330 ANNUAL REPORT. 



That we are here to-day with a collective exhibit of which any 

 people might be proud, with but twenty-seven years of statehood 

 behind us, is indeed a miracle of creation. We represent a million 

 of kindred A.nglo-Saxons, who upon the fertile lands of Minne- 

 sota, are working out the problems of American life. We ex- 

 hibit to you the evidences of our activity, the witnesses of our 

 resources. 



Minnesota has sought to align herself with that universal spirit 

 of progress which marks the last decades of the century. We 

 trust that our works which are before you are expressive of the 

 aims of an intelligent and growing people. 



Let us examine some of the elemental factors upon which we 

 base our claim to the confidence and regard of our competitive 

 sisters. We invite the most critical examination into the con- 

 dition of our commonwealth. 



The agricultural resources of a people is one of the means by 

 which we measure the importance of a state. The power to 

 produce for consumption and a good round surplus is a wealth 

 creating power. Here is a statement from the official ledger, 

 revised for this occasion: We raised during the year 1884 or 

 wheat, 44,307,000 bushels; of oats, 36,100,000 bushels; of corn, 

 25,630,000 bushels; of barley, 8,618,000 bushels; of potatoes, 

 7,000,000 bushels; of tame hay, 2,627,000 tons; of wild hay near- 

 ly 2,000,000 tons more. These figures illustrate our resources. 

 The average of corn was thirty-seven bushels per acre. That 

 we are a corn producing State is evidenced by the fact that the 

 department at Washington, in the report for 1882, shows that 

 Minnesota leads Iowa, Misouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and 

 Ohio in the per acre average of its corn croj). 



Consider in this connection how little of the 54,000,000 of acres 

 which comprise the total area of our State are yet under culti- 

 vation. About 8,000,000 only are improved, and, deducting our 

 lacustrine regions, but one-fifth of our land is yet in use. About 

 100,000 farms are now equipped and in running order. 



The grand cereal, w^heat, has reached the meed of perfection 

 in our State. That spring wheat should supercede winter wheat 

 in the quality of its flour product is one of the surprises that 

 Minnesota has given to the country. The plump, deep amber 

 berry of our Fife sj)ring wheat, richer in gluten than any other, 

 has contributed a noble share in the prosperity of our State. 

 The royal exhibit made at this exposition certifies to the per- 

 fection of the Minnesota Fife wheat. This great fact stimulated 



