256 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



For 250 years we have called ourselves an agricultural people. 

 While it is certainly true that we have been and still are, though in less 

 degree, an agricultural people, our chief problems have not been those 

 of the agriculturalist. They have been chiefly the problems of the en- 

 igineer. We have, it is true, made some real progress in the science of 

 living things. Our animal and vegetable forms have been improved and 

 thereby has the vigor and healthfulness of the human race been in- 

 creased. I would, in no way, minimize the importance of this improve- 

 ment, but after all, it has never become a serious question. Much of this 

 improvement has been unconscious and much of it has been done by peo- 

 people who found pleasure in doing it. The large problems that have 

 required serious thought have been the mechanical means of subduing 

 nature, of planting, harvesting, manufacturing, and marketing the crop. 

 At no time in its history scarcely has the nation suffered for food, cloth- 

 ing, and shelter. At no time has these things been more abundant than 

 in the past generation. Nature has been so prodigal that the surplus to 

 the producer has been enormous, provided only that the mechanical 

 means could be obtained to handle her bounty. Harvesting machinery, 

 including the cotton gin, and steam transportation have not only unlock- 

 ed nature's wealth, but so cheapened the cost of production as to allow a 

 large part of the population to busy itself with other matters of the 

 highest importance to the present and future welfare of the race. Only 

 during the present generation have we knownf two of the greatest of 

 these agencies, viz., the self binder and transcontinertal railways. The 

 result has been that we of the present generation have enjoyed comforts 

 and luxuries beyond the fondest dreams of former generations. At rio 

 time has our prosperity been greater apparently than at the present 

 moment. However ungracious it may seem to say it, it is to be feared 

 that we have been so busy talking about our prosperity that we may 

 not have noticed the slight quiver that proceeds an earthquake. 



It has recently been my privilege to discuss at some length the out- 

 look for agriculture in this country and were there time such an array 

 of facts and figures could be presented as to be, I believe, both con- 



