The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-24
SPEAKS FOR KANSAS.
Mr. p. I. BOnebrake Tells Bank
ers at Denver About His
State.

Denver, Col, Aug. 24.-The second
days session Of the oath annual con-
vention Of the American Bankers as
ISOLATION was called to order by Pres
ident Hendrix at 10 o'clock with prac-
tically a full attendance of delegates
Prayer was offered by Rev. H. Martyr
Hart, dean of st. Johns Cathedral
A call of states came first on the
days programme, brief statements be
ing made by representative bankers on
general business conditions. Without
exception reports of unusual prosperity
came from all parts of the country Mr.
p L BOnebrake, representing the Cen
trail National bank of Topeka, Kansas,
said:
Last year Kansas marketed S136.355,-
900 worth of productions of the farm,
orchards, live stock and poultry 10
this may be added a total production
of coal, lead, zinc and salt of the value
of S26, 000 600, making a grand total of
$I63, 345. 900 for one year.
THE total value of all the precious
metals produced in the United States
in the year 1897 amounted to $142, $685.
600, being S23. O0O, 900 less in value than
the productions of Kansas for the same
year
For any period of ten years our av-
erage productions will equal those of
any state in the Union, per acre or per
Ten years ago the eastern capital
lists chased our farmers along the corn
rows to loan them money until their
heads were turned. We built too many
railroads, waterwOrks, court houses,
electric plants, business houses, etc. In
all these we have kept pace with states
100 years old. In word. we lived too
fast, and we went to the low water
mark. But for five years we have been
on the up grade, paying our debts and
developing our resources.
There is no state debt, and in the
period just named more than half Of
our municipal and mortgage debt has
been paid. Where the debt has matur-
ed and not been paid in many Instances
1t has been refunded at from to per
cent interest.
We have just harvested an immense
crop of wheat, and if we-had another
Joe Letter to corner the market our
people would be out of debt in a year.
ON July IA our national banks had
an average reserve of "a per cent. The
reports by the state banks are not in
yet but they will make an excellent
showing.
Unfortunately for the banking in
terests the rate of interest has de-
creased in proportion to the prosperity
of the state. The interest rates have
gone down from and 10 per cent to 6
and s per cent.
1.-The harvest time for Kansas bank
ers is spring and fall. AT these times
the live stock men borrow to carry their
cattle. To those familiar with the live
stock business of the west this interest
is not appreciated Kansas City, Kan,
alone handled in 1897 6,444, 600 head OF
live stock, of a value of $40, 100000.
Kansas was best described by Sen
ator Hoar, of Massachusetts. In a
speech in the United States senate.
speaking of Kansas, he said: There is
not another instance on the face of the
earth, unless it be in some neighbOring
American state, where a territory has
grown up in fOrty-tWO years, containing
such a population, such wealth, such
value of agricultural lands, such vast !
agricultural products I would like to
know if there is another instance of |
such prosperity
1T is due to Kansas flour. beef, NUT
ton, poultry and eggs that these east |
arn brethren look so sleek and we'll fed
with peace, and open doors for trade |
with Porto Rico, Cuba, Hawaii and the |
Philippines. added to our present com |
merce. we see no reason why the whole |
should not have long period /
of prosperity"