New-York tribune., 1889-12-31
THE Old IE1R.

To-day the year 1889 bids us farewell.
Strange creature to the last the year goes ont
with dandeionS blooming in Iowa, and many
flowers at Washington. and straw hats worn
in Pittsburg during it's last week and with
trade of all kinds unfavorably affected by the
unwonted mildnesS of winter. The appear
ance of a snowStOrm on Sunday at the West
gives hope that genuine winter may yet ar
rive, but it is too late for the old year to
escape the reputation OF undue warmth its
temperature having exceeded by more than
two degrees the standard for this locality.
But for excessive wetneSS the year will prob
ably find few rivals \ rainfall Of 5s IL
inches never exceeded here since the Signal
Service records were begun, means a deposit of
water sufficient to cover the heads of many
of the women and the breathing apparatus of
many Of the men if it had all fallen at once.
Happily the rainfall, though greater than
usual in many parts of the country, was so
distributed that the largest crops ever raised
were produced and harvested. The excessive
moisture destroyed much fruit and a large part
of the potatoes in Eastern States, but the ag
gregate yield by cultivation of the soil has
probably not been equalled in any other year
More than 5000. 900 bales of cotton have al
ready come from plantations, indicating prob
able crop OF 100000 bales. The wheat
yield has been rarely surpassed while in corn
and oats the years production has been much
the largest ever recorded. With bOuntiful
crops the old year brought a general revival
of business in nearly all its departments, so
that its aggregate Of business transactions not
Of speculative character probably exceeded
that OF any previous year by one-tenth. The
prosperity of the farmers has been shared by
transporting companies, which will begin pay
ing this week largely increased dividends, and
the dividends OF cotton manufacturing com
panies have rarely been surpassed. 1t has
been hard year for many in the woollen
trade, but the iron manufacture has so pros
pered that the vanishing year leaves this cOun
try producing more pig iron weekly than Great
Britain or any other country in the world.
Bountiful to those who depend upon indus
try, and in this country they are the people,
the old year has been benelcent also 10 those
who uphold government by the people. 1t
has brought back to full control of all branches
OF the Government the party which has ever
upheld the freedom Of the citizen and the
protection of his industries and his rights.
The Inauguration Of President IIaitison the
formation OF an able Cabinet in harmony witt.
the principles he represents, and the assem-
bagc and organization of a Congress Repub-
lican in both branches, mark the dying year
as unlike any other since 1873. For sixteen
years opponents of the Republican policy have
controlled one house or the other, and for four
years ending last March the Executive depart
ments. The Administration OF President Har
rison has thus Ilr commanded the sincere ap-
proyal of that large proportion of the people !
which seeks no Office, and If criticised by those
who have been Onsted from place or have |
failed 10 obtain position, il fairly deserves the |
honor Of conspicuous care and unusual success
in filling posts of public trust. It's manage
ment of public affairs has already incomparlby |
improved the relations OF the United States |
with foreign Powers, and particularly with
Germany and Central and South American
nations it has ayerted misfortune by judicious |
conduct of the Treasury, and restored in |