The average man, without any special bent or qualifications, was in the pioneer states the useful man.

In that country it was sheer waste to spend much energy upon tasks which demanded skill, prolonged experience, high technical standards, or exclusive devotion.

The cheaply and easily made instrument was the efficient instrument, because it was adapted to a year or two of use and then for supersession by a better instrument; and for the service of such tools one man was as likely to be good as another.

No special equipment was required.

The farmer was obliged to be all kinds of a rough mechanic.