The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-10-10

emotiona. excited as they are by the
remembrance that for more than forty
yeaEs this spot. to be honoFed by the
genius Of the architect and the skill Of
tire artiaaM has been as, familiar to me
as has been my daily hfs. The city We
love 10 to have a temple worthy Of her
greatness. The nation we love IS to fit
tlngly express on this spot her best con-
ceptlcn Of art made to serve utility.
Representatives OF other nations are
here to do US honor and to share with
us in our Joy and pride. The honored
chief executive Of our own republic Is
here to put the trowers first touch 10
the noble ediHce. ! have said mat ART
is here to be made the servant to utll-
.ity. IN this great building the public
business Of the people IS to be trapsacti
ed The federal courts. the agency Of
the revenues and last hut not least the
great postal department: Is here to en-
GENTLY adminlster It's important fnnc-
ton.
At the conclusion Of Secretary Cages
brief address. Rev. Frank W. Gunsaut-
US offered a brief but impressive prayer.
the President and an the members Of
his party uncovering as DE- Gunsaulps
asked a blessing on the ceremony.
Secretary Gage introduced PostmRst-
er General Smith. He was also greet
ed with much applause. He said:
This ceremonial led by the President
Of the republic in the imposing pres
ence OF distinguished national represen-
tatives and foreign dignitartes and Of
this great multitude of citizens is fitly
associated with Chicago day. The
stately structure whose cornerstone Is
now laid symbollzes in q large degree
the dignity and power OF the United
States. But in a direct ana practical
sense It represents the business life and
activity OF Chicago, It Is the nations
visible seal and stamp upon the com-
merciai rank and Importance Of this
splendid city.
The development. Of the country with
In period Of thirty years on ali its
material sides seems like such stun rs
dreams are made Of" In 1870 the total
receipts of the postal service were 49,
IA, 200 and Its total expenditures 32a.-
sss,sS7. This year we shall spend $tO5,-
200 and our receipts will be $99,OOO.-
600. While our population. not counting
the now possessions, has doubled. the
postal business has multiplied nearly
ave fold. The figures In other realms
tell the same fabulous story. Since
1870 the distributed wealth of the coun-
try has increased from $4,000, 0oo, 900 to
over $sOOOO,OOo, 900. This unexampled
gain is widely diffused, The savings
banks furnish a direct test. The num-
her of their deposltors has grown from
1,O6O,OOO to more than 100000 and the
aggregate Of deposits from Ss5O,OOO,OOO
to over $2,OOO.OOO.OOO.
Where could you ind more conclusive
testimony that the average thrift of the
people has shared in the advancement
Of prosperity and accumulation.
with this unmatched growth. what
Imagination shall put nteteS and bounds
to the advancement OF our country? Is
It expected that the marvellous develop
ment which has come with the wonder
full material appliances and forces of
The past three decades win now paGsc
and stand still7 Are we hencefoFth to
mark time instead OF marching for
wArd2 Has our Incompatible indIS-
trial production reached Its limit? IL
oltr growing commerce to halt on the
frontier Of IT'S old domain Is the OPEN
ing door Of wider fields and enlarged
actiyfty within the broken walls. Of tue
orient to be unrecognIzed ana unused
American valoT and herOlRn have never
touched sBbliner heights or shed
brighter lustre on the American name
than during the past two yOlrs. Are
the genius Of American progress and
the fibre Of American purpose unequal
to the achievements Of lts herdiam, and
can Il be said that the people who have
wrought these mnHierful trtuMuhs
at home and abroad are too blind ia
percelve that the waiting opportunity
which has come with che high dis
chnrge Of national duty lies along the
true pathway NJ her commercial or
pnrslon?
But we do not apd cannot think alone
chiefly of material development. SPLEEN
ala as II has been in It's colossal proper
lions, the higher glory of the republic ID
Its mortal position ana its embodiment
of the principles of liberty, TO that