The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-22
KANSAS AND HER WALLS OF CORN.
The Tremendous Crop and h It
Means to the Calamity Howfers-
ST. Louis Globe Democrat
st. Louis Globe-D Democrat

Will the rest of the country is marvel
Ing over the Soo.ooo.cO-bushel corn crop. the
statisticians OF Kansas are busy figuring
how much more than 3o,00.00 bushels the
product will be. Instead of discounting for
measure what incremen: must be added as
surprisingly favorable conditions continue.
A crop that is better Than perfect-that is TO
say, pluperfect-is what now nils the uinds
OF Kansas with pleasing anticipation. The
last government estimate of Aug. 10. based
upon hundreds of local reports carefully
compiled at Topeka, placed the corn crop OF
the State at log per cent. IL seems incredi-
BILE Taking the crops of a series OF years
with acreage and climate favoring,. can be
expected to do, these crop statisticians es-
cent. crop. But the present season breaks
their record. and they are confronted with
a crop which is 8 per cent. better than the
best.
There is scarcely a county which does not
reach 100 per cent. Quite a number go over
LOG per cent. The banner is held by Jewell.
on the northern tier. about midway between
the Missouri river and the Colorado line.
This county has occupied the proud position
most of the time for half a dozen years.
Last year 1T lost to a southern Kansas
with a whoop. Jewell has from 100000 to
100000 bushels of corn maturing in her
felds. The estimates M da Of the best informed d
Kansas return the population by townships.
Jewell county on these returns Of last fall
age over 500 bushels for every man. woman
and child. Jewell county is the corn gem
The setting is worthy. East and west and
south Of Jewell the walls Of corn" run to
the limits of. the State, maintaining a de-
gree of excellence which makes this a crop
greater by lco.o 900 bushels than all prede-
cessors. In 1889. just a decade ago, the crop
averaged higher than ever before, and
i kssr OF 1883 made the record 1t yields to
Kansans are fond of figuring. self-indul:
gence in that direction led to some political
vagarieS about per capiter" not many
years ago. But the statistical work IN the
corn crops rests upon substantial and vis-
ible foundation, not upon theories. The IN
precedented corn crop is a double result.
age and Of the best average yield since led
legs and border ruffians commended for SUI
premacy, two generations back
Township assessors feed the Kansas thirst
for figures. Last March they reported that
tie land TO be planted to corn would be
to examine their wheat fields they found
them so badly damaged that Thousands
turned under the worst of the wheat and
put in corn. June showed that the corn
The average yield Of corn in fair years is
from twenty-five to thirty-five bushels to
the acre. A yield of thirty-six bushels for
the whole state is considered all that farm
ers have a right TO expect from their fields.
| That, with the increased acreage. would give
the certainty is an average of forty bushels
with something over IL the conditions should
continue as favorable as they have been.
en orr maS1ns mp t in e sStest e ent1nma the s rem
officials see that they indicate .le amazing
average Of forty-four bushels TO the acre.
| That, with the increased acreage, would give
a crop of 1862, 00o. 600 bushels. SO IL appears
that that 3o,0Oo.0o is the minimum estimate
and that the actual returns may go many
What the crop of 100000. 900 bushels means
to Kansas Ellen p. Allerton, the wife OF
of Corn" And she told it without roetic
license;
What do they hold, these walls Of corn.
Whose banners toss in the breeze OF morn?
He who questions may well be told
A great States wealth these walls oiIfold.
No sentinels guard these walls OF corn,
Never a sound there OF warder's bern.
Yet the pillars are hung with cleaning
Left all unbarred, though thieves are bold.
Clothes and food for the toiling poor,
Wealth to heap at the rich mans door; !.
Meat for the wealthy and balm for him
Who means and losses In chamber dim;
Shoes for the barefooted. pearls TO twin
In the scented tresses OF ladies fine:
Things Of use for. the lowly cot.
Where tbless the corn) want cometh net;
Luxuries rare for the mansion grand.
Gifts of a rare and fertile land.
All these things and so manv more.
1t would fill a book to name them Ger.
Are hid and held in these walls CT corn.
Whose banners toss in the breeze OF morn.
There Is no such word in the
bright lexicon OF Kansas this year. From
the Missouri TO the Colorado line everybody
Is talking corn and feeling good. The dis
cordant notes are sc few AMI far between
they pass for jokes. One lonesome Pop
stood silent I'm a crowd of enthusiastic corn
takers until the time came when Re must
say something, and then he commented
thus:
Yes. bows. n Is "A whaling big crop and no
mistake. But I tell you II Is going TO be
/ hell on the ground"