PREFACE 



THE year 1888 was notable in the United States for elections that, changed 

 the political complexion of two branches of the National Government, and in 

 Europe for the death of two emperors of Germany. Under the title " United 

 States, Presidential Elections in," the reader will find in this volume a condensed 

 compilation, by counties, of the figures of the last five presidential elections, more 

 conveniently arranged for comparison than such figures ever have been before. 

 In the articles < ; Harrison." " Morton," and " United States," the other fac-ts of 

 the canvass are set forth. The changes in Germany may be found under that 

 title and in the articles on the three emperors " Wilhelm I," " Friedrich III," 

 and " Wilhelm II." Other movements, political and military, are recorded in the 

 articles " Abyssinia," " Afghanistan," " Great Britain," " France," " Samoa," and 

 " Zanzibar," the article on Samoa being accompanied by a new map, which shows 

 the harbor secured for the United States. Besides the public works described in 

 the article " Engineering," a most important one is set forth under " Nicaragua," 

 where the reader will find the latest facts about what now appeal's to be the most 

 feasible plan for a ship-canal between the two oceans, illustrated by a colored 

 bird's-eye view. The " Financial Review " furnishes the usual fine summary of 

 the year's transactions, and the increase of our material prosperity may be further 

 noted in the articles on the separate States and Territories, and in that entitled 

 "Cities, American, Recent Growth of," continued from the two preceding 

 volumes. The most noted deaths of the year, in the United States, were those 

 of Gen. Sheridan and Chief-Justice "Waite, on whom the reader will find articles, 

 as well as on their successors, Gen. Schofield and Chief-Justice Fuller, the last- 

 named illustrated by a portrait on steel. Among the other losses of eminent 

 citizens may be noted the Hon. Roscoe Conkling, who was a victim of the March 

 blizzard; the venerable A. Bronson Alcott and his daughter Louisa; Asa Gray, 

 the botanist ; Mrs. Lozier, the physician ; Seth Green, the pioneer pisciculturist ; 

 and Richard A. Proctor, the scientist. The Obituaries, both American and 

 Foreign, will be found to cover a wide range. 



Among the special and timely articles are those on "Absentee," "Agnostic," 

 " Atlantic Ocean Hydrography," " Burial Laws," " Balance of Power," " Beds, 

 Folding," "Boats, Collapsable," "Charity Organization," "Camps for Boys." 

 " Co-operation," " Cremation, Progress of," " Congress, Contested Elections in," 



