Canal of New York and all other water communication. The Fox and Wisconsin river improvement should be pushed forward to an early completion, thereby creating additional transportation facilities, and opening up to a vast area of northwestern country another competing line for the commerce of this rich and valuable district of country.

This Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement has been assumed by the General Government, and while I have never had much faith in the practicability of making these rivers navigable, to the extent of doing the vast carrying business of the northwest which would naturally seek this channel to the seaboard, yet those having this important work in charge iuform me that they have the utmost confidence in the feasibility of the river improvement plan -that it is entirely practical and will prove a success. My plan would be, to so improve the river that vessels of light draft could pass, to aid in the building of a canal. I would then build a canal broader and deeper than the Erie; have the capacity sufficient, and the work of such permanent character, that steamers of such size and power as would be ample to tow throughout its entire length barges and other freight boats without hindrance or delay. Suppose it cost the General Government ten millions of dollars. As vast as is this amount, it is but a trifling sum when compared to the profits which would accrue to both producer and consumer within a brief period of time, as a result of this great National Highway. While I would urge upon Congress and our state legislatures to do all in their power that is legitimate and right, to afford additional railway facilities; to limit their tariffs to a reasonable interest upon the labor and capital invested and honestly utilized in their proper operation, yet at the same time I would ask these representative men of the states and nation to investigate the great question of transportation by water. I believe that the opening of great water routes between the Mississippi River and the Atlantic would come nearer solving the problem of cheap transportation than all other ideas which have been advanced. These water lines would ever be in competition with other systems of commerce, while railways will never be competing lines, build as many of them as you will, except you construct and op

of the few, but for the convenience and the benefit of the people of this whole country--for the progress and advancement of our vast and varied interests, and for bettering the condition of all the people. At the same time, I would have these great corporate interests appreciate the fact that the sentiment of the thinking, intelligent people of this state is, that the capital invested in these highways of commerce shall pay a reasonable profit, or interest, upon the investment at least remunerative returns equal or above the industrial and manufacturing interests by which they are fed and sustained. In other words, these railroads and all other legitimate enterprises are so closely interwoven and connected that they are mutual interests, each dependent upon the other for support and life, and hence the profits of the labor and capital invested in each should be as equally distributed as possible, to produce the greatest amount of contentment and happiness among our people, and mete out even-handed justice.

The masses of the people believe that railways are charging them exorbitant rates of transportation for freight and passengers, and will not be satisfied until an impartial investigation is had and the naked facts laid before them. I have long thought it expedient and wise to create a railroad commission, with power to send for persons and papers, to enquire into complaints, and ascertain if special privileges are given to one person or company over others under similar circumstances, and am happy to state that a law has been enacted to have such board appointed. The railroad interest is now of sufficient value and importance to warrant the people in knowing its relative position to the other great interests of the state, and of still fostering and encouraging it, or holding it in check, that it may not absorb or cripple other great business avocations and pursuits of the state.

of

Transportion by water is one of the questions which should receive the cordial support and encouragement of all our people, for there is no disguising the fact that transportation by water is much cheaper than by land. This has been demonstrated in all ages the world, and will probably never be successfully contradicted. We see in our own state, that transportation by lake and river, coming in competition with railways during the season of navigation reduces the tariff of the latter. The same is true of the Erie

Canal of New York and all other water communication. The Fox and Wisconsin river improvement should be pushed forward to an early completion, thereby creating additional transportation facilities, and opening up to a vast area of northwestern country another competing line for the commerce of this rich and valuable district of country.

This Fox and Wisconsin River Improvement has been assumed by the General Government, and while I have never had much faith in the practicability of making these rivers navigable, to the extent of doing the vast carrying business of the northwest which would naturally seek this channel to the seaboard, yet those having this important work in charge iuform me that they have the utmost confidence in the feasibility of the river improvement plan -that it is entirely practical and will prove a success. My plan would be, to so improve the river that vessels of light draft could pass, to aid in the building of a canal. I would then build a canal broader and deeper than the Erie; have the capacity sufficient, and the work of such permanent character, that steamers of such size and power as would be ample to tow throughout its entire length barges and other freight boats without hindrance or delay. Suppose it cost the General Government ten millions of dollars. As vast as is this amount, it is but a trifling sum when compared to the profits which would accrue to both producer and consumer within a brief period of time, as a result of this great National Highway. While I would urge upon Congress and our state legislatures to do all in their power that is legitimate and right, to afford additional railway facilities; to limit their tariffs to a reasonable interest upon the labor and capital invested and honestly utilized in their proper operation, yet at the same time I would ask these representative men of the states and nation to investigate the great question of transportation by water. I believe that the opening of great water routes between the Mississippi River and the Atlantic would come nearer solving the problem of cheap transportation than all other ideas which have been advanced. These water lines would ever be in competition with other systems of commerce, while railways will never be competing lines, build as many of them as you will, except you construct and op

erate lines by the General Government, which is, to say the least, of questionable propriety.

MANUFACTURING.

I cannot let an occasion pass, however often it may occur, without bringing to the attention of our people the vital importance of manufacturing. I believe that no people, purely agricultural, ever became a thrifty and prosperous community, but that agriculture is advanced and successful as diversified industries find a home, and build up in its midst. Statistics of English agriculture show that in the northern portion of that country, which embrace the coal region, the seat of mining and manufacturing industries, that the price of labor averaged some 37 per cent. higher than in the southern portion of England, where the people were almost exclusively engaged in agriculture. Thus the laborers wages were advanced and the proprietor's profits increased, as he sold his products at his very door at remunerative prices, with no cost of transportation added. As the various industries of a people prosper, society improves, and land and labor become more valuable, and the general good of a state is advanced. The farmer and manufacturer are mutually dependent upon one another, and as these mutual interests are recognized and encouraged, and their proper relations with other trade and commercial interests better known, and their harmonious workings more fully understood and wisely adjusted, will true progress and civilization advance.

Agriculture in its rudest forms, unaided by other industries and pursuits, furnished little more for man than for the beast of the field which feed upon its herbage. The land had little value; but as manufacturing and the varied industries of the world began to develop each exchanging with the other its productsland became of value and the grade of civilization was raised. The conditions of society incident to, or closely connected with the mutual interests of the farmer and manufacturer are strikingly illustrated by contrasting the large manufacturing districts of our own country with those strictly agricultural and far removed from other pursuits. In the former case the lands are

high, commanding from two to five hundred dollars per acre, while in the other, although similar lands, but far removed from a home market—which manufacturing always brings-command, perhaps, but ten to fifteen dollars per acre. The cost of production of the varied crops of the farmer is very similar, whether such productions are far removed from the population who consume them or not, hence those farmers far removed from the centers of trade, manufacturing and all other food consuming industries lose the larger proportion of the profits which accrue to those near to this consuming population. They are taken from them by middle men, transportation companies, etc., until their labor barely furnishes them a living and a home. I would be glad to see manufacturing cities and villages springing up upon the excellent water powers of our numerous streams and along the railway lines now traversing all portions of Wisconsin, and the raw material, such as mineral, lumber and wool, manufactured into the many useful articles needed by our people. This would contribute to increase prices for farm products of every kind, and add largely to the aggregate wealth of the state. Let a liberal and statesmanlike policy be pursued by those who have the power to shape the destiny of our commonwealth, by encouraging manufacturing in all its varied branches, saving to producer and consumer by lessening the distance between them, and no state in the northwest can excel us in wealth and general prosperity. The elements of progress and advancement are within our borders; let them be utilized in the interest of our people and for the benefit of the world.

On behalf of the Executive Board,

STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS,

Madison, April 1, 1874.

W. W. FIELD.

Secretary.