The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-01-04
A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE OLD YEAR.
FAMOUS FOR RECORD-BREAK.
ING.
Interesting Events in the Old and
New Woclu- Great Strides in
Science and Valuable Discoveries

+ Science aud Valuable Discoveries
> From the beginning to the end O
I 1897, pro ress has been the watchword
and on the banners OF men of science
men of business, professional men
leaders in the art and literature
church prelateS and merchant prince,
there has been written in robust char
acters the motto "EXcelsior." Look
ing down from the heights to which
the world has climbed during the past
twelve months one sees that giant
strides have been made in every direc.
tion.
The vast field OF engineering science
has seen some sensational develop
ments. Eighteen hundred and ninety
seven has given us the mighty Kaiser
Wilhelm der Crosse, queen OF ocean
greyhounds, and the fastest, hand
soonest, largest passenger steamer
ailoat; 1T has given to us the fleett st
battleship in the world, in the shape
of the Japanese lighting craft Yashima,
and the speediest small vessel in exist
| ence in the British torpedo boat Turbi-
MIA, this last presenting in itself one of
the most important advances in steam
engineering in that she attains her
tremendous rate Of speed by means OF
her steam turbines. Record breaking
architect and engineer. The time in
which vessel crosses the Atlantic has
been cut down by hours and minutes
and seconds until at last a vessel has
done the trip in less than six days.
Engineers have hammered away at the
record times of railroads until TODAY
the accomplishment of speed OF sixty
miles an hour, which Il few years ago
would have been regarded as visionary
and impossible, has become of such
common occurrence as to be considered
scarcely worthy Of more than passing
notice. The use of steam as motive
power has been improved upon. Elcc-
trio railroading has been tried anu
found to be u distinct advance. 1t is
operating successfully on the New
Haven road in Connecticut and on the
overhead railroad in Liverpool, Eng,
while in London 1t is making bearable
the choking atmosphere of that abOmi-
nation, the underground railroad
Horseless carriages have ceased to be
the butt of the cartoohist's pencil and
the joke writer's pen. In three great
cities of the world, London, Paris and
New York, motor carriages have be
come such u familiar sight as To be an
object Of curiosity to none but country
visitors. The important advancement
made by electricity is shown by the
fact that in 1887 there were eigh ty-six
miles OF electric rail way, while in 1897
tinds us with fourteen thousand miles
OF electric railway, and an increase in
the number Of electric cars operated
from l72 to 81 600.
From business point Of view, 1897
began in gloom and ends in bright sun
shine. 1t was q long time coming
The first half OF the year passed and
l., al.
rolled away with a rush when the con
troll OF the great steel and iron indus
tries OF the world passed from Europe
to America. The control of this por-
tion OF the worlds commerce meant
great tidal wave Of prosperity at
time when tho country mos; needed it.
The value OF imports Of iron and steel
in 1897 was less than half the value of
the imports in 1891, while the exports
were twice as great. In fact tho past
year has been far in advance, com.
mercially speaking, Of any previous
year. 1t is evident that the returns to
be made in the middle Of January will
show our exports to run many millions
above those of 1896. which has been
the record year heretofore.
1t has been great year for the ad
vancement OF women. Even in the
conservative countries Of Europe, bar
riers to the onward and upward pro-
gress OF woman have been removed.
In France, this has been especially
noticeable, many of the restrictions to
to their higher education having been
removed, but the attempt to secure for
women equal privileges with the male
students at the university proved a
failure, although the faculty had ad-
mitted the women to study with the
mo IN nItnn i,u n,,l
beat them when they could, which Oc-
| casionally has happened.
Among the most interesting events
OF 1897 should be mentioned the return
OF Tam many Hall to power and favor
with a majority of the people. The
ancient political organization of New
York, whose candidate has been elect
ed to be first mayor of Greater New
York, had been in the black books of
the tickle public, but the tide has
changed again. The death, on the
very eve OF election, OF the champion
of single tax, Henry George, who sue
campaign, undertaken when he was
lar from being in good health, is an
other of tho noteworthy events Of al
exciting political year.
An interesting incident OF the last
part OF 1897 was the great fire of Lon
don, which reduced to ashes whole
blocks OF buildings, and awakened the
eyes of the Eng lishmen to the faco that
their fire department., OF which they
had been 80 proud. was in reality un-
fitted to cope with any large ontlagra-
tion. 1893 will sec John Bull coming
to Cousin Jonathan for hints on how to
run fire department, and, after max.
ing use OF all our best devices, calmly
claiming them as his own and accus
ing us OF copying London's pet plans
for putting out flames.
Among the great public events that
make 1897 memorable year, were the
Inauguration Of President Mckinley
the swift and decisive war between
Turkey and Greece, which began au(
ended with such surprising sudden
ness, ana with so little loss of life, tha
} the average man, looking back ove
1897 FOR events OF interest, may be for
given If he fails to recall the Turko
Grecian campaign.
2 Another great episode that brOugh
4 together men of war and peace from
4 every part Of the country, was tn
: dedication OF the tomb of Genera
j. Grant. Who, that was privileged t.
{ be present on that occasion, when tn
t gay banners OF the marching men wer
t blown out straight by the fierce an
Y cutting wind, and the spectators sa
O and froze in the grand stands and o
n the sidewalks, chilled to the bone, bu
9 determined to do honor to the nation
q n \