Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-24
THE STATE OF KANSAS.

The state of Kansas is in the geo.
graphical center of the United States,
being 40 miles south of the Lake of
the Woods, and no miles north of the
mouth of the Rio Grande river, and
400 west of New York city, and L.
400 east of San Francico. On an air
line drawn from the mouth of the Rio
GranGe river to q point on the west
shore Of the Lake of the Woods, where
the northern boundary of the United
States intersects that lake, runs
through The corporation limits of
Wichita, the metropolis of Kansas, and
cuts the United States into east and
west equal parts Its citrate is that
eff the genial southern Kentucky and
northern Tennessee. Its average annual
rainfall is thirty-twO inches. II has an
area Of 80 $50 square miles of surface,
lying at All average elevation 1000
feet above the sea level at the mouth
of the Mississippi river Ninetyfive
per cent, of IFS surfa e can be easily
plowcd. 1t is embosomel in the valley
of the Missouri river and is set in a
net work of the tributaries of that
and the Mississippi rivers. The Mis-
souri,, the Raw, the Blue, the Smoky
Hill. the Arkansas and the poetic Ma
rails DIES Cvgnes rivers make it in fact
the Land of Laughing Waters. Its
soil is not that of the barren virgin,
bat that of the truthful Tench, whose
increased product is million fold. In
the year 1894, with thirteen per cent
of its soil under cultivation, the state
produced 100000. 900 bushels of corn
and 5000, 900 bushels of wheat.
In 1861, on the 29th day of January,
Kansas was, by the congress of the
United States, admitted to the sister,
hood of States of the Union. This
event occurred amid the mutterings
of opening. terrible war. Her motto,
Cad Astra Aspera" TO the stars
through agony is indeed significant.
Her population record is. in 1855,
1901; in 1860, 10S .204; in 1865. lac, 170;
in 1870, 362, S07: and in 1880, 1896 ,096.
1t is now well above one million.
The state contains 52;530,20O acres
of land. In 1870, 1920, 61O acres were
under CIVILIZATIONS; IN 1880 there were
6,697 ,S6l, and in single year follow
ing 1880 the cultivated lands were in
creased by over 200, 900 acres.
Kansas is a prairie state, with belts
of oak and walnut forests skirting its
streams.
On the 22nd day of February, 1860,
the anniversary of the birth of George
Washington, the first Kansas railroad
from LeavenwOrth to Atchison, was
completed, distance of about twenty
five miles and valued at $l5O,OOO.
In the year 1882 Kansas placed upon
her TAX duplicate 3,702 miles of rail-
road assessed for taxation at So, 08S,-
156.
In 1882 individual estates in lands
amounted to "a 926,653 acres. valued
for taxes at an average of 81 (one-fifth
its real value) per acre, or al aggregate
of 500, 741 OPS. In the same year the per-
sOnal property of these land owners
was assessed at $3S ,0s7 ,359 Qess than
One-ihird its value) In 1870 estates
in land embraced but 1.9206l0 acres
and We're valued at SIS, S71 ,O9S (about
one-half its real value), aud personal
property that year was not very dcfin-
itely ascertained, but apprcximating
$20,0G0,000.
tits land of 1000 towns and cities,
the town and city property aioae be-
ing worth Sl00,O00,00O.
The grain fruit and live stock pro-
ducts of the state are not surpassed by
those of any other state.
The state of Kansas has perma-
nent school fund of 100000 aud
good system of public education en-
supported by all the
people.-Osaee City Free Press.