Free press., 1907-06-22
CoBuRN IsuEs A RpoRrE.
Some Statistics of Kansas for tn
Quarter Ending March 81.


Some Statistics of Kansas for the
Quarter Ending March 81.
Secretary Coburn of the State Board
of Agriculture has just issued report
under the title, 'Kansas-Her Story
and Statistics" It covers the quarter
year ending March 81, 1907. Copies of
the report have just been received in
this office.
''This report is not intended for
Kansas people as much as it is for
the residents of the eastern states, -
says Mr.. Coburn. cit will give out
siders information regarding the state
and at the same time answers the
purpose of mirror held up in front
of Kansas that she may learn some
thing concerning herself -
In the introduction Mr. Coburn
makes a statement of what Kansas
is now and how she came to be what
she is. 1t contains agricultural his
tory, statistical facts and interesting
comparisons with other states. 1t tells
many things of a historical nature
that are not told by the so-called his
tories.
The book devotes page or more to
each county and besides the statistics
of our county, crops, etc. it gives US
this nice write up:
ELLIS COUNTY.
Ellis county is in the west half of
the state, the third south from Nebra-
ska, and the fifth east from Colorado.
1t is bounded on the north by Rocks,
east by Russell, south by Rush and
west by Trego county. It's area is 900
square miles, or SIG, 200 acres, and it
ranks sixtieth, with population of
10,6 $50. 1t was organized in 1867 and
named for George Ellis, first lieuten-
ant company I, Twelfth Kansas infan-
try.
The county is divided into fourteen
townships. The general surface is
undulating, and there are bluffs along
the streams. Bottom" lands aver
age one mile in width and comprise
fifteen per cent, of the area. There is
but little timber, belts along the
streams averaging about ten rods in
width and containing maple, cotton
wood, blackberry, Green ash, box-elder
and Black walnut.
The northern portion is we'll watered
by the Saline river, which flows from
the northwest corner east and south
east across the eastern border. The
Smoky Hill river flows from west to
east across the southern portion Big
creek, in the center, is an important
tributary.
Ellis is one of the foremost counties
in the production of winter wheat.
Corn, oats, barley and sorghum are
important crops There are about TO-
900 fruit-trees of bearing age.
Magnetism limestone is abundant and
hard, gray limestone of good quality
is found along the Smoky Hill river.
A native lime, excellent for building,
is plentiful; and gypsum is found in
parts of the county. Clay, for superior
and durable brick, is near Hays. There
are few salt marshes.
The county has ffty-five organized
school districts and school population
of 1895. Branches of the State Expert
| ment Station and the State Normal
School and st. Joseph's school (Roman
Catholic) are at Hays. Holy Cross
school at Pfeifer, ST. Catharine' s
school at Catharine, St. Francis s
school at Munjor and St. Martins at
| Ellis, are Roman Catholic institutions.
The main line of the Union Pacific
railroad crosses the county from east
to west, through Hays, distance of
.05 miles.
HAYS, little south and west of the
center, 289 miles from Kansas City, is
the county-seat. It's population is 1906
and elevation 1899 feet. 1t is lighted
by electricity, and has numerous
churches, excellent schools, an extern
sive Touring mill and machine-shops.
1t is an important shipping point The
branches of the State Experiment
Station and State Normal School,
located here, are on the old Fort Hays
military reservation, comprising 74OC
acres, which was ceded by the govern
ment to the state for these purposes.
Each has about 37OO acres,
Ellis, in the west, has railroad
repair shops and several grain eleya-
tors, and is an important grain-ship.
ping point. 1t is division point of the
Union Pacific railroad.