13 



as the states of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, they con- 

 tain a population of some seventy-five millions of people, or ten 

 millions greater than that of the whole United States. In 

 England, nature has deposited huge beds of coal and ore in 

 close proximity, while every village, almost, contains a manu- 

 factory. Nature was not over kind to England in giving it a 

 salubrious climate or a fertile soil, yet necessity has made the 

 most of both. 



France is much more favorably situated as regards soil 

 and climate, and more nearly resembles that of our State in its 

 northern provinces, though the south competes with Florida 

 or California. France also has mines of ore and coal, and to 

 its general agriculture adds viticulture and silk growing, in 

 neither of which we can be expected to excel until times and 

 the demand, as well as the wages paid labor, change. 



These two nations have been unusually prosperous, 

 brought about almost entirely by the fact that they consume all 

 the products of their own lands besides purchasing great quanti- 

 ties from foreigners, paying for the same in manufactured 

 goods. For the purpose of showing the comparison, we have 

 been to the pains to call attention to the foregoing facts, for 

 the very reason that Illinois is so situated that she must ere 

 long take the front rank among the states as a producer of 



MANUFACTURED GOODS, 



and when that time comes the value of agricultural products, 

 of stock, of the dairy, of her mines and fruit farms will equal 

 in combined value, if not exceed, those of any of the other 

 states. We are not wild enthusiasts that we make such an as- 

 sertion, but we know thoroughly the capacity and capabilities 

 of our great and beloved commonwealth. So much by way of 

 preliminary remarks; now for the more practical objects which 

 this report is designed to promote. 



THE STATE OF ILLINOIS 



contains nearly 58,000 square miles of territory and about 

 37,000,000 acres, the greater part of which is or can be made 

 productive. The amount of surface occupied by hilly ranges, 



