Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-12
A GREAT FARMING STATE.

"a 01A6h4 I 4ah04N0 04A4os
When in July the Kansas corn crop
was estimated at 2OO, ,O0O, 900 bushels
the chronicay: pessimistic expressed
doubt about the record crop of 196, ,O0O,- :
600 bushels being exceeded. August.
however, has been favorable in most of
the counties and the abundant rains
have caused the ears to fill out unusual
ly well. A gentleman who is not prone
to exageration and who has just made a
tour of the state says that he would
not be surprised at harvest of 800 900,
600 bushels. Everybody who comes in
from extensive journeys through the
corn counties reports that the yield
will be. something enormous. The
condition seems to have steadily i'm
proved through August as the vigor of
the plant began to show itself in the
size of the ear.
To conservative minds an estimate of
800 900 900 bushels may seem out of
the way, but sober reasoning puts it
quite within the bounds Of possibility.
The crop of 1876, 200, 900 bushels was
made five years ago when Mcpherson
was called western grain county. 1t
is safe to say that the area of thorough
cultivation has increased One-third
since then and the conditions of growth
are at least as favorable as in 1884.
While 100000, 900 bushels is an extreme
estimate, there is really nothing to be
astOnished at if the result is justiica-
tiOn.
Suppose Kansas does harvest that
amount of corn. Assuming that it will
net the farmers 25 cents bushel there
is vast sum of $75,0OO,OO0 to come
into the state from one crop. Corn
alone will pay interest, farm taxes and
most of the mortgage Indebtedness of
the state falling due this year-perhaps
all of it and leave a surplus. Then
there are 35,OOO,O0O bushels of wheat
and the finest grass crops ever known
in the state. The season begun with a
fruit crop unprecedented in quantity
and quality and has continued to favor
everything except that the oats were
slightly damaged by rain about har-
vest time.
This is year of Kansas rejoicing
and the era of complete success ought
to be also an era of good feeling. All
the towns should have season of trade
equal to the farm yield. By this time
western towns should have learned
that fault finding with each other
Injuries all and helps none. Standing
up for ones own town is good thing
and standing up for all towns known
by the world to be fed from the same
sources is good also and shows a
broader way of getting the confidence
of emigration and capital. In union
there is strength and a combination of
interests is always more powerful than
a free fight.
{ No state in the union so instantly
responds to the effect of a good crop
as Kansas, because in none does the
cost of cultivation represent so small
proportion of the price received and
in no other is the proportion OF arabic
land so great. The Times has often
pointed to this as a difference to be
considered.
In recuperative power Kansas is the
France of America.
Counting corn, wheat, oats, sorghum,
fruit and vegetables, stock, grass,
dairy and poultry products and the rest
it is not too much to say that the selling
value of the output of Kansas this year
will approximate s2OO,OOO,OOO. No
wonder the English fnancier calls it
the "Great Loan Land'' and it's peo-
pie are bold and confident about their
future. A little irrigation and better
revenue provisions for its towns will
make it still lbetter.-Kansas City Times.