. where nature seeheu nc
termined 10 settle in short time what wa
causing months Of diplomacy TO a 'compiish.
Then the fires at Spokane Falls, Boston
Buffalo. Jersey City. Port tosia' S"i''
Louisville. Quebec, and other places nav
licked into nOthingness millions OF 'nollai,
worth Of property, and brought death ahu
suffering into thousands 81 MONIES.
The wear has remembrance OF nay
samoa. Central Africa. Maritime confer
ences. and Pan-American congresses. iht
Growth Of great trusts. business iailuIes'
consolidation Of small industries, organla-
! ton of farmers 10 prevent further infringe
ments of their rights. and political changes
| or movements. -,
And Virginia what has she done. From
many parts of the state come news oil man
ufacturing and industrial progress, OF new
towns budding into vigorous ana heallll
life. of older communities. such as hch-
mond. Petersburg. Lynchburg, DanNille ana
Norfolk. continuing in their steady pro
press inswealtb and culture. But IN rurai
sections are complaints Of poor crops. due
| in part 10 the unprecedented VISITATION Oh
nafure and Of poor compensation for what
crons have been raised. May the new year
uroduce such a balance Of benefits resulting
from a mutual sharing of the increased
wealth by manufacturing and agricultural
communities that all Of Virginia may ENJOY
that prosperity TO which she is entitled by
her soil and climate. her proplnquily u
fine markets Of the world. her railroad ana
waterway facilities. and the enterprise.
energy and industry of her people. They
are most thankful for the results Of their
vigorous campaign that showed that old
Virginia never tires; that SHE II Progressive
without being rash. ana that she sun
proudly holds alOft. and will continue TO do
so. her mOttO-">ic >empcr Iyranns.
She welcomes cordially anybody Of up
rightness, integrity. and honor who comes
within her borders determined to cast hls
lot with her future and TO contribute hi~
small part 10 the fulhllment Of that pros
nerity which il her destiny, and in which
me viii ultimately share. Mutual Interests.
mutual trust and confidence. and cO-0ptra-
ton i'm all things. and mutual respect Wi
ACCOMPLISH wonders in this Commonwealth.
which has still many undeyelOped resources
above and below ground.
We know how our own city has suffered
frcm repeated floods, unprecedented in our
annals. We know how the James river
valley. the great blossom Of agricultural
wealth Of Virginia. lies now ,ssolatc. com
paratiyelv. But Richmond has cause for
rejoicing. Ii is true that the floods Weited
her wharyes. drove some of our good peO-
plc from their homes. and that there have
been umtOward and unexpected happenings.
which upon a smalescale did not do much
toward raising the grand capital OF the
great state TO the height that some ardent
sons sought. But Richmond is growing,
her name il historic. Nothing can conquer
the sound of that name. She slowly but
surely moves and in the days yet 80 come
this year will be marked as one noting her
gradual advance 10 greatness that is her,
| by right.
To look AT what has happened within the
mast wear. and at the same time drop tedi-
Gus detail, YOU may complacenily say that
| Riehmond has been success. both as o.
c0rporafe institutions and individuals.
Richmond has "A right in this particular to
call herself proud community. why
For the reason that every promise made has
been kent. Richmond makes no prOiligatc
pr0ners. pccuuiary or otherwise. She II
stalwart in sterling integrity. and those who
come within her gates strangers VIII doubly
echo this sentiment. Richmond plays no
double game; no bears, no bulls; straight
open and shut.
Individually. there have been the same
amounts Of gloomy disappointment. The
same shadows have shaped themselves in
the homes Of rich and poor alike. They
/ have darkened for time bright places. and
/ been also driven ont by happy hearts and
calm content. Then there were deep fur
rows of sorrow. strong lines Of sadness. that
streak the eyentful patchwork that shades
/ the events Of the year 1889. TO Richmond
this is particularly and powerfully true.
| The dark lines of mourning almost blended
with the mistlct0e and holly OF happy
Christmas and the sound of meri'ment was
saddened and sottened when the good pcO-
| pie OF this city thought of the dead Prcsi-
dent Of cause they loved; though. Of the
/ fidelity fondnoss, patriotism, brave Christi
anity and purity Of the man whose widow
had so lately been called TO mourn more
keenly 'ban any one Of the thousands her
great loss.
I'm our city we have lost true men in all
the professions. and the yotye offerings
laid on the bier during the last year have
/ been freighted with the most sincere breath
of sadness. The Board of Aldermen lost
It's presiding officer, the medical world here
abCuts such lights as Knox, Grymcs. Moore,
Cabell, Harris and others. But the city
has been free from epidemics. and her health
records show how fair she stands before the
world in this light; and as 10 her moral at
mosphere, 1t would be almost next TO i'm
possible in any city Of its size TO find such
freedom from outrageous offences
as can be shown here. The calendar
Of crime for 1850 shows that Richmond j.
not asleep to the importance of we'll
regulaied city government. 1t is n morsel
of pleasing intelligence that can be thrown
out for the world 10 comment upon, that
Richmond's local government is strong
one. There are no loops for little pccula-
tons even. The test is applied with Roman
iirmness 10 all city transactions. and guilty
must in all cases 90. Never, perhaps, in
the history Of the city has Richmond been
blessed with better municipality, from
the chief of il, Mayor j. TAYLOR Ellyson. all
the way down 10 the humblest men con-
nected with the city government.
II is small wonder then. that backed by
such strong government and such good peO-
pie, that Richmond should make fine bust
ness exhibit for 1889.