San  Diego  is  still  hoping  and  planning  for  a  direct  eastern  out-
let, and  those  who  know  most  about  it  have  full  confidence  in
the  result.  By  the  way,  the  biggest  thing  in  irrigation  de-
velopment this  year  is  the  continued  growth  and  prosperity  of
the  reclamation  work  in  the  Imperial  region,  which  was
formerly  known  as  the  Colorado  Desert.
Viewed  as  a  whole,  the  West  has  made  substantial  gains  on
the  material  side  during  1902.  These  gains  have  been  well  dis-
tributed throughout  the  different  States  and  Territories  and
divided  with  a  fairly  even  hand  among  merchants,  manufac-
turers, farmers,  stock-growers  and  miners.  The  trade  of  the
Pacific  has  expanded  perceptibly.  Many  great  enterprises  have
been  set  on  foot,  and  many  which  were  already  established  have
extended  the  sphere  of  their  operations.  If  we  do  not  look
below  the  surface  of  things,  and  if  we  think  only  of  today,  we
may  say  that  the  past  year  has  been  one  of  unblemished  pros-
perity —  that  while  some  have  done  better  than  others,  nearly
all  have  done  better  than  usual.
In  marked  contrast  to  the  fair  exterior  of  prosperity,     tjndbr  thb
we  have  heard  throughout  the  past  year  the  rising  note  surfaoc

of  social  discontent.    Never  in  the  writer's  lifetime,  and  ^^  thdigs.
