Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-06-27
BY GOV. DAVIDSON.


1t is no small task to describe in
short article the multitudinous
advantages of the state of Wiscon-
sin. Every great division Of modern
industry Is represented in our state
and represented because we have
natural advantages which assure
us pre- eminence in agriculture, in
commerce, in manufacture and IN
mining
If Wisconsin were a barren state,
still it would be wealthy from it's
sheer natural position. With the
great lakes on two sides and the
Mississippi valley-a storehouse for
the world-on the other, with the
natural gateway to the northwest
at Superior, her natural position is
unequaled. I repeat that if our
great state could not grow blade
of grass, our natural position would
make us wealthy. We cannot help
becoming the outlet and inlet for
the Golden Northwest
OTHER NATURAL ADVANTAGES.
But when we add to our natural
position the fact that our state is in
garden spot of fertility, we have,
indeed, advantages which cannot be
duplicated. Our climate is mild.
We are neither parched by heat nor
scorched with drouth. The green
valleys and the pure water has
made our state the greatest dairy
ing state, save one, in the whole
union. Nearly 5000 cheese and
butter factories testify to the quality
of our cattle, the fertility Of our soil
and the skill and intelligence of our
farmers.
Our state has reached the stage
when the more profitable and in
tense forms of agriculture are now
engaged in. Just as the farmers
near big city become market
gardeners, so, too, our state from
its natural position, and the easy
access by water and rail to the
populous sections of the country
engages in the more profitable in
dustries.
But our state does more than al
low industry to grow by itself.
She gives an additional advantage
in her exceptional educational
facilities. Her university receives
the farmer with open arms and
teaches him the highest science Of
agriculture. need not dwell upon
this. The fame Of Henry, Babcock
and Russell are known to all.
They have added millions to the
wealth of our farmers. No man
need remain poor in our state with
facilities like these open to him.
WONDERFUL PROGRESS.
We have learned in America that
manufacture and agriculture go
hand in hand in our most prosper
Gus communities. No state has made
greater progress and has a greater
future in manufacturing enterprise
than our state of Wisconsin. No
state has greater natural water
power or better facilities for reach
ing the markets of the country.
The statistics collected by the
bureau of labor are not yet ready
for the public, but the 1nter-rela-
ton of agriculture and manufacture
can be readily seen in the fact that
the value of manufactured farm
products has increased in our state
in the last year alone over 50, $780,
900, while the value of leather pro-
duced has increased $4,000, 900
during that period, and farm nipple
ments nearly $4,000, 900. The in
crease in the number of factories
and the capital invested has been
astounding. The return to capital
invested has reached in some in
dustries as high as 80 per cent.
Hundreds OF factories have been
built within the last five years.
Capital is flowing into our state be-
cause Of our prosperity. We have
thus vast unlimited possibilities, not