Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-10

CHICAGO, October 9.-Surrounded
by men who guide the diplomatic rela-
tons of three governments and in the
presence of thousands of spectators,
President Mckinley formally laid the
cornerstone Of the magnificent new
federal building of Chicago. The event
was the crowning feature of the week
celebration, marking the annual obser-
vance of Chicago Day. Long before the
hour set for the ceremonies the streets
surrounding the block on which the
steel skeleton of the new building
stands were packed from curb TO curb
with pushing, jostling people anxious
to get a glimpse of the resident and
the distinguished visitors from other
countries, while every window in the
decorated sky-scrapers surrounding the
Federal building was taken advantage
Of Even on the steel girders of the
Federal building itself were perched
hundreds of venturesome curiosity
seekers. In the angle formed by the
south and west wings of the Federal
building, at Jackson boulevard and
Dearborn street, and in front of the
Union League Club building, reviewing
stands had been erected for the accom-
mediation of the distinguished visitors,
including Vice President Mariscal and
party, of Mexico; Premier Laurier, Of
Canada, and other notables of that
ley's cabiret and the diplomatic corps
at Washington, Senators and Congress-
men and other invited guests; and when
President Mckinley threw the first
trowelful of mortar under the uplifted
block of lime stone and pronounced the
cornerstone set, one of the most nota-
bic gatherings ever in Chicago, looked
on
Shortly before ten o'clock a roar of
cheers from down Jackson boulevard
annunced the coming of President Nc
Kinley and his party. 1t was with con-
siderable difficulty that the troops of
cavalry and the police forming the
Presidents guard could clear a space
vide enough for the carriages contain
ing the President and members Of his
cabinet, and other guests to pass, and
as the carriages slowly made their way
up the boulevard toward the Federal
bullying. the applause became terrific
and continuous. The President fire.
quently arose and DOTTED his hat in re-
spcnse. AT the entrance of the Union
League Club the President and members
of his party alighted, and after brief
reception were escorted across Jackson
boulevard to the platform in front of
the Federal building A hurricane of
cheers greeted the President as he was
escorted to the dais at the side of which
the cornerstone was suspended ready
for the ceremony. The President
warmly greeted the officials, then turn
ed and bowed to the group of work
men, who were TO complete the laying
of the cornerstone. Judge Christian c.
Kohlsaat, chairman Of the committee
on ceremonies, introduced Secretary
of the Treasury Lyman J. Gage as pre-
siding officer for the cornerstone exer-
clses. The Secretary was warmly cheer
ed as he stepped forward. He said:
THE stately structure whose corner
stone is now laid symbolizes the digni-
ty and power of the United States.
The development of the country
within a period of thirty years on all
its material sides seems like such stuff
as dreams are made on. In 1870 the
total receipts of the postal service were
S19,772, 220, and it's total expenditures
s23.99S,S37. This year we shall spend
S105.o0O.00O and our receipts will be
s99,000.000 While our population, not
counting the new possessions, has doub-
led. the postal business has multiplied
nearly five-fold. The figures in other
realms tell the same fabulous story.
Since 1870 the distributed wealth of the
country has increased from $27. 900 .000,-
600 to over $50 600, 10000 This unex-
ampled gain is ;trdely diffused. The
savings banks furnish a direct test.
The number of their depositors has
grown from 100000 TO more than
100000 and the aggregate of deposits
from $3.50 100000 to over $4,000, 900 600.
Where could you find more con-
elusive testimony that the average
thrift of the people has shared in the
advancement of prosperity and accum-
ulation?
with this unmatched growth, what
imagination shall put metes and
bounds to the advancement of our
country? 1t is expected that the mar
velous development which has come
with the wonderful material appliances
will now pause and stand still? Are
we heneeforth to mark time instead of
marching forward? Has our incom-
parable industrial production reached
its limit? Is our growing commerce to
halt on the frontier Of its old domain