The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-01-07
WAS A GREAT YEAR.
The Past Twelve Month and Their
Leading Events.
Important Occurrences In the United
States and in Foreign Lands
Epitome OF the Spanish
American War.

most memorable In the history OF the
United States. IL was the year OF victory
In a war with foreign nation and the year
In which the republic relinquished its iso-
lated position and entered upon its career
as a wcrld power. 1t IL unnecessary to re-
view In close detail the swiftly occurring
events or the war with Spain. as they are
fresh In the memory OF every reader. IL be-
gan In the interests OF humanity and for
the protection OF American interests. 1t
has closed with the extinguishment OF the
colonial sovereignty OF Spain and the ex-
tension OF the area OF the United States.
bringing with II new duties and response
bilities. To-day the stars and stripes wave
over Cuba. Porto Rico. the Philippines and
the Ladrones Looking at the struggle
briefly. war existed when the battleship
Maine was blown up Ia Havana harbor
FEBRUARY 10. On the Sth OF March con-
gfess voted unanimously and without de-
bate defense fund OF $50, COO on the
1Vth OF April IL passed a Joint resolution de-
manding that Spain relinquish its authority
ana government In the island of Cuba and
Withdraw It's land and naval forces from
CUBA ana Cuban waters. on the 10Th OF
A<n the president stated In his message
10 congress the causes OF war which con-
gless had already declared 10 have existed
since April "a. anu announced the severance
OF diplomatic relations with Spain. Events
now moved swiftly. April p congress
passed the volunteer army bill and voted an
embargo on coal and war material April
- the president called for 10000 volun-
teers and April q Spain declared war
Military operations actively ensued. They
may be summed , In this brief statement.
DESTRUCTION OF the Spanish fleet at Manila
May /; destruction OF the Spanish feet on
santiago July 3. surrender OF Santiago
July IA: Invasion OF Porto Rico July q.
on tho 26th OF July Spain, through NJ.
Cambon. the French ambassador asked
what terms OF peace were demanded. Aft
err deliberation the president replied, de-
manding the evacuation OF Cuba, the ces-
sion OF Porto Rico and one OF the Ladrones
and certain concessions In the Philippines,
10 be settled by joint commission. on the
18th OF August the protocol was signed and
hostilties were suspended. September n
tho peace commission began It's sessions
and December 10 the treaty was signed.
seven months and ~ days after the
declaration OF war. Rarely has war been
fought and n treaty made In shorter time
than this. The treaty will undoubtedly b
ratified within few weeks. and then this
country Will take It's seat az the council
board OF the nations as a war power. pre-
pared 10 execute the new duties imposed
upon II. Rarely also has war been fought
with so little comparative loss. No official
report has been made OF Spains losses.
but the total casualties upon the American
side were as follows: Officers killed. %:
enlisted men killed, 257: total. ESQ; officers
wounded, 1i3: enlisted men wounded. .44
total. 1.h77. or the navy: Killed, II: wound
ed. G7; died OF result OF wounds, /; invaded
fiom service g: total. 81 Spain lost 35 war
vessels: the United States. none. The cost
Of the war 20 the United states was about
5000 800. 900: 20 Spain about 81 ,075 GOO. We
have gained 100, 40 square miles OF territory.
with $500. 100 population not including Cuba
yet.
work OF Congress.
SO much OF the time OF congress was
taken up by the discussions which preceded
the war and the legislation which II neces-
SLATED that II did not have much leisure
for other subjects. or the war measures
aside from the Joint resolutions demanding
az. Tor ~ hn Vafl,i ah NnyAE fol
lowed by the declaration OF war by Spain.
were the war revenue law and the act for
the temporary increase or the army. That
war revenue law. with It's stamp taxes and
it, increased beer tax. VIII remain on the
statute books for year at least. Under
that law three per per- cent: ponds 70 the
The other notable events In congress were
the annexation OF Hawaii and the enact
ment OF bankruptcy law. The necessary
two-t birds vote could not he obtained for
the ratification OF tho treaty for the an
nexation OF Hawaii but after the war with
Spain began no difficulty was found ~
adopting n Joint resolution which made the
islands n part OF the United states. The
bankruptcy act. which provides for both
voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy, Is
tho first the United States has had since
1y7S IL viii he I'm full force after this date.
The less important measures Of the ses-
sion were the creation OF an industrial COM
mission 10 investigate immigration labor.
manufactures and business. the prohibition
OF the killing OF fur seals IN the North Pa
clnc and the importation o. sealskinsi the
enactment OF an Alaskan homestead and
tho right ~ way TO encourage the constrtc-
iIon az railroads. and the prohlMtion o. the
carrying Of merchandise, directly or indl-
reciiv. between United States ports In for
Great Year for Trade.
The DEVELOPMENT OF American trade and
commerce during the last twelvemonth has
been 40 great as TO excite the cnyious won
der OF the world The value OF domestic
exports in 1891 was 81, O9o, 7l4oOo. Last year
y was ~; oV cGo zoo The SILVER exports WI
The value OF the Imports was less than In
1897. This was due partly 70 the heavy I'm
portntions IN the last-named wear N antics
law. But aside from that the fact II ap-
parent that this country is making for u.
10 buy abroad, and that the importation OF
foreign manufactures must continue 10 de-
crease. The exports were so large last year
because the demand for American wheat
did not decrease materially. this country
supplying over so per cent OF the European
demand for foreign wheat: because The Eu-
ropeans who began purchasing American
corn IN 1897 found that N was n most de-
sirah'e commodity and kent on buying II
in ISIS 10 the extent ~ 200 ZOO 900 bushels
ard because the newly-dlscovercd ability
OF the American iron and steel manure ctur-
ers 20 pnderseil the rest ~ the world en-
ahled this country 20 sell hair MS much
again OF those metals and their products
last year ne IN the preceding year.
The supremacy .of the United states f.
IL conceded now. The Americans have not
only beaten their English competitors IN
neutral markets, like Australia. India and
prsS'a hut have invaded English markets
and undersold the EnRlishmen ~ home.
getting contracts for iron pine 10 be laid
~ rngiish cities and steel rails for English
reads The American iron Industry throve
last year. hut the Indications ara that N
viii he even more prosperous IN 1870 The
outnut OF mig iron last year was ~ roc roo
tens, the greatest ever vet reached bv 2. 600
ooo tons This years output will be still
greater
Our Trade Balance.
The excess OF exports Of merchandise nd
silver over the imports last year was $3.50
100000 SO large trade balance I'm favor
OF this country has put n IN that most en-
v'ahle position where New York Is able 10
tictatc money rates 20 London. Periin and
Paris Part ~ the money due the United
States for this excess or exports has been
loaned on call IN European cities Part has
been sent here IN the shape ~ gOld Owing
10 tho roll in1porfaffOns ara The eupplles
drawn from 'hp A'-'crican mtnca the stock
Of that metal availqhia To- monetary uses
amounts now 10 soo- non n00 while NJ the
close OF 1897 II was 1926 s33 600
THE OLD YEAR ABROAD.
Events OF Interest and Importance I'm
Foreign Lands.