Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-01
TERMs OF THE pIsPATCH.
PITTssURe. WEDNESDAY. JAN. /, 1890.
THE OLD AND NEW YEAR.

The old year has taken Its departure, with
some regrets on the part of those who might
be willing to stay the swift fight of time;
but the whole world is giving most of its
attention to welcoming the Young stranger,
whom our illustration shows fving in out Of
the darkness of space, and whose record for
the veal or woe of humanity during the
next twelve months is stin blank page.
With regard to the year which expired at
the stroke of the last midnight, there is
much to be said, both of its benefcent and
destructive features. Hardly any year of
the past two decades has presented more re-
markabIe contrasts. The year which over
whelmed an entire city with a destructive
food and wiped out thousands of lives at
single stroke must bear a black mark in
the calendar; and yet 1889 has had
much to redeem its record. No
war has desOlsted any part of the
globe, outside of petty onhicts of savage
countries. While the prosperity of busi-
ness was in some respects doubtful at the
opening of the year, its close sees trade and
industry enjoying exceptional and sound
activity. For the vast majority of the peo-
pie of the United States 1889 will take away
with it memories as pleasant as the hopes
with which we greet the opening of 1890.
1t is also to be noted that the change of
time noted by the stroke of the big bell at
midnight was not only that from one year
to another, but that from one decade to
another. The period of ten years which has
been closed was a notable one for Pittsburg.
No preceding era in the history of this city
has been more important in its effects on our
commerce and industry. While it opened
with an era of prosperity for our industrial
interests, the steady tendency of events has
been to expand and solidity that prosperity.
The decade which has given natural gas and
cable roads to Pittsburg would be, simply
for those features, a red letter era in
our municipal history. We must include
among the characteristic features of that
period the enlargement and expansion of
our industry and commerce and the recon-
struction and improvement of the city.
Above all these material causes is the in
citement of that public spirit which causes
our citizens to act in unison for the welfare
of the community, and induces the repre-
sentatives of wealth to make magnificent
donations for the improvement and adOrn-
ment of the city that is the common proper
ty and pride of rich and poor alike.
What of 1890? 1t opens with the bright
est auspices. Every indication points to
business prosperity. Every promise leads
to the hope that the work Of improvement
will go on, and that such examples of
public spirit and generosity as the
Schenley Park and the Carnegie Library, in
Allegheny, will be followed in the future.
But we should not forget that whatever
fruitiou comes from the gratifying auspices
under which 1890 begins, the real value of
the year will be determined by the use we
make of it. If public spirit, integrity of
purpose in the administration of public mat
tiers, and generosity in the application of
private wealth are made the ruling prin- |
ciples, we need have no fears for even the |
adversities that the coming twelve months |
may disclose.
1t is in the hope that both the moral and |
material promises of 1890 may be an in
crease upon the beneficial achievements of |
1890 that THE DISPATCH wishes Pittsburg |
and Western Pennsylvania a happy New |
year.