The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-10-03
HOW WE HAVE GROWN.
Governor st; John. speech at Neosho
k,alIa

Governor st. Johns speech at Neosho
Fails.
The following is the speech of Gov. ST.
John, in welcoming President Hayes, at
Neosho Falls, September 25th
MIR. PRESIDENT LADIES AND GENTLE
MEN In January, 1861, Kansas was adj
mitted as one of the states of the union,
with only lutte over one hundred
thousand population. Four years of
bloody and devastating war followed
her admission, and the eastern border of
the state was laid waste. During this
period the time and money of our citizens
and the lives of many of our bravest
and truest men were Loyalty contributed
toaid the national government in the pres
ervation of its life. Let us briefly, for the
information of our distinguished guests,
as well rs ourselves, compare Kansas IN
1865 with Kansas in 1879.
We had then but 135, S07 population;
we have "a population now of930000. The
total assessed valuation of property then
amounted To only $50 10000; now II is
$l4l, 930,279 We had but 100 miles of
railroad then, while now we have over
1000 miles We had no permanent
school fund then; now we have 81 $50
G5G invested in interest bearing securi-
ties, with sufficient school lands yet I'M
sold lo swell this amount To $4,000, 900.
Our annual school fund in 1865 WAS but
$36,0O0, against $l37, 900 now, while our
school houses numbered but SOB, against
5000 now. We had no state institutions
then We now have an asylum for the
deaf and dumb and also Tor the blind,
and two asylums for the insane, all in
successful operation and all paid for
We have State University, State Nor
nal school, Agricultural College insti-
tutions which we have reason 10 be and
are proud. We have a penitcntiary com
plete in all its appointments and an APP
preparation to provide for Il reform
school.
The east wing of the State house is fin
ished, and the work on the west wing is
rapidly progressing. In 1865 we had but
81 newspapers; now we now have go, all
doing earnest, faithful work for our state
and its people. We then had but 35 or
ganized counties; now we have IS, and
four or five others with sufficient popula-
ton for organization.
1865 found us with but 273, 903 acres in
cultivation; now we have 7,700,226. We
then produced but 191, 519 bushels of
wheat against over 100000 in 1878,
placing Kansas at the front among the
wheat, growing states of the Union.
w hilS bhC lfAOuuCb vi CtIH 10
but q, 800 ,236 bushels in 1865, it amounted
to about 90,0O0000 in 1878, and will prob
ably reach 125, 900, 900 bushels in 1879,
and be il remembered that there is yet
100000 900 acres of land in our state that
have never been touched by the pillow, upon
which the many thousands of industrious
immigrants that are seeking locations can
make for themselves pleasant and profit
able homes. Our state debt is only ST.
Olj,3I5 and of this amount $6US, 72J is
owned by the permanent school fund, So
800 by the State University, and $3,700
by the State Normal School, leaving only
$3O3,050 that is not controlled by the
state. Our bonds are at a premium in the
markets of the country; our obligations
are met with cash promptly as they ma
ture. We are creating no new debts, but
pay our way rs we go, and have S406,
3S9:15 in the treasury with which to
do it.
One year ago many predicted that the
resumption of specie payments would
bring with it bankruptcy and financial
ruin for our people. Resumption is now
an accomplished fact, and instead of
bringing to us financial ruin and bank
ruptcy, the cheering sound of the ham
mer, the saw and the stone chisel are
heard on every hand. Our manufacture
flIC ItNlNttl, new lilll-
roads are being built, additional branches
added To main lines, and main lines be-
ing extended. Rates of interest have
been reduced more than fifty per cent,
mortgages are being paid oil, and our
homes made free. Both town and coun-
try are improving rapidly tramps have
disappeared, and to-day all who are able
and willing to work can make for them
selves an honest living if they will. In
short, there has been no perio i'm the
history of our state blessed with the real
and substantial prosperity that surrounds
us to-day. We have no sentinals at orr
portals To make politics, birthplace, re-
ligion, race or color u condition prece-
dent To the right of any To enter our
state All who come here willing to
obey our laws and join us in an honest,
earnest effort To make Kansas. in lien
moral and material interests, rs she is
geographically, the grand central figure
of the Union, are welcome. With this
prosperity Jet III not forget our duty la the
Union and its flag None know better
than Kansas the blood and treasure il
has cost To maintain them. Let us never
consent to ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the one or
dishonor of the other Kansas was
planted in freedom. and freedoms soil
produces churches, Sabbath schools, rail
roads, school houses, colleges, thriving
towns and cities, long lands skirted with
beautiful farms, newspapers, books and
periodicals, patriotic, industrious, moral
men and women, who consider IL no dis
grace To work for living-all necessary
To the prosperity of any country.
And now, fellow citizens, having thus
briefly referred 10 the progress made
since 1865, and called your attention, as
well as the attention OF our guests, TO the
condition of our state, to which we, in
the name and in behalf of 100000 citi-
Zens now extend To them cordial wei
come, without taking time to look into
the future of Kansas, SO full of encour-
agement, bearing in mind that next in
greatness to the christian citizen is the
President OF our country, | have not
only the pleasure but the distinguished
honor of introducing to you one in whom
is combined both of these elements of
greatness, Rutherford b. Hayes