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Wisconsin state agricultural society . 
tion forming only about one-fortieth part of that of the United 
States. 
True, there are many articles of luxury and some of utility 
which we cannot expect to produce, but our deficiencies in this re¬ 
spect are by no means discouraging, as the progress of the past 
ten years clearly shows, having nearly trebled both in capital and 
products, and yet there remains a sufficient amount of undevel¬ 
oped power to drive the machinery of the nation. To prove this, 
I need only mention the Fox with its almost unbroken water 
power from lake Winnebago to Green Bay, with lake Winnebago 
serving as an inexhaustible reservoir. And I may add no better 
or more available water power can be anywhere found in this 
country than this same irresistable Fox. Then, too, there are such 
others as the St. Croix, Wisconsin and Bock. Another fact 
should not be forgotten, and that is, the general education which 
is the natural outgrowth of all manufacturing. 
A variety of industries would give employment to a much 
larger number of persons, mentally and physically, thus increas¬ 
ing the general intelligence of the people. Thousands of the 
youth of our state now growing up in idleness, ought to be en¬ 
gaged in some honorable and useful employment, and what can 
.•serve this purpose better than manufacturing? All are not born 
for the professions, nor all for the plow, but to produce something 
both new and useful should be the ambition of each. 
The first question is, or should be, the economy of material. 
What can be made of it, and what will it pay? 
In this way will be found the value of every material used or 
produced in the state. Let too many follow one branch of trade 
and the whole will be seriously affected, and in many instances 
will bring calamity upon the entire community. But multiply 
machinery, invoke the aid of the inventor, utilize our native forces, 
and the home of the laborer will be made attractive as well as 
instructive. Give to some of our European brethren the machine 
shop and they will work their way to independence. No one 
•doubts that the introduction of manufacturing increases the gen¬ 
eral wealth, giving greater value to lands and homes, uniting men 
of small means and often bringing money from abroad, thus mak¬ 
ing money subservient to the wants of the laborer. 
