"There is no wealth in the fields, the mines or the forests until man utilizes them," he said. "Iron at the mine is worth a dollar a ton, made into rails it is worth $30 a ton, but as watch springs it is worth $400 a ton. The more mind you put into it the more wealth you produce. The dollar in the hands of a careless spender shrinks to a dime, while in the hands of a shrewd man, or better still, woman, it has the value of almost half an eagle.
"The social value of money is illustrated by the rise of values where people are gathered together and at the same time the character of the people who make up the community determines the social value. But the human factor is what determines the value of the wealth, they make wealth by consuming it and they themselves are wealth. The nation with the greatest number of efficient individuals, men and women, boys and girls, is the most wealthy.
Depends on Training.
"And the efficiency of the individual depends on his training, which in turn depends on his opportunities. The old fallacy of great men having to come from the country or through privation, no drifted by figures which show eight out of ten successful men come from the cities. The problem of rural life today is to send competitive stimulus to the farthest farms that they may benefit by the energy of society.
"What we too little appreciate is the blood that flows in our veins. The great dominant stocks of the most wonderful race furnish the vitality of society." 