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Our imports our exports rather, I would say, have largely increased; they are increasing from year to year, so that foreign countries are no longer able to send back our bonds in payment of our exports, but they are now obliged to ship us gold in payment of the productions which we send to them, and through these circumstances we should take courage. And I may say, judging from this exhibition for one, that all circumstances and elements that indicate increased wealth and prosperity seem to combine the fact, that in the immediate future we have assurance and reason to look for better times, and we may be reasonably assured that the future is bright and encouraging.

I have recently had the pleasure of spending a few weeks in traveling through the western portion of our land. In making my way toward the land of the setting sun, I passed through the states of Illinois, Iowa, Colorado, territory of Utah, and the states of Nevada and California, and while there I had opportunity - through the courtesy of the steamship line, which tendered me the service of its transportation — I had the opportunity of sailing out through the Golden Gate, along the coast of Oregon and Washington Territory, passed up the Columbia river, saw something of that state and territory. Saw very much that was interesting. I was very much pleased with the prospects of Oregon and Washington territory. Their winters are much milder than Wisconsin's, and while they have a pure coast range running up and down through the length of the state, they are very rich. And while in California, I saw and heard much to interest. I visited Yosemite Valley, and looked upon the wonders of that place, and passed up and down through the same rich valleys, saw the productions, saw hundreds and hundreds of acres of land under cultivation, saw cattle and horses in fine herds, saw some magnificent crops of wheat and corn both in states and territorities, saw something of the wonderful wealth in their mines, and all. And I am here to-day, to tell you, my friends, that, take all in all, I saw no state, no territory, no country, that in my estimation is equal to that of Wisconsin, our own favored state. And I do not make these remarks with a view of entertaining and pleasing you, but it is my honest conviction, taking all things into consideration. Take our commercial condition, take our own mines, take the wealth in the various enterprises, take our hard coal and our soft coal, and in my judgment, there is

We are

no one case to which I have alluded to compare with us. a highly favored people, and we ought to make the best of our advantages. I know we will remember all these advantages.

But we sometimes have cause to complain of the severity of our winters, but they are beneficial. The severe frosts have destroyed the germs of disease throughout our country, and this insures the health which we now enjoy.

And I am here to say, too, that in morality, in our educational institutions, both public and private, in our public and in our private character, and in all that tends to develop independent manhood, in all that goes to make the people prosperous and happy, Wisconsin is the peer of any state in this Union, or any other country on this globe. And I desire in closing to say, that to raise corn and wheat, that to make butter and cheese, that to add acre to acre and dollar to dollar is not the true goal of our ambition, which, though these things are desirable, they are not the true goal of our ambition; they are only and no more to the true end that they have an exact following; but our success in life is not to be measured by the number of bushels a man raises or by the extent of his herds, by the number of acres he owns nor the number of days he has; therefore my closing words to you, my friends, they are, I would not have you neglect the development of the material in the state, particularly affairs of state, but our mind and heart, the education of the hand, of the head, and of the heart, to rear good men and noble women, is of vastly greater importance. Let me say now in conclusion - because I have spoken and detained you longer than I intended to- that I hope we shall all be benefited by the blessing experienced in attending this exhibition, that it shall make us very thankful, make us more appreciate the blessings we enjoy. And where we have the satisfaction of knowing that no state and no country surpasses us at the present time. And I hope that we can continue in sound minds and in sound bodies to the end.

A PLEASANT CLOSING OF THE GREAT EXPOSITION OF 1880.

At the closing of the fair, the members of the association presented Secretary Torrey with an elegant gold watch of the Elgin

make, hunting case, stem winder. Hon. Earl P. Finch made the presentation speech in the presence of several hundred of Mr. Torrey's personal friends, who had gathered in the exposition building for that purpose. The surprise was complete, so much so that the recipient could hardly find words to reply to Mr. Finch, who spoke substantially as follows:

Secretary Torrey:- The friends and the members of this association have for the long number of years that you have so ably filled the position of secretary recognized the ability with which you have managed the affairs of the society. They have noted the earnestness with which you have labored in season and out of season for its success, that no task was so great that you would not willingly undertake, and, we are pleased to know, accomplish it, for such has been your record from the beginning. These friends, appreciating your services and desiring to give public and tangible expression of their acknowledgment, have directed me to present to you at this time this elegant gold watch as a slight testimonial of such appreciation. It gives me great pleasure, therefore, to occupy this position to-day and to present this evidence of our high esteem of your efforts. May this watch "tick, tick, tick till the old man dies," and then, in the happy beyond, may you receive the "Blue Ribbon" from the Great Judge.

Secretary Torrey said in response that he had been "cornered " several times in his life, but this was the tightest place he ever was in, for he did not feel competent to suitably express his thanks for the kindly words that had been spoken by Mr. Finch, nor for the elegant gift of the friends. He desired to answer all, however, that he was thankful, with all the emphasis that could attach to the English language, and that in the future, as in the past, he should do all that he could for the success of the association.

The watch was appropriately inscribed, as follows: Presented to R. D. Torrey by his friends of the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechanical Association, September 18, 1880.

Thus closed the most successful fair ever held in Wisconsin.

EIGHTH ANNUAL CONVENTION.

HELD AT

GREEN BAY, JANUARY 18, 1881.

KLAUS HALL, GREEN BAY, January 18, 1881.

Convention called to order by Mr. J. M. Smith.

Mr. Smith said: As this convention of the Northern Wisconsin Association have agreed to pay for the reporting of this convention, and expect to have the address and papers that are read here put into the next volume of the transactions, it would be the proper thing that the president of that association should be the presiding officer of this convention; therefore I will assume the privilege of nominating Mr. Chester Hazen, president of the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural Association, as chairman of the convention. The motion was seconded and carried.

Mr. Hazen Ladies and Gentlemen: In assuming the responsibility, I shall endeavor to do the best I can to conduct "the affairs of the convention. Being president of the Northern Wisconsin Agricultural Society, I came here with the hope and expectation of having an interesting meeting and to get better acquainted with the agriculturists and industrial classes of the northeastern part of our state, a territory which our society, as a district society, naturally covers. The last season has been a very satisfactory one with most of the industrial branches in our state. Our national finances are much improved from what they were at former meetings of this society, and we meet together under much more favorable circumstances than at many of our previous meetings. This is a meeting where the different industries are to be presented, and we hope and expect all present will take a deep interest in the matter. We will consider the meeting now open for business. The

first business on our programme is short congratulatory speeches. First we will call on J. M. Smith, of Green Bay.

Mr. J. M. Smith - I think I shall have to talk a great deal here, for the society of which I am president has not had a president for a good many years and the members of that society are noted for their modesty, and the result has been I have had to carry impudence enough for the society. Sometimes I have had to assume a great deal of it, and I am afraid that will be the case during this convention. It may be asked why there are so few farmers here this morning. The facts are that most of our prominent farmers, upon whom we rely to support such things as this convention and our agricultural societies, live from ten to fifteen miles from town. The few we have here now have driven some ten or twelve miles to get here, and when we know, also, that farmers always have more or less work to do in the morning, it will be at least a partial excuse for there not being more present. Another thing is, we have not got thoroughly under way. Our county being originally thickly timbered, and the opinion getting abroad, as it did in an early day, that it was worthless for agriculture, it has been a work of a great many years to get that idea dispelled. We know now that we have a county, so far as some branches of agriculture are concerned, that is exceeded but by very few counties in the state of Wisconsin. The farmers in Sheboygan county are probably, as a county, the wealthiest in the state. Men who are thoroughly posted in regard to the capabilities of both counties, I think, almost universally agree that this county is equal in its capacity to Sheboygan county. Yet in reality we are very far behind. Our timber has only lately given out, and during the past five or six years of very hard times we have been making a change from lumbering to agriculture, and not only the farmers but the business men of Green Bay have felt it terribly. It has been terrible hard times, and perhaps a worse time to have made that change could hardly have been chosen, but we are now getting on a solid foundation. We have got a thorough, strong working agricultural society in the county. It has been to work for quite a number of years and is doing good work, and the influence has been felt all over the county; the influence has been felt in Oconto county and other counties adjoining us. Although our farmers may not be largely represented in this convention, still they know that they will read