Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-02
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

IN THE STAR
The Mexican situation continued to
this country fifty years
Napoleon III ago. notwithstanding
the French emperor's
and Mexico. declaration that he
proposed to withdraw his military sup
port Of Emperor MAMMALIAN. In The
Star Of March 80, 1866, is the follow
ing:
Granting the authenticity OF the pub
LEGATION in the New York Herald OF
secret treaty concluded between France
and Mexico on the goth of September
last. we do not see how from such
premises a prolongation Of French oc-
cupation can be argued. as between
that date and January 1 the Emperor
of France had ample time to change
his views. and 1t was not until the
latter date he announced his intention
to withdraw his troops from Mexico.
1t may be that the emperor is not sin
cere in his declaration, but it will re-
duire something more than the publ
cation in question to prove 1t. as this
treaty simply regulates the condition
upon which the French agents in Mex
leo shall perform their duties 1t pro-
vides substantially that they shall be
considered French officers, shall re-
ceive salaries Of stipulated amount.
shall have certain privileges and shall
serve for time agreed upon. five
years 1t is assumed that the agree
ment proves that Mexico Is under
French domination in the civil admin
istration as well as the military. which
no one ever doubted. as it Is a we'll
known fact that in addition to the
French minister plenipotentiary French
agents are in Mexico in various de-
lais. who died suddenly a short time
ago In the City of Mexico, was sent
out from France. specially to set the
financial affairs of Mexico. and he prob
ably had assistants"
The close Of the civil war made a
material difference in local conditions,
especially in
How Peace Lowered the matter of
Street Car Profits. the e,se OF THE the
affected various Industries, notably the
street railway of the city. as indicated
by the following extract from the an
nual report of the directors of the
Washington and Georgetown railway.
printed in The Star of March 80, 1866:
THE board of directors regret their
inability to lay before the stockholders
a more encouraging statement, a fact
que to the great reduction of the pop-
ulatlon of the District since the close
of the war. whereby the receipts of the
company have been materially affected
ing December 81, 1865. were 30 per
cent less than during the correspond
ing period in 1864. While the receipts
fell off thus suddenly and largely,
there was no corresponding fall in the
price of articles used in the operation
of the road. and with the large amount
of material and equipment on hand,
necessary to maintain the road at the
highest point of its business, it was
found impossible to reduce the ex-
rapid decline of the receipts. Thus the
profits are not what could be desired.
and now that the business has become
so much reduced, it is a matter of con-
siderable doubt whether the road can
maintain its present efficiency and give
to the public the requisite accommoda-
ton II the free transfer system is re-
tanned. But it is hoped that Congress
will release the company from the
onerous requirement. The hardship of
this burden upon the company may be
seen at glance"
The fluctuations in the gold rate were
not invariably accompanied fifty years
ago with correlative
The Increase in movements in the
prices of food ma
ing paragraph in The Star of March 81,
1866, attests:
Consumers who fondly anticipate a
general fall in prices corresponding with
the fall in gold are disagreeably surprised
to find that many articles of consumption
are absolutely taking the upward shoot.
Flour and groceries of various kinds are
on the rise 1t seems. however. that the
difficulty lies in the fact that the entire
country is barred of stock. and it appears
probable that the new crop of butter.
which may be expected in fair supply by
the 10th of April. will have no COMPETE
ton this season with the old crop. as it is
evident that the old crop will be cleared
out. We see first-quality butter (whole-
sale) in the New York markets at 60a65
This is poor comfort to butter eaters but
"a cleared-out stock-accounts for up
ward prices in some other articles of pro-
duction. AS yet. the agricultural regions
of Pennsylvania and New York are called
upon to do double duty in supplying for
us as well as their own great cities the
products that used to come so plentifully
from Virginia and farther south. but
which were laid waste by the war When
these districts are recuperated and in d
condition to furnish something like their
old amount of supplies we may begin to
hope for something like a return to old
prices"
Under date of April President john
son proclaimed peace in the United States.
all evidences of
President Johnson hostilities having
Proclaims Peace. Of April 3, 1866,
comments as follows on this proclama-
ton:
THE important announcement goes
forth to the country that the President Of
tho United States has proclaimed the ex-
istence of peace throughout the land. Just
one year ago today the armed hosts which
threatened our existence as a nation
marched out Of the capital which they
had defended with such skill and vigor.