50 
STATE AGEICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
is calculated to be about 800,000,000 feet, estimated by the 
Milwaukee Board of Trade, as follows : 
Green Bay and West Shore of Lake Michigan. 375,000,000 
Wolf Eiver Pineries. 100,000,000 
Mississippi and Tributaries. .. 325,000,000 
Vast as this amount really is, it seems more than probable 
that the next few years will show a still more rapid develop¬ 
ment of this branch of industry. The increasing tide of im¬ 
migration and an unprecedented growth of population in all 
the Western States and Territories, several of which are but 
partially supplied with timber by nature, cannot fail to create 
a growing demand for lumber at yet higher prices, and thus 
still further stimulate enterprise in this direction. Constantly^ 
new companies are forming in each of the lumbering districts ; 
and along all the streams new mills of greater capacity than 
the old ones are rising by scores, under the stimulus and hope 
of yet greater gains than have been hitherto realized. 
The opening of new outlets for manufactured lumber, by 
the construction of projected railways, will still further stimu¬ 
late enterprise; and the reflecting mind is overburdened by 
even a partial conception of what the next ten years may re¬ 
alize to the great lumbering interests of Wisconsin. Whether 
the State cannot adopt measures for such protection of young 
timber of natural growth and the artificial planting of forest 
trees as will perpetuate a good supply in the future, and at the 
same time ensure a continuation of the beneficial influence of 
forests upon our climate, is a question that may well engage 
the earnest attention of our political economists. 
MANUEACTUEES. 
If God had designed Wisconsin to be chiefly a manufactu¬ 
ring State, instead of agricultural which she claims to be and 
is, it is difficult to see more than one particular in which He 
could have endowed her more richly for that purpose. 
For what, above all, are essential to a manufacturing coun¬ 
try? 
