The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-02

An inspection of this table reveals the
fact that there has been a pretty fair aver
age all through the period covered. The
average return has been about $3.50, 900. 600,
and the variation has been small, either up
or down, from it. The wheat crop in this
time has averaged about 81, 000,00 bushels,
and the corn 1860 900 bushels. The good
corn years have not as a general thing
been good wheat years, so that there has
always been a fair average. The livestock
return has been the steadiest of all, about
$i5.U w ,OOO. III has never gone below $40, Co.,
900, and not above $51. 900. 600. Few States
can show a more even return through a
long period OF years, and 1t ought to con-
vince investors of the reliability of the
Kansas climate and of the State as an in
vestment field. The stories of great re-
verses n wonderful recoveries are usu-
ally tinged with the natural Kansas ex-
uberance, and the facts are not always in
entire harmony with them.
KANSANS GROWING LIBERAL.
The average Kansan is In. better nature
than he used to be and looks with more
liberality upon the nan who does not agree
with him. He formerly fought for his
opinion, right or wrong: now he is in
clined to laugh and say that the other
man has some rights as we'll as himself.
1t is doubtful if ever again there can be a
political feeling of such bitterness as was
seen in 1890 and the three or four years
following. The Farmers Alliance and it's
devotees stirred up the strife TO a degree
that many actually believed Eastern peo-
pie sat UP nights studying how they could
rob and grind down the people of the West.
That sort of ak does not find adherents
now. The orator who would make the old
addresses would be laughed out of town.
1t does not seem possible that during one
of the Populist administrations the State
paid for the publication of a compendious
book which was to prove that farming
44.,l1 80 a.
this State. 1t was such efforts as this that
made the East look upon the State askance
and wonder What could ever redeem it.
Here is a quotation from a Chicago in
vestment paper published in the summer of
1896: within the last two weeks L nave
come into contact with a gentleman who
was in Chicago to sell some county bonds.
They were excellent bonds-6 per cent. and
gold. The county is a reasonably prosper
Gus one. Unfortunately 1t happens to be in
Kansas. The gentleman heard a thing or
two here and then went on to New York to
hear more. He has learned that he might
as well try to sell stock in an irrigating
scheme on the planet Mars as TO dispose of
securities that bear on their face the name
of Kansas" That was three years ago.
In the last twenty months the agents of
bond houses have been securing the State
to find bonds to refund. Every issue of
considerable size that had an option has
been taken up and refunded or is in the
process, and now the small township is
oNNS NV bOAhS SOeoAs Al GO ~ thtS WCit
jewels. Agents say hat the business is
about cleaned up and that they will have
to seek new fields. They estimate tina
over S, 000.0 900 of bonds have been refunded
in the last year, most of them having the
interest reduced from 6 per cent. to 5, and
in some instances as low as 4. Most of the
bonds were not due. but had option clauses
that allowed of the change and the bond
dealers were glad to get them. The bonds
remaining that bear a high rate of interest
are small issues and those that cannot be
paid until they are due, many years In the
future in most cases.
Probably no one thing has been so sure a
test of the rising financial barometer I'm
this State as this bond business and the
effect Is to make a distinct saving to the
people in taxes in the reduced interest.
Some new bonds are being issued, but not
many. The prosperity and good standing
in the financial world have not turned the