Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-01

In the history Of the world 1898 will be
recorded as a dark year. No country has
escaped entirely the i'll effects of the finan-
cial and Industrial depression. Washington
suffered In common with other cities, but
when the lot Of the people Of this city is
compared with that Of others reason will
be found for thankfulness. No serious bus
mess disasters have been recorded here.
One feature Of the year that might be put
down as an Offset to all the unpleasant
things Is the great progress made here in
the fight against the common foe of man.
kind-death. The health of the city was
never better, and there was a saving, as
compared with the preceding year. of 3i7
precious lives. Some Of this great improve
msnt may be due to conditions with which
man has nothing to do, but IL Is a fair pre-
sumption that the effective work Of the
health department, sustained by the inter-
est In sanitary matters inspired among
members of the community by the Sanitary
League. did much toward accomplishing the
gratifying reduction In mortality. The
work done In 1893, 1t Is hoped. will have a
permanent effect The year has not been
sventful In other respects. so far as local
matters are concerned. Congress has had
little time to do law making for the Dis
trtct The two most important measures
that became laws were the act establishing
the Court Of Appeals for the District and
the new liquor license law. Many Of the
questions Of interest to the people have re-
ceived little or no attention from Congress.
and were no further advanced toward set
Element at the end Of the year than they
were at the beginning. Washington con-
tributed to the great oalamities Of the year
the frightful disaster that occurred at the
old Fords Theater June 8. Aside from this
there was no unusual number of fatal hap
penings to put Into the years account.
Some changes were made in the offices Of
the District government. the board Of Com
missioners having been reorganized by the
appointment Of Mr.. Myron NJ. Parker and
Capt C. F. Powell in the places respective
ly Of Commissioner Douglass and Engineer
Commissioner, Rossell- The revised as
sessment was completed in the fall. but the
work Is regarded as unsatisfactory. and
Congress will be urged to authorize a new
assessment. Gratifying progress is reported
In all the lines of work aiming to promote
the moral and educational progress of the
city. The new liquor law has been enforced
with care, and the results are regarded as
beneficial. Several new churches have been
added to the city, and the work of those
bodies engaged In extending the influence
of religion has generally been successful.
The several projects looking toward the es-
Enlistment here of universities, or great
educational Institutions. have made SUBJ
stantial progress, and before long it Is ex-
pected that the city will boast Of a great
American university, under Methodist Epis-
copal auspices, and a Protestant Episcopal
cathedral foundation, with its associated
educational institutions, as well as a great
Catholic university. The year cannot be re-
garded as an Improbable one. Even the
restitution reported among the poor and
unemployed has brought with it lessons Of
charity. and has taught men again their
duty to one another-the fatherhood Of God
and the brotherhood of man