The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-09-09
Tho Kansas Corn Crop

From all parts Of Kansas come reports
Of a superintendent corn crop, and the peo-
PIE seem to b. almost certain of being bur
dened again with more than they know
what TO do With, as they were in 1878. The
secretary OF the State Board OF Agriculture
estimates that the surplus will be fifty-fve
million bushels much larger surplus
than Kansas ever before produced.
Whii- this state of things exists concern-
ing the corn crop X ansas IS less well pro-
vided with means OF making TIE surplus
available than she was in 1873, when corn
was not worth over ten and fifteen cents per
bushel, ard when il was burned for fuel.
Then she had more hogs and more cattle
10 he fed than she ha. now.
1t is not strange, therefore, tina: methods
Of so diSposing Of it IS 10 make il pay
the farmers something should become mat
tiers Of deep solicitnde. 1t is true that the
crop Of other Western States lying between
Kansas and the consuming districts, is not
30 large as in 1872, but it is still large
enough to- local consumption, while the
ordinary rates CT transportation will not
ADM; OF the Kansas surplus being sent to
the consuming with profit to the Kansas
farmer. The situation for proftably niar-
kcting their crop is Is favorable AZ Kan
sas can ever hope for. Ii, therefore, she
cannot prOiilably market this crop, she must
not hope that any contingency will ever
arise in which she can protitably market
corn. 1t must be borne in mind also that
the favorable conditions now existing are
exceptional and cannot be expected to occur
except at long intervals.
From these facts the conclusion that
raising corn in Kansas for the market can
not be made profitable is inevitable, and
other means os disposinS If the surplus
must be devised, or Kansas must cease to
raise more corn than will supply local re-
quiremen,s. 1t is evident that the best
means Of providing for the surplus OF corn
which Kansas is 80 admirably adapted TO
produce, lies in the increase OF the local
requirements by increasing the number OF
hogs and cattle to Consume it. Kansas
farmers can make fair profit On corn at
twenty-five or thirty cents per bushei.
They cannot realize over ten to fifteen cents
by depending upon the markets, but by
feeding cattle and hogs they can easily
realize thirty-fve TO forty cents. II there
Is any other way to make corn profitable
or even a paying crop in Kansas, we do
not know of il, and Kansas people seem to
be unable to discover it.
Prior to the short crops Of 1874, the far
mers Of Kansas ID begun to accumulate a
fair stock Of cattl" and hogs, but were then,
for the lack of feed, compelled to sell it off,
1t is manifest that their best interest lies in
replacing their stock as rapidly as possible.
They are exceptionally well situated to be-
gin this now. Having an exceptionally
good wheat crop, and an unprecedented
surplus which commands an unusually
good Sprice, they have the means in their
hands to obtain the cash with which not
only TO pay up their debts, but to buy also
many cattle and hogs. II the wheat were
all sold at present prices, and the surplus of
the proceeds invested in cattle and hogs, it
would secure sufficient number to con-
sumo much OF the corn and make i.
n profitable crop. 1t is question meri;ing
the serious consideration OF the Kansas
farmers, if the entire profit OF the years
operations will not be greater by their sell
ing the wheat and buying cattle and hogs,
than BIZ hol.ling the wheat for better prices
and losing on their corn. Il il true that
stock hogs are very high and scarce, and
caitic CphiNanu u SoOu price, YET IL Is NaLl-
Test that there is profit in buying them
even ut the present prices.
In any case Kansas farmers will, We hope,
avoid the error OF 1873, in wasting the sur
plus corn. They cannot expect such a
crop next year, and experience shows that
such years OF abundance are followed closely
by years Of scarcity. Kansas ought to pro-
tect herself now against the necessity OF
begging two or three years hence-J0u.'ea.