PREFACE. 



THE great topic of the year, the World's Columbian Exposition, is treated 

 in this volume in an article of liberal proportions, with half a dozen tinted illus- 

 trations showing the more important buildings. This, together with the illus- 

 trated article in the last volume of the "Annual Cyclopaedia," will perhaps give 

 as good an idea of the great fair as can be had without a visit to Chicago. The 

 sums appropriated for State displays, buildings, etc., may be found generally in 

 the articles on the several States. The census articles in the volumes for 1890 

 and 1891 are supplemented in the present volume, which gives the latest re- 

 sults reached by the compilers at the Census Office on the most important sub- 

 jects. The interesting story of the building of a great Navy for the United 

 States is here brought down to time in a brief article contributed by a naval 

 officer. Other particulars of the growth of our country may be read not only 

 in the article " United States," but in the articles " Commerce and Navigation," 

 " Financial Review of 1892," and " United States Finances," and in a peculiar 

 manner in the article " Shipping on the Great Lakes." /What we are likely 

 soon to acquire by way of annexation may be read in the article " Hawaiian 

 Islands," which is illustrated with a new colored map. Many items indicating 

 industrial growth are to be found also in the articles on the States and Territories. 



Our Canadian articles, written, as usual, by residents of Canada, are illustrated 

 this year by a new colored map of the Province of Quebec. This, together with 

 the maps in volumes immediately preceding, makes a complete cartography of 

 the Dominion of Canada, of the most recent date. Newfoundland is treated by 

 the eminent historian of that island, the Rev. Moses Harvey, and the article 

 includes an account of the great fire in St. John's, and is illustrated with a full- 

 page view of that city and its harbor. 



The articles on the great sciences are full and brought down to time, as 

 usual. Dr. Swift, of Warner Observatory, treats the subject "Astronomy"; 

 Dr. Youmans, of " The Popular Science Monthly," treats " Chemistry," " Metal- 

 lurgy," " Meteorology," and " Physiology " ; Arthur E. Bostwick, Ph. D., treats 

 " Physics" ; and much may be learned as to the general progress of the sciences 

 from a perusal of the article " Associations for the Advancement of Science." 

 The geographical progress of the year is treated in the article under that title. 



The necessarily rapid survey of the year's work in the production of books 

 may be found, as usual, in the articles on American, British, and Continental 

 literature; while more particular discussion of specific literary work is con- 

 tained in articles on famous authors who have passed away during the year. 



