24 



States. This sum of $700,000,000 exceeds the gross income of all tlie 

 railroad and traDSX)ortation companies in the United States, and, if we 

 leave out ISTew York and Penns3'lvania, it would suffice to pa\^ the pub- 

 lic indebtedness of all the other States in the Union, including that of 

 all tlie counties, townships, school districts, and cities within those 

 States. In a word, we have to do here with an interest ranking third 

 in the line of importance, even from the mere view of dollars and cents, 

 counting manufacturing of all kinds first and agriculture second. 



If forests, therefore, were of no more consequence than as the source 

 of the wealth which their annual yield represents, they would be worthy 

 of special attention and care on the part of every community which 

 would be considered thrifty and far-sighted. 



From the very inception of government on this continent down to the 

 present time our towns, counties, cities, States, and, since its establish- 

 ment, the ]N"atioual Government, have devoted much attention and i)ut 

 forth great efforts in various forms to promote the development of ag- 

 ricultural and manufacturing industry. 



By offering lands on easy terms, by giving premiums for excellence 

 of products, by enconraging the importation of improved breeds of live 

 stock, by promoting the use of fertilizers, by free distribution of seed, 

 by the establishment of experimental stations, of model forms, of agri- 

 cultural schools, and of fairs, by exemi^ting land from taxation for a 

 certain length of time, and by many other means, the endeavor has 

 been made to enlarge and improve agriculture. 



By the establishment of a so-called protective tariff, by bounties, 

 by exemption from taxation, by direct grants from the public treasury 

 or by subscriptions of private parties, by a system of patent rights, 

 by premiums, by expositions and exhibitions, and by the establish- 

 ment of technical schools and similar means in many directions, we 

 have labored to diversify and enlarge our manufacturing industry. 



More especially have we tried to secure that fundamental condition 

 of a highly civilized state, general and rapid means of transportation 

 and communication. We have expended untold sums in the improve- 

 ment of our highways and water-ways. Country roads, turn^nkes of 

 many different kinds, railroads, canals, we have practically constructed 

 at the expense of the public Treasury. We have laid out large sums in 

 the improvement of our rivers and harbors in order to faciliate our com- 

 merce. We have established and maintained at a large cost to the 

 general Treasury a Federal post-office, which performs many of the func- 

 tions of an express company. 



But not only for transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing has 

 the Govern ment actively engaged in\a promoting and fostering way. It 

 has ])asscd laws for the preservation and increase of various forms of our 

 natural wealth. Most, if not all, of the States have undertaken to pro- 

 tect ganje and fish from the ravages of private individuals. They" have 

 enacted laws which have for their object the limitation of what was un- 



