The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-31
PRESS COMMENTS.
The Presidential Year Does Not Damage
BugInesa.


The Presidential Year Does Not Damage
business.
From the North Americana Review.
In such an age of evolution and change
it is very hard to keep track of and Judge
correctly of cause and effect, and, in
considering the influence of Presidential
elections upon business, we are very apt
to overlook many other conditions
which either directly or Indirectly con-
tribute to results. Ii we turn to statis-
ticts we do not find much comfort. The
figures Of the New York clearing house
probably furnish as good an idea OF tho
state of business throughout the United
States as any. All the business activ-
tiles of tho country are localized here,
and wall street" is barometer for
trade ana commerce, as we'll as finance.
Statistics show that in 1879, Presi-
dental year, the exchanges were three
billions of dollars more than 1881, and
only billion less than the succeeding
year.
In 1856, however, there were three
billions less than in 1875, and one bill
lion less than in 1877. but in 1883 they
were thirteen billions more than in
1878, but eleven billions less than in
1881, when we had a "boom" year, ow-
ing to the gooo crops in this country
and poor ones abroad. Whatever incu-
bus presidential election might have
been upon business, that year it was
born like feather upon the crest of q
tidal wave. The volumes of exchanges
steadily declined from 1881 until 1885,
but in the presidential year OF 1884, the
exchanges were 5000, 900, 900 more than
in 1855, from which point there was
substantial recovery again during 1856
and 1887 but in 1855 they declined
1000, 100000. The summing up of all
these figures leads to the opinion ex-
pressed in the opening lines OF this ar
ticle, that while a presidential election
has some influence upon some kinds Of
business, there are other influences
far more controlling in their nature.
The Arid Region.
From the Baltimore Sun.
Gen. John n. Irwin, in tho Forum,
gives the following figures: "The arid
region of the United States covers an
area of 1900 miles in it's widest part,
from east to west, and 1000 miles from
north to south. 1t embraces the area
between the Tooth meridian and the
| coast range and from the British pos
sessions on the North to Mexico on the
south. This space contains over a mil
| lion Of square milestone third of the
area of the United States, excluding
| Alaska-eQual to more than GOO 600, 900
| acres. All of Arizona, New Mexico,
Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado and
Nevada, and portions of California
| Oregon, Washington, Texas, Kansas,
| Nebraska, North and South Dakota and
| Montana lie within this belt. 1t is esti.
mated in the report for the year ended
June 80, 1891, of the Hon. John Noble,
Secretary of the Interior, that '120, OOO,-
| 600 acres that are now desert may be
| redeemed by irrigation SO as to produce
the cereals, fruits and garden products
| possible in the climate where the lands
are located"
When it is remembere that 12O, OOO,-
| 600 acres about equal in area the State
of Ohia, Indiana and Illinois combined,
the gigantic possibilities and future of
so great an extent of fertile and produc-
tive land now lying fallow may be i'm
| agined whoD it is made to laugh with
q harvest" The three States above
named now have population of about
15,000,000, and could easily support
thrice that number; SO that estimating
the cultivable area of the arid region at
1884, 900 acres, and doubtless it
greatly exceeds that amount, the
United States has in that desertla an
empire awaiting development capable
of supporting population in comfort
almost equal to the now existing popu-
lation of tho entire republic.
| Why the Democratic Party Grows Great.
| From the Norfolk Virglnian.
Congressman Wilson. of West Vir.
ginia, said in his notification address at
| Madison Square Garden: The duty OF
the Democratic party commits it to a
never-ending warfare with the strong.
est and most enduring forces of human
nature-tho lust of power and the lust
of greed"
This is great truth, and cannot be
too strongly impressed on the minds of
the people. 1t explains the wonderful
vitality of the Democratic party. There
has never been time in the history OF
our government that the people did not
need-aHd they need it now moro than
| ever-protection from the lust of power
and the lust OF greed.
Comes Well Heeled.
| From the Washington Post
Ex- President Bogran, OF Honduras, is
said to be on his way to the United