Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-01
The Old Year.

ments in exploration, aviation, medical
research, manufacturing methods, tel
egraphy, marine construction, inven-
tions, and other branches of human
activity on this side of the Atlantic.
Political upheavals have been fire.
quent and of far-reaching conse-
uuences in Europe and Asia. Religious
triumphs may be recorded for almost
every country on the globe. This has
been true in the United States. where
series of religious revivals have
swept over the country strengthening
all creeds and denominations.
The year has been notable one in
our own political affairs. 1t opened
with the country in a state of finan-
cial depression and closes with the
country enjoying the greatest pros
perity in it's history. During the
year there has been drafted and en-
acted into law tariff, the efficacy of
which is just now becoming apparent
to the people The prosecuting OFF,
GERS of the various departments of our
government have been active in bring
ing malefactors to justice, regardless
of their social position.
Reforms have been instituted which
promise to work great good for the
country at large. The fight against
tuberculosis has been particularly
vigorous and we'll directed during the
past year. The campaign of educat-
ticn which has for its purpose the
bringing of the people to realizing
sense of the value of fresh air in
combating this plague, has shown re-
hope that eventually the disease will
be eradicated among the white people.
groes of the South and the Indians
of the West, though much work has
been done with these two races and
some good has been accomplished.
The year has been marked by the dis
covery of a new anesthetic for which
great powers are claimed, though it
has not yet come into general use.
The railroads have continued the sys-
tematic adoption of safety appliances
for the protection of passengers and
employees, and there is promise that
they will continue to do so.
James ]. Hill, the great railroad
magnatc, called our attention sharply
to the change in the relative position
of the food producing and non-food-
producing classes in this country, pre-
dieting that within a comparatively
short time intensive farming would of
necessity be resorted to in this coun-
try if we do not import large quantl-
ties of food stuffs The majority of
the thinking men and women Of the
country believe that Mr. Hill is I'M
duly excited and that the farms in
this country will produce food enough
for the population for many years to
come However, his warranting was
couched in such terms that it attracted
attention throughout the land and the
study of ways and means to make the
land produce more has been actively
begun Within a few years the sub
iect of the conservation of our re-
sources was discussed only among
theorists. The public has been awaken
ed to the fact that it is confronting.
not a theory. but a reality. ana it may
be fairly said that within the year pub
lie sentiment has crystaliZed to such
an extent that some adequate meas
ures for preserving. for the good of
the whole people. such natural re-
sources as this country possesses, is
demanded.
In educational matters there have
been number of important confer
ences, ideals have been advanced. and
intell gently discussed looking to
more practical education of young men
and women, providing them with
better equipment with which to earn
their livng.MT The feature Of financial
affairs in this country has been the
remarkable recovery from the period
of depression whichkimmediately pre-
ceeded il g 49,
Judging from the past perhaps the
event which will live the longest in
history is the discovery of the North
Pole by Commander Robert +. Peary
of the United states Navy. For sew
eral hundred years white men have at
tempted to reach a point 90 degrees
North of the equator but none of them
has ever been able to accomplish the
feat until this year.
Taking the year as whole, it mas
been a period of large undertakings
and large successes. The year 1910
will be what the people make it.