ANNUAL REPORT—MANUFACTURES. 
59 
The manufacture of agricultural implements was carried on to 
a very limited extent in 1860, when the total value of its pro¬ 
ducts was $735,198. Since that day, most of the leading es¬ 
tablishments then in operation have been greatly enlarged, and 
not a few new ones added, some of them—the Geiser Threshing 
Machine Co., Raeine, is a notable example—of great extent and 
importance. 
It may be remembered, that in our report of 1868, we esti¬ 
mated the total value of the products of this general business 
at about $4,000,000. This was probably not far from the 
mark. Since that, there seems, for some cause or causes, to 
have been a falling off in the manufacture of reapers and of 
seed-drills ; perhaps, also of other implements. At all events 
the census returns of 1870 show an aggregate of but $2,- 
890,437. 
In explanation of this decrease, we suggest the fact of an 
over-production in 1868, not yet fully recovered from, and 
secondly the increasing number and active efforts, of agencies 
established in the interest of eastern manufactories. With 
gaining facilities for getting the raw material and for shipping 
the bulky products of their 'manufacture to all parts of the 
state and country, the present comparative quietness in this 
branch of business cannot be more than very temporary. 
Leather manufacture has made rapid growth within the recent 
years. In 1860, the total product had a valuation of less than 
half a million of dollars. To-day it is not less than $3,000,- 
000. In this branch, Milwaukee, whose annual production 
has always been proportionally large, has made great advance¬ 
ment. On this head we quote at some length from the report 
of the Chamber of Commerce for 1870 and from the Milwau¬ 
kee Sentinel: 
“ Milwaukee lias long been noted for the great extent of the hide and 
leather business carried on here, and this branch of our manufactures has 
been augmented during the past year by the erection in this city of the 
most complete and extensive leather manufactory to be found in any part 
of the country, the tannery of the Wisconsin Leather Company on the Kin- 
nickinnick, in the Fifth ward. This establishment was completed in Augus t 
