River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-04-19


rreignty. or other discordant ele.
ments, is commendable. The peopl.
of Wisconsin have pardonable pride
in their State--in its natural resources.
and in its progress in material things
such of its citizens as have given
thought to the matter, and have made
any comparison between their own
and the other states of the Union,
have found nothing in such compare
son TO lead them to hesitate in avow-
ing such citizenship.
Nature has done much for our state.
Ii planted, centuries long gone. its
matchless groves of pine. 1t laid
down in the depths of the earth the
inc XhauStable beds of iron ore, and its
rich seams of galena. 1t spread abroad
the fertile prairies, and opened its
fountains of waters which dot the land
with lakes, or feed its Thousand lucid
streams. Its climate nurtures that
strength which makes men strong in
body and in mind. There is nothing
enervating in its forty degrees minus,
or in its ninety degrees plus. No
agues luTk in its summer breeZes, nor
levers in its winter blasts.
With this foundation for prosperity
laid deep and strong, Wisconsin has "A
population admirably supplementing
rs natural gifts. New England, New
York, Ohio and Michigan have con-
trIbuted their hardy sons, who, ANNA
ted by that spirit which first subdued
the wilderness in the East. pressed
forward, cOnquering the wilderness
from sea 10 sea. until the ultima
thule has been reached. And to this
native stock has been added other
thousands of the Saxon Tace--GeTmany
pouring in quota as large as the
native born, and Norway, Sweden
Denmark, France, England, Ireland
and Wales contributing of their
strong, active and industrious sons.
These have wrought with such energy
and purpose that in the space of less
than fifty years Wisconsin has grown
from wilderness into mighty Com
mOnwealth, taking rank with .he first
half of the sisterhOOd of states. In
1910 Wisconsin stood number twenty
nine in population. In 1850 she was
number sixteen.
In products of the soil and dairy
her people have made still greater
gains. In 1910 she stood lowest of all
in every product of the farm. In 1880
she stood in hay number five; in hops
number two; in potatoes number five;
in milk number six; IN butter number
eight; in cheese number three. In
natural productions Wisconsin stood
second in umber,--Michigan only ex-
ceeding her output; in lead only Hi
nUiS and Iowa We're ahead In iron
ore she was number thirteen.
Not alone in natural things has Wis.
cOnSin shown the progressive spirit
of her people. In 1880 there were ass
newspapers and periodicals published
IN Wisconsin, her rank in this respect
being number eleven. The men OF
" isconsin are readers. In the mat
ter of public education Wisconsin
takes high rank, being number eleven
IN the amount paid for education in
the public schools. The aggregate
expense of the public schools IN 1855
-6 IN Wisconsin was So, 635 100. A per
capita basis would make even better
showing than does the aggregate
amount. Ia the matter of higher ed
ucatiOn, morality aud political ethics
Wisconsin still maintains notable
eminence. Her University takes high
rank among the best institutions IN
the country; and colleges, normal
schools, churches and denominatiOnal
schools afford the training in moral
ethics without which no state may
feel assured of permanent prosperity.
These figures lead up to the though
which inspired this letter-that it is a
matter of pride that that of which we
were fully aware, but which our peo-
pie were too modest to advertise to
the world. should come to be recog-
niZed, in measure, 10y one of the
leading Magazines of the country, in
an article by so well known a writer
as Mr.. Charles Dudley Warner. In
Hurper'S Magazine for April Mr..
Warner. who made a trip through
Wisconsin for the purpose of study
ing its social and economic conditions.
pTefaces his statement of particulars
with the following brief generaliZ-
alton: wisconsin is not only one of
the most progressive, but one of the
most enlightened states in the Union.
| Physically it is an agreeable and beau
tiful state, agTicultuTally it is rich, in
least, and it is overlaid with perfect
| network of railways. All this is wei
known. / wish to speak of certain
| other things which give it distinction.
mean the prevailing spirit in edu-
/ cation and in social-econOmic prob
lens. In some respects it leads all
/ the other states. Passing over Mr..
Warmers descriptive writing. which
| includes notices of 1t two cities OF
| Wisconsin. Milwaukee and Madison
We lind that he was fay orally impress
ed with the University, his judgment
| being that the o.education of the
| sexes was successful. that the classics
were neglected. and thar science and
/ law predominated as favorltes in the
elective system in vogue in the institu-
| ton. But it was the Farmers Insti-
/ tutes which attracted his particular
attention, and elected his highest en-
comiums. To this subject he devOtes
a large portion of his paper, SO far As
/ il relates TO Wisconsin interests; OF
/ these institutes he says, in part: Il
/ know of no other state where a like
/ system of popular inssructio on a
vital and universal interest of the
state, directed by the highest edu
catiOnal authority, is SO perfectly or.
| ganized and carried on with such unity
/ of purpose and detail of administra
/ ton; no otner in which the farmer is
brought Systematically into such direct
/ relations to the university. In the
current year there have been held
eighty two farmers institutes, il
/ fortN-five COMMITTEES. The list of prac.
teal topics discussed is 2T9. and il
this science have been engaged one
hundred and seven workers. thirty-Ons
of whom are specialists from Other
states. This is an agricultural col
lege' on a grand scale, brought ~ ths
homes of the people.
sMost of the discussions are full OF
wise details in the way of thrift anC
money making, but | am glad to Sc,