Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-01-06
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

About this time. hfty years ago. The
government began to mako maferfal re-
ductaons in its working
Reducinr foross In ana around WASH
r. ington. that had been in
T"1os, creased on account of the
civil war, and the discharge Of en-
Dloyes. occurring from time to time
caused the dislocation Of local Affairs.
In Tho Star Of December 81. 1857. are
two items telling Of discharges. FIFTY
carpenters and fifteen watchmen were
"furloushed" at the Lincoln depot in
the eastern section OF the city. The
force Of lAborers at that point was not
decreased. a. they were in demand Tor
the fitting UP OF new workshops at the
intersection Of 18th and G streets. At
tho same time Il was noted that large
number OF mon at the ordnADce depart
charged. sixty-one from the equipment
bureau having been dismissed q fort
night earlier. A new schedule Of pay
went into effect at tho ordnance bureau
OF the yard which reduced the compen-
sation OF most of the employees about
rs cents q day,
With the issue OF january /, 1868. The
Star appeared in a new dress of type.
In the old days OF hand
The Starr et.printing this was an
w.. occasion, and The Star
NEW Type. noted the fact in the fol-
lowing editorial announcement on that
day:
The Star appears today in new
dress of reading type. In consequence
Of the wear upon type in printing our
immense and steadily increasing circu-
lation We ind It necessary to renew 1t
case a few years ago. It is not many
months since we were obliged from this
cause to renew our advertising type.
ana It will be again necessary to re-
place It very shortly, so incessant is the
wear upon it from printing our large
edition. But We shall very cheerfully
incur all necessary expense in keeping
UP the legibi1ity and good appearance
OF The Star in justice to both readers
and advertisers. and as the proper re-
Spouse to the hearty evidences Of pub
lie appreciation SO literally bestowed
upon this paper. In entering upon the
proprietorship of The Star, two months
ago. We promised to give the readers of
The Star the benefit Of every improve
ment upon the paper that money or la
Dor could supply, and we submit to
their verdict whether or not we have
undertaken in good faith to redeem our
pledges"
u
Great suffering was prevailing in the
southern states half a century ago.
owing to the failure of
Suffering in crops. due to the short
A. age of labor and the fall
the south. of cotton prices. So Sc
rious was the condition that reports
were sought by the government at
Washington on the subject, with a view
to the institution of measures of fed
eral aid. The Star of January 8, 1868,
says:
Gen. o. o. Howard, commissioner of
the freedmen's bureau. will tomorrow
transmit to Gen. Grant reports from
Gems. Ord, GiIlem, Hancock, Candy,
Scott and other officers bearing upon
the restitution, present and prospective.
in the southern states. The sudden fall
in the price of cotton. together with the
failure of the crops, has produced great
depression, anxiety and apprehension,
and 1t is generally believed that there
will be great suffering for want of
food in Louisiana, Mississippi and
South Carolina before the close of the
winter. and that relief In some shape
must be afforded to prevent the anarchy
that many apprehend. Gen. Howard
recommends that the attention of the
President and Congress be called to the
report, with view to some thorough
and practical mode of relief. It is sug-
gested that il a fund could be estab-
1ished from which employers might
draw, on paying reasonable interest, it
might afford temporary if not perma-
through such fund, or through the
issue of provisions. taking a lien upon
the crops for security. 1t Is also rec
commended by some prominent persons
to be secured by bonds and mortgages
and other good security, for the benefit
OF all states in extreme need, be made
Gems. Ord and Hancock recommend the
sippi by the government. Gen. Howard
says that certain politicians have taken
advantage OF the suffering in the re-
gions where restitution prevails to fur
tneT tnelr own interests, and are trying
to reduce the price of labor to board
merely. and thus get control Of the
1aborers.'
There was no system of branch post
offices fifty years ago and the public
depended for the occa-
Commission sional purchase of
on Stamps. chants who kent sun
plies Of them for the accommodation of
their customers. According to an item
in The Star of January 8, 1858, a move
was made toward encouraging the
vending of stamps by those not direct
ly connected with the Post Office De-
partment.
1.-THE Post Office authorities have re-
solved at last to allow a commission
to the vendors of postage stamps. Here
after these necessary articles will be
as readily obtainable as revenue
stamps. which can be found every
where. The demand is, of course, much
greater. In New York. we see, there is
a controversy as to where the stamps
shall be sold. The postmaster of that
city is disposed to give it exclusively
to the drug gists. 1t is contended, in OBJ
xoaskf =, In hot r. 4