The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-10-02

inisnlryi sru coupsuy CT boys
less than twelve years old, in the
uniform Of zousyes. The grounds were
handsomely decorated and ornsuepted by
various productions OF the State. Artistic
ally and tastefuliy arranged at the entrance
% the grounds was an arch through which
the carriages passed, erected with great
labor and expense and artistic effect, and
ornsmented with the products of the farm.
Hon. John K. GoOdin made brief
speech extending welcome to the President
On behalf OF the association. He was fol
lowed by Gov. St John, who delivered the
following address:
Mr. President, ladies and Gent .1aea:
In January, 1851, Kansas was admitted
ss one Of the States of the Union. with only
little over one hundred thousand Populs-
ton. Four years Of bloody and devastating
war followed her admission, and the esst-
ern border Of the State was laid waste.
During this period the time and money Of
our ci;izsus and the lives of many Of our
brsvtst and truest men, were Loyalty con-
tributed TO aid the National Government
in the preservation Of its life. Let Us
briefly, for tie informs alton of our dis
guests 80 we'll as ourselves, COM
pare Kansas in 1865 with Kansas in 1879
We had then but lS5. S07 population; We
now have 3 population Of $50 eco.
The total assessed valuation OF
property then amounted to only about
$50, 20 coo; DOW it Is Sli4 9S0,279
We had bu, 100 miles of railroad then,
while now We have over 1900 miles. We
hsd no permanent school fund theu; now
We have 81 go 656 invested in interest
bearing securities, with sufficient school
isnds vet uusold to swell this amount to
Sl3,OOOOOO. Oar annual school fluid in
1860 was but SO 600 against Sl31. coo now
while our school houses numbered but COS
against nearly 5000 now. We hsd no
state Institutions tLen, We now have an
asy lum Tor the deaf and dumb, also for The
blind, and two for the insane, all in sue
cessiul operation and are paid for. We
have a Stale University, State Normal
School, Agricultural College, institutions OF
which We have reason 10 be, and are,
proud. We have peniteutisry
complete in all its apartments, and an ap-
preparation to provide a reform school
The east wing of the Siate-house il finished
and The work on the west wing is rapidly
papers; now We have 215, all doing earnest,
faithful work for cur State and It's people
We then had but 50 organized counties;
now We have IS and four or FIVE others
with sufficient population for organization.
The year oil 1875 found US with but 273,-
JO5 acres in cultivation; now We h~ve
~ 60 y26. We then produced but l9l 80
bushels oil wheat, against over 81 600 900 in
1878, placing Kansas at the front smong
the whest-growing States Of the Union.
While the product of corn amounted
10 hut 6,129,236 bushels in 1865,
it amounted to about 90.00O.G0O
in 1878, aud will probably reach l25 O0O,-
600 bushels in 1872 anu be it remembered
that there is yet A 900 600 acres of land in
our State that has never been touched by
the pillow, upon which the many thousand
industrious Immigrants thst are seeking
locations, can make for themselves pleas
ant and profitable homes. Oar State debt
ia only 81 ,Ol5 315 90; OF this amount s5O1,
92o IA owed tv the permanent school fund,
-. 500 by the State University, and SIS, 200
by the State Normal School, leaving only
S3JI 5000 that is not controlled by the
Stale. Our bonds are at premium in the
markets OF the country, our obligations
are met with cash promptly as they mature.
We are creating no new debts, hut pay
our way as We 90 and have SiOj $40 - 10
the treasury with which TO do it. Ole year
ago many predicted that the resumption OF
srecie payment would bring with II bank
ruptcy and financial ruin for our people
Resumption Is now sn accomplished fact,
and instead of bringing to us ruin and
hanE tho oh ,ou,I ~ The
uer, the saw and the stone chisel are heard
On every hand. Our manufacturing inter
esis are again revived, new railroads are
beirg built, additional branches added to
main lines and main lines being extended
Rates Of interest have been reduced more
than fifty per cent, mortgages are being
paid of, and our homes made free, both
town and country are improving rapidly.
rramps have disappeared, and to-day all
who are able and willing to work can make
TOR Themselves an honest living. In short
there has been no period in the history Of
our Stste blessed with the real and SUBJ
stsn'ial prosperity that surrounds US to day
We have no sentinel at our portals to
make politics, birthplace, religion, race or
color condition precedent to the right Of
any to enter our State. All who come mere
willing TO obey our laws, and j in US in an
honest, earnest effort 10 make Kansas, in
her moral and material interests ss she il
geographically, the grand central figure Of
the Union, are welcome.
With this prosperity let us not forget our
duty to the MON and its Il g. None know
better than Kansas the blood and treasure
1t has cost TO maintain them. Let Us never
consent TO a dismemberment of one, or a
dIshonor OF [ e other. Kansas was planted
in freedom, and freedoms soil produces
churches, Sunday schools, railroads, school
houses, colleges, thriving towns and cities
loOg lanes skirtei with besu,iful farm,
Newspapers, books AID periodicals, patriot
&c, Industrious, moral men and women who
consider II no Disgrace TO work fer living,
all so necessary to the prosperity of
any country. And now, fellow-citizens,
having thus bri.hy referred to the progress
inside since 1850, and called your attention, |
as we'll Is the attention OF OH guests. to |
he condition OF our State, tn which We in |
he name and iu behalf OF y30, 900 cit;zsns |
now extend to them cordial welcome.
without taking time to lock into the future /
II Kansas, so full of encouragement. bear
ng in mind that Eext in greatness to the
. -'4Ssioh NAtLZGh Is ItSlISnl Oh our
'ountry, have not only the pleasure but
re distinguished honor Of introducing to
ecu one in whom Ia combined both Of these
lemen!s Of greatness-Iiis Excellency,
iuiher ord B. Hayes.
President Hayes responded as iollows:
iOceEOr 81 John oEd FtHou cit zeas:
Ny fret duty is to make my sincere
eknox Judgments TO the presiden; and man.
gers oil this lair and to The governor and
tate cheers CT Kansas for their kindness
enabling me TO be present with you to-
ay and erjly with you this extraordinary
pectacle. | thank them as individuals for
hat they have done in this reception and
'elcome, and | thank the people OF K ansas.
HON they represent, for the welcome they
ave extended to US from the moment we
ntered their borders until this moment.
Cneers The president OF the fair inter
sled u very much with an account of its ;
rigin and Of what il represented, and Of I
g present condition. | have always un.
erstood, fellow-ciiizeus, that when LARGE
oriss are in order ard TO be told, that the /
entleman who tells the last story has :
realty the advantage. Laughter This {
ccasion is no exception, for / found tia, 9
he governor when ne came to speak on {
.ansas went far beyond the PRESIDENT Of 8
he association. Renewed laughter | {
az little puzzled at one Of the earliest {
ntences Of the PRECEDENT, who looking 8
ong here as il he was ioking, at the same I
me was rather indistiuct, when be told 1
, that this fair, that it was in its infancy. '
occurred to me as | looked along this
OVID that if this was an infant association r
hat would it be in after years, when it g