No. 4.] EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY. 89 



middle western States immense reservoirs of natural g-as, — 

 a fuel of high theoretical value and ideal qualities. With 

 proper use it would have lasted for an indefinite time, — an 

 industrial blessing and resource of inestimable value. It 

 is now practically exhausted, through ignorant, wasteful 

 methods. This might be called industrial extravagance. 



We boast of our enormous agricultural products, with- 

 out stopping to consider whether these are the result of a 

 rational, conservative system of agriculture, or whether they 

 are due to the stores of natural fertility in. the soil, which 

 we are rapidly exhausting. In actual fact, there is much in 

 the ao-ricultural industrv which we miffht designate as un- 

 scientific and unwise. 



The point which I seek to illustrate is, that in some part 

 our industrial prosperity is due to the reckless, extravagant 

 or improvident utilization of natural resources, which is 

 temporarily profitable at the expense of future generations ; 

 and that these methods have made us rich beyond expecta- 

 tion, and have accustomed us to reckless and sometimes un- 

 fair industrial policies. It is perhaps too much to say that 

 these industrial conditions are Avholly responsible for the 

 graver matters of reckless, unfair and dishonest commercial 

 conditions ; but too much and too easily begotten wealth 

 begets in turn arrogance and greed, and these breed the 

 men and the conditions which are shaming America in the 

 eyes of the world. 



Our industrial progress has been abnormal ; it has turned 

 our heads with the spectacle of great and easily acquired 

 fortunes, until we are impatient of the natural course of 

 events, and discontented with industrial conditions as they 

 exist upon a normal plane in other countries. 



How true it seems that industrial aflairs not only domi- 

 nate the material welfare of the people, but are reflected in 

 their characters and traits. If industrial methods are ex- 

 travagant and in violation of natural and commercial laws, 

 then we may expect industrial leaders to become extrava- 

 gant and lawless. If, on the other hand, industries are 

 conducted scientifically and conservatively, those connected 

 with them will be careful and conservative men. 



