58 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



These are by no means the only inroads made by intellect 

 upon the silent domain of nature. Geology, mineralogy, and 

 chemistry are daily presenting us with astounding develop- 

 ments. I have time simply to point your attention to the 

 steam engine, flying in mighty power with its lengthened 

 train across kingdoms and continents, or driving leviathan 

 ships vath sure direction and resistless force over the storm- 

 crested billows of the ocean. 



Time and space have thus, for the purpose of travel and 

 transit, been practically annihilated. Differences in soil and 

 climate have been adjusted on a scale more nearly approaching 

 equality. By a rational division of labor, far greater excellence 

 has been attained in the several branches of industrial pur- 

 suits. The facilities of land and water communication now 

 open the world as a market for the producer, whilst the pro- 

 ducts of every climate may be easily reached by the consumer. 



Measured thus by the standard of present attainment and 

 progressive improvement in the various arts, we are fain to 

 conclude that civilization is now in advance of any former 

 period. 



We have thus reached a point of view whence we may still 

 more closely inspect the three grand departments of human 

 industry: Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce. In 

 this general division, agriculture includes all the products of 

 the soil, resulting from skill and labor, together with the 

 avails of flocks and herds. By manufactures Ave understand 

 all the products of the mechanic arts, whatever material may 

 be used, or means employed by the artificer; whilst by com- 

 merce we mean the export and import, the sale, exchange, or 

 other domestic disposition of all marketable commodities. 



As thus defined, each of these general departments has chal- 

 lenged the attention of our race from its earliest foothold on 

 earth; and yet, although each originated in the necessity or 

 convenience of men, still there has ever existed, not only a 

 percepible, but marked difference in their public estimation 



