428 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
ment to large numbers of skilled artisans, wlio become valuable consumers 
of farm products; and thus between the demands for home consumption, 
and for Southern and Eastern markets by water and rail transportation, the 
farmers have a choice of markets. This serves to illustrate the substantial 
benefits derived by farmers from proximity to manufacturing establish¬ 
ments, and demonstrates the existence of a permanent bond of sympathy 
and a mutual interest between these two higher branches of industry. The 
lumbering interests of the Black river have their seat, center and market of 
purchase, sale and supply at La Crosse; and from this source alone, mani¬ 
fold benefits accrue to the agricultural producers of this and contiguous 
counties. The largest, safest and best ship-yard between the mouth of the 
Ohio river and the Falls of St. Anthony is located in the well-protected har¬ 
bor between La Crosse and the mouth of Black river. It is the head-quar¬ 
ters of the larger fleet of steamers and barges employed in the navigation 
of the Upper Mississippi and its tributaries. It is a valuable item in the 
commercial elements of this vicinity, as the products of the soil and forest, 
and the skill and labor of mechanics are in large request during the winter 
season, when navigation is suspended, and when, in other localities, there 
is, comparatively, a depression in business. Thus, it will be seen, that La 
Crosse city and county are favorably located, constituted and occupied,-with 
reference to agricultural and other industrial interests; and that with rail¬ 
roads reaching east and west, and river navigation north and south “ every¬ 
thing is lovely.” 
Education is not neglected, but receives vigorous attention. The char¬ 
acter of our inhabitants, the majority of whom are accustomed to, and 
fully appreciate the value of popular education, would insure due regard 
to this most important feature of a well ordered community. As to the 
press of La Crosse, it is safe to say that liberally patronized and enterpris¬ 
ing newspapers, published in the English, German and Scandinavian lan¬ 
guages, have long been in successful operation. 
With so many elements of strength and influence actively employed, no 
one need be surprised at the steady and rapid progress of the city and 
county of La Crosse. Without boasting, it may be truthfully said, La 
Crosse is one of the live, progressive, enterprising, prosperous points in the 
west; and the solidity, beauty and magnificence of its private residences, 
public edifices, and business establishments, would be interpreted by any 
intelligent observer as palpable evidences of wealth and refinement. The 
recent discovery of a considerable quantity of bituminous coal of a supe¬ 
rior quality, at a depth of about forty-five feet from the surface of the 
ground, where three German farmers were digging a well on the side and 
near the base of one of the bluffs, about four miles east of La Crosse, es¬ 
tablishes beyond all controversy, the fact that Wisconsin has coal of a 
good quality, and it is hoped that measures will soon be adopted to develop 
this important resource. 
