t in spite of her rapidity of growth and her complex
elements, Chicago stands as the representative of the will-power and
genius for action of the Middle West, and the State of Illinois will be
the battle-ground for social and economic ideals for the next
generation.

Michigan is two States. The northern peninsula is cut off from the
southern physically, industrially, and in the history of settlement. It
would seem that her natural destiny was with Wisconsin, or some possible
new State embracing the iron and copper, forest and shipping areas of
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota on Lake Superior. The lower peninsula
of Michigan is the daughter of New York and over twelve per cent of
Michigan's present population were born in that State, and her traits
are those of the parent State. Over half her population is of foreign
parentage, of which Canada and England together have furnished one-half,
while the Germans outnumber any other single foreign element. The State
has undergone a steady industrial development, exploiting her northern
mines and forests, developing her lumber interests with Saginaw as the
center, raising fruits along the lake shore counties, and producing
grain in the middle trough of counties running from Saginaw Bay to the
south of Lake Michigan. Her state university has been her peculiar
glory, furnishing the first model for the state university, and it is
the educational contribution of the Northwest to the nation.

Wisconsin's future is dependent upon the influence of the large
proportion of her population of foreign parentage, for nearly
three-fourths of her inhabitants are of that class. She thus has a
smaller percentage of native population than any other of the States
formed from the Old Northwest. Of this foreign element the Germans
constitute by far the largest part, with the Scandinavians second. Her
American population born outside of Wisconsin comes chiefly from New
York. In contrast with the Ohio River States, she lacks the Southern
element. Her greater foreign population and her dairy interests contrast
with Michigan's Canadian and English elements and fruit culture. Her
relations are more Western than Michigan's by reason of her connection
with the Mississippi and the prairie States. Her foreign element is
slightly less than Minnesota's, and in the latter State the
Scandinavians take the place held by the Germans in Wisconsin. The
facility with which the Scandinavians catch the spirit of W