SECRETARY'S REPORT. 139 



steam-machines in operation upon the national fair ground at Hamburg 

 would induce you to say, we are behind many of them in the application 

 of steam to agricultural work. Whatever the wants of the present day 

 may be, the time is not far distant when many portions of our country 

 will require this wonderful element ; if we shall fully develop the hidden 

 resources of our rich but diversified country. So important did the 

 exhibition of the steam-plough appear, that a partial promise was 

 procured from an eminent English firm to attend the first national agri- 

 cultural exhibition in the United States with their steam-ploughing 

 apparatus, if an invitation should be extended to competitors in this 

 mode of ploughing." 



But, though we had nothing to show of this class, we made 

 a better figure in the class of reapers and other implements. 

 And here again I can hardly do better than to quote from Gov. 

 Wright, who says : — 



" After a most thorough examination, trial, and practical test, before a 

 committee of distinguished and competent gentlemen, representing eleven 

 nationalities, and amidst a host of competitors, we maintained our com- 

 plete ascendency in reaping machines, the greatest of labor-saving 

 machines in cutting the stafi" of man's life — bread. 



" The golden medal was awarded to C. H. McCormick, of Illinois, 

 whose splendid reaper took the like reward at the London exhibition. 

 This machine surpassed, in elegance of workmanship, any agricultural . 

 machine on the ground, while his working machine at the trial only 

 more fully demonstrated and confirmed the superiority which he had so 

 long maintained in Europe and in America. The second prize for a 

 reaping machine was awarded to a citizen of New York. 



" Twenty-five medals and diplomas were awarded to American contrib- 

 utors ; there was also a complimentary testimonial presented to each of 

 the States represented, a large and beautiful Hamburg flag. 



"Although the contributions from the United States were few in 

 comparison with those of other countries, yet those present attracted 

 great interest from the thousands who thronged the grounds, to whom 

 our implements, household articles, and agricultural inventions were 

 generally unknown. A crowd could be found at all times examining 

 the American contributions, and orders were given for duplicates of 

 hundreds of them. Those present were sold. 



" The great majority of our articles, especially our farm implements, 

 are well adapted to the wants of Northern Europe, and the prices at 

 which they are manufactured enables us to compete successfully with 

 the foreign manufacturers. It is to be regretted that our people did 



