The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-09-13
OUR CONDITION TODAY.

| SHOWS the widespread effects OF the
summers drought, which is contin-
uing into the fall. Some of the
counties have suffered much more
than others, although the loss is
great here.
In some places farmers are buy
ing potatoes for present and winter
use, and corn is almost a total fail
ure, and yet the resources of this
great country are so vast and varied
that but trifling evidences of any
loss or trouble are seen, and so
wonderful is the elasticity of the
people, in hope and energy, that
they seem to spring up out of their
disasters and go on as usual.
The vast crowds that are rushing
continually to seashore or mountain
resort, show but little restriction in
the gratifying of desire, or the
seeking for pleasure and rest.
We can see very plainly, how
ever, that the prosperity of coun-
try like ours depends, very consid-
erably, upon the products Of the
soil and the outcome of the rocks
beneath, and with fair crops and
prices, we must be reasonably pros
porous.
We notice, too, an ever growing
demand for the conveniences which
progress and invention lay at our
doors. This means a greater ex-
penditure of money and a great
stimulus to manufacturers.
The old-fashioned wooden bridge,
over our many mountain streams,
lifting up among the trees its shell
tering cover, blackened with the
brush of time, is rapidly passing
away, and strong, simple iron ones
take their places, more in accord
with the quick, restless spirit of the
times.
The canal, once almost literally
filled with slow-moving boats, is
now allowed to fill up and choke
with the gathering grasses, and in
its silent waters is sadly written the
story OF its own decadence, Its place
to be taken by the swift-moving
trains in order to accommodate the
increasing number Of travellers, and
carry the vastly augmented freight.
This means, also, more business
and greater advantages in the de-
velopment of our nation.
1t would be shame, too deep to
record, if America should be any
thing else than prosperous, favored
OF God as it is, and blessed with in
eXhaustible resources and inventive
skill. 1t would take malevolence,
or miseiable management of our
national affairs to keep us from forg-
ing ahead.
New, large mills are kept busy
making the wide, heavy paper,
which people put between the outer
and inner coverings of their frame
houses, and so everywhere there
are signs OF advance.
There are two sad features Of our
social and industrial state, and these
are, first, man S inhumanity to man,
so graphically told by correspond
ents in the coal region, and the
strike, long delayed, because there
is no desire to strike, but because
it seems the only means of redress.
The pinching and squeezing, OF
those who have means, upon others,
who get into their clutches. A
most worthy man, in city not
very far from here, was pressed out
OF business twice, and endangered
third time through the rapacity
of those with whom he had associ-
ated himself, but whose portion OF
the capital was mainly his skill
mechanical genius, and knowledge
of the business. This is very
wrong, Those who have wealth
should see the glorious opportunities
opening up, to help others who are
worthy, to benefit their fellow men,
help the nation, and glorify God.
Another evil is the congestion of
our large cities and the often an
almic condition of our smaller
towns. This is wrong, though we
see law controlling it all, and il
seems inevitable, but there are
many and good reasons, financial
and moral, why the activities of oul
land should be distributed. Larger
grants of land and exemption from
taxation ought to help toward
cheap production Of goods.
Our own town sits desolate, in
dustrially, because of selhshness anc
sin, and wrong use OF resources ant
privileges, and like he dog in the
manger, we neither do or let other,
do. And our good water power
our many other facilities, are al
lowed to lie dormant, while ou
population decreases, and our beau
ty and fairness become a mocKerN
in deadness and dullness, instead O