Welcome to 1884! Industrialization is increasing, immigrants are moving to find new homes, the economy is booming, the government is extremely corrupt, and there are a staggering number of social issues! 1884 is part of Mark Twain’s famed “Gilded Age,” so named because the era’s intense social issues were masked by a thin golden gilding of economic success. Railroads and factories are producing goods at rates nearly double that of before, and production from farms is not far behind. Labor unions have been advocating for benefits for workers, using protests, signs, and strikes to reach their goals. Politicians and their supporters have been rallying their party members to win the presidential election in any way they can, even if that means cheating. The only way the citizens of the country could learn about what was happening was through the newspaper. This newspaper highlights some of the events and issues taking place in the area of Troy, New York, in November, 1884.