The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-02
TIMES in KANSAS
EFFECT OF PROSPERITY APPARENT
THRoUGHoUr THE STATE.
Many New Homes Built and Old Ones
Given Coats of Paint-No More
Calamity Howlfng.

Abilene Letter in Chicago Record.
Kansas has had a baptism of fresh paint.
On the houses and store buildings, on the
barns and porches is shining the evidence
Of money to spend. New roofs are becom-
ing common again. For ten years the
farmers have been moving Queen Anne
cottages, erected during the boom, to their
claims and it is not uncommon to see a
house planned by the graduate of an art
school standing among hay-roofed sheds.
The house was built in a pompously
named addition with some Eastern in
vestor's money, then it was mortgaged,
sold and bid in by some farmer for a song.
But there are few of them left-the addi-
lions have been denuded and the people
are compelled to bull. anew in order to have
the homes they desire. All through the
year they nave been adding to their i'm
provements and in most of the towns Of
the eastern two-thirds the traveller can
see the effect of prosperity.
New roofs tell better than can any fig
cures how the people are thriving. Il did
more business in the last ten months than
in any three years in my business life
here" said a lumberman of this city the
other day. II am selling bills of lumber
for farmhouses as well as for city dwell
ings, something that has been almost un-
known for over a decade" The good times
that have always seemed elusive to the
workers of the plains nave come. The
towns that had a weary and lonesome look.
as if they needed a shave and a haircut,
are sprucing up and show signs that the
people lave money to spare and are willing
to spend ii.
81 can't say that my trade has been so
much better this year than last" said a
typical merchant Of one Of the interior
towns of the State the other day, but
just see what the others are doing. 1t is
hard work to get men to work, while 1t
used to be very easy. In fact. 1t kept me
busy lodging the applicants for places in
my store"
That expresses the difference and it is
manifested in the willingness with which
the people make arrangements to stay
where they are for the future. One hears
little about moving away any more. In
the old days of the early '9Os every fami-
ly was planning where il would go as soon
as 1t could sell out. Every one was renting
his house If possible and those who had
dwellings were looked upon with pity. Now
the man who does not own a home is
anxious because he is likely to find that
the dwelling he is occupying has been
sold and that he must look for another To-
cation. After moving two or three times
he goes out and buys a house himself.
YEAR OF LARGEST PRODUCTION. q
The State issued its annual report of the
crops the other day. and it was one to
make the Kansan feel happy. 1t showed
that the production of the agricultural and
livestock industries in the past season has
been the largest in the history of the State.
with one exception, 1891, when it was but
$4,000 more. TIL corn crop was 225, 900, 900
bushels. and the wheat 1858. 900. The mon
ey value of the wheat. corn and live stock
was s37.OOO.00 more than last year. and the
increase in the past biennial period for
these products values has been the splen-
did sum of S72, 900, 600. This is the reason of
the large bank deposits and the payment
OF mortgages. 1t also accounts for the
building of new houses and the paint on
the old ones.
A widespread opinion exists thai Kansas
is a State of great ups and downs in the
matter of agricultural production. 1t is in
teresting TO consider the money value of
the products of farm, ranch and garden
for the past eleven years. IT is as follouS.