The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-12
WORD FROM COBURN.
Replies to Corn Talk OF a chicago
Paper.

Does Illinois raise more corn than
Kansas? Or are the Chicago newspa-
pers lying about it?
A few days ago. the Chicago Record
Herald came out with an editorial, and
had fun with Secretary F. d. Coburn's
latest book called Some Kansas Ker-
Gels."
Another Chicago paper took it up.
and asked How about this. Brother
Coburn ?"
Today Secretary Coburn gave out a
short, pithy and unterrlfied reply TO
his Chicago critics, and sent a copy of
the same to the proper place in Chi
cage.
verSy with these Chicago editors, VINO
are friends of NINE" says Mr.. Coburn,
''but they seem to have called upon me
for an explanation, and it seems to be
UP to me to stand up and say some
thing"
This is the statement given out by
Secretary Coburn:
'aThe statement by the Record-Her-
aid editor is superb, except that 1t isn't
true. His having to claim for Illinois
nearly 134.OOO.O00 bushels or about 81
per cent, more corn for single year
than the government reports snow IN
order to make his point against KAN
sas, only gives opportunity to invite
attention anew to Kansas corn capa-
bilities. This, too, entirely. apart from
her millions and millions of Kafir corn,
which to Illinois is doubtless a 'nys-
FERROUS stranger Kansas doesn't need
The editorial in the Record-Herald
which started the trouble is as follows:
s'The secretary of the Kansas de-
partment of agriculture has sent out
an attractive little brochure which
conveys to the world some modest
hints as to the productive capacity of
a certain state. Some Kansas Ker-
nels' is the title, and while all crops
are embraced in the claims set forth
it is corn that evokes the most thrill
ling song of praise. For though kan
sas produces more wheat than any
other state or country in the world
wheat is really a side issue, one OF
various secondary items, the worm OF
which must be aggregated to even APP
proach the value of corn Further
more, in considering some minor
items, it is discovered that in each or
the past ten years save one the annual
worth than the same years oats, rye,
barley, buckwheat, Irish potatoes,
castor beans. cotton, fax, hemp. to-
bacco, broom corn, INLET and Hun
garian sorghum, Milo maize, kafflr
corn, Jerusalem corn, prairie hay,
products marketed.
such an impressive marshaling of
the fruits of the earth strikes the
mind with a wonder greater than fig
of corn. Indeed, if we were to show
that the oat crop of Kansas in 1904
was but 16, 100000 bushels, when that
of Illinois was 117,000,000 bushels,
and that the yield of rye, buckwheat
and barley was put at little over 3
10000 bushels in the last federal
census report, the figures would seem
like gross impertinence, like brutal
interruption to some lofty poetic
strain. Wherefore we shall not pre-
sent these statistics, but shall pass on
to another triumphal verse with an
other grand marshaling of names, to
the glory not of corn but of Kansas:
In 1899, according to the govern
ment reports, the Kansas corn yield
was greater than that of all the New
England states, New York, New Jer-
sey, Delaware, Michigan, Virginia,
South Carolina, Florida, West Vir-
ginia, Maryland, Minnesota, North and
South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming,
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah. Wash
ington, Oregon, California and Okla
hona combined.
"Some people might pause to point
out that the yield of Montana, Wyom-
ing, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah,
Washington and Oregon was less than
100000 bushels. But we shall not
do that, because we like the Kansas
style and propose to try it on Illinois:
"In 1893, according to the govern
ment reports, the Illinois corn crop
yield was greater than that of all the
New England states New York, New
Jersey. Delaware, Michigan. Virginia.
South Carolina, Florida, West Vir-
ginia, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado,
Kew Mexico. Utah. Washington, Ore
gon, California and Kansas combined.
How much more imposing is such
cumulative eloquence up to the bind
ing of the last victim upon the tri-
umphal car than dry statistical de-
tails! But If we have put Kansas at
the end of the procession it is from
no lack Of admiration of that truly
great state. Rich she is, as the secre-
tary shows, a land of great perform
ance and splendid promise