THE AMERICAN ANNUAL CYCLOPÆDIA AND REGISTER OF IMPORTANT EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1873. EMBRACING POLITICAL, CIVIL, MILITARY, AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS; PUBLIC DOCUMENTS; BIOGRAPHY, STATISTICS, COMMERCE, FINANCE, LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AGRICULTURE, AND MECHANICAL INDUSTRY. VOLUME XIII. NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 549 & 551 BROADWAY. 1874. PREFACE. THE year 1873, although disturbed by no wars, if the comparatively insignificant conflicts in Africa, the East Indies, at Khiva in Asia, and with some Indians in Oregon, are excepted, was far from being a period of peace and tranquillity. The conflicts of men's opinions existed everywhere, in which dissimilar, incongruous, and contradictory principles struggled for ascendency. In France, the civil power passed from more liberal and progressive to conservative hands. In Spain, the King, resigning his authority to the representatives of the people, retired; these soon divided into factions, each of which was in turn supplanted by one of the others. In Germany, the consolidation of the empire advanced in spite of every obstacle, and, as in Italy and in Switzerland, the struggle between the independence of the Church and the supremacy of the state was continued with irresistible energy on the part of the state. The same struggle also commenced in Austria. The other leading public questions, and the various relations arising through their influence on the governments and people, are here set forth with fullness and completeness. The affairs in the United States, although more peaceful, were not of less interest than during previous years. The sway of the Federal Government has become everywhere mild and unobstructed. Wherever disturbances have taken place, they arose within the limits of States, and from the violence of excited passions in the contest for power. The public questions discussed have related to finance, to the cheap transportation of the crops from the West to the seaboard, and to all those subjects which exert an influence on the prosperity, the health, and the morals of society, and are herein fully presented. The details of the affairs of the United States embrace the finances of the Federal Government; the modifications of its system of revenue and taxation, the banking system, the expansions and contractions of values, and financial crises; the commerce of the country, its manufactures and general prosperity; the finances of the States; their debts and resources; the various political con ventions assembled during the year, with their platforms; the movements to secure cheap freights on railroads, and the organizations of the Patrons of Husbandry; the results of elections; the proceedings of State Legislatures; the progress of educational and charitable institutions; the extension of railroads and telegraphs, and all those matters which exhibit the rapid advancement of the people, and are herein stated. The diplomatic correspondence of the Federal Government, derived from the most authentic sources, is presented in these pages, and the existing relations with foreign nations. The advance in the various branches of Astronomical and Chemical science, with new and valuable applications to various purposes, is extensively described. Geographical Discoveries have been actively pushed forward in various quarters of the globe, with interesting results. The record of Literature and Literary Progress is as interesting as during any previous year. The titles of the more important works of various classes are given, with remarks on the nature of their contents. The condition of the religious denominations of the country, with their conventions, branches, membership, and progress of opinions, are here given from official sources, together with a summary of the proceedings of the Evangelical Alliance Convention in New York. Biographical sketches of living public men noted during the year are given, and notices of deceased persons of distinction in every class of society. All important documents, messages, orders, and letters from official persons, have been inserted entire. |