Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — Story of Marbelous Progress Told in History of State [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Story of Marbelous Progress Told in History of State

It would have taken a wiser man than any of our forefathers to have prophesied that, at the ocglnnlng of the twentletn century, the little area In the middle West, compassed by the boundary lines of Indiana would have been stripped of wild forests, divested of savagery and changed os by a conjurer’s strategem Into one of the most perfectly cultivated and advanced commonwealths of the western world. Men still llvs who knew much of this region as a wilderness of wood and plain. Less than eighty years ago the very spot where the majestic capltol of Indiana holds Its stately head proudly high among the capitols of the earth was little more than a trading post In a primitive expanse hardly reclaimed from savage domination. Men who have participated In and have been close observers of the marvelous developments that, year by year, have been unfolded to their gaze, have scarcely realized the vast Importance Indiana has been assuming In the realm of commerce and Industry and In all human arts and employments. Those most deeply concerned In t e state's material progress, even up to the past two decades, could no have foretold that today Indiana would rank sixth among the agrlcultur states of the nation, fifth In manufactures, fourth In literature and education. second In electric railroads, and occupy the highest place In many of the best elements of present-day proficiency. • • • • This edition affords a birdseye view of Indiana and its capital, showing not only its material conditions and resources, but all that goes to make up the life of its people, industrially, socially, educationally, etc. No •me can read these pages without having a better appreciation of the neatness of Indiana. Us opportunities for living and its wonderful possibilities for the future. No other state can claim more or greater advantages for the development and sustenance of a noble, free and happy people. Its history is a story of wonderful expansion on symmetrical lines ana the century of past effort, so rich in results. Is but an earnest >f what the present century may unfold. Probably the most sanguine predictions would fall short of the reality of a hundred years hence, for the P°“‘billties of great achievments In the arts and Industries are Incalculable. Practically everything that pertains to the modern civilization of Indiana was accomplisned during the nineteenth century. All back of that period Is chiefly Interesting as historical reminiscence. The state has thus entered upon a new epoch with the prestige of a previous century of remark- : able Improvement—a period that has transformed a practically uninhabited region into a great commonwealth, vivified by Industry and representing American civilization In its most progressive phases. !'« • • • Indianapolis did not become a great city by any process of, organlo evolution. There was. in fact, nothing to distinguish the site of this city from hundreds of other tracts In the dense forest. Its rapid growth to ’ Its present high distinction was brought about by the vigilance and acute ’ foresight of Its citizens. Its record of Increase has been astonishing: In ' 1840 the population was 2.693; In 1860. S.C9I; In 1860. IS.6U: In 187 a 48,244. ■ln 1880, 75.044; In I*9o. 106,436; In 1900. 169,164. During the past decade the ‘ ratio of growth was 60.4 per cent., or greater than that of any other of the ’ larger cities of the country during the same period. Indianapolis Is now the largest Inland city In the United State.; tt la ’ the chief railroad center of the middle West; lta manufacturing. Jobbing : - nd retail trades, as described In this edition, present a record of sub- • stantial prosperity not equaled by any similar community In this country : - aretao • over *1,000,000 for every day in the year; It 1. one of «*• be* built «d • most attractively laid out cltiee In the country and enJo>« the appellation : oT the cTy of homes,” It is, next to Boston, the largest capital city In ■ the United States. .... ► Th , enterprise that has developed the resources of Indiana must not ' * nor , P 9lt HkeVy to. but It must be remembered that material pros- : 235 u oilv an aid to better conditions of life. To secure a fair disl tributlon of the advantages wealth can produce; to educate the people, ► to Inculcate moralltv; to preserve the love M liberty; to secure good ,nu equal government which shall be pure and honest; to mak,th ®°® > l portunltles oi life easier am* better for all the people-these are th* things ► to b« sought for. ’ k Th* people of Indiana are a sturdy race with sturdy qualities, unique In ► tome respect* and free from *ome evils that prevail In other sections. ► yhey nave *olved many problem* In the past and they will *olv* those • t h- future. The generations of the twentieth century can do no better » than to follow In the footstep# of their predecessors of the nineteenth. - seeking the same objects and being Imbued with the lame spirit. - ' eekln * tno salno JOHin w. RYCKMAN. ► Indianapolis. Jfyi. L 1902-

W. T. DU RBIN, Present Govern or of Indiana.