The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-08
Calls Special Attention to the
Prosperity of Kansas.
Not a State Bank Failure for
Two Years.
FAVORS PRIMARY LAW
Would Have 1t Apply to
Senators.
Makes Important Suggestion
Concerning Railroads.
ON THIS SIDE THE LINE
Would Force Terminals in
Kansas City, Kansas.
Believes Firmly in Efficacy of
Prohibition.
ReccmmendsIncrease in Salaries
Of Judges.
ON THIS SIDE THE LINE
Would Force Terminals in
Kansas City, Kansas.
Believes Firmly in Efficacy of
Prohibition.
ReccmmendsIncrease in Salaries
of Judges.

Governor Hoch's message which wal
unusually long was read to the legisla'
ture this afternoon and was as follows
January s, 1907.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
seutatives:
In obedience to constitutional re-
quirement and in harmony with Gus
tom, / transmit herewith my biennial
message for your consideration
You meet under auspices and 1nsplr-
ing circumstances. The state is enjoy
ing unprecedented prosperity. The
year Just closed was the most pros
porous in it's history. and this pros
perity was limited to no locality and
confined to no interest The yield OF
wheat aggregated over ninety-three
million bushels, and has been exceeded
but once in bushels and never in ag-
gregate value in the history OF the
state, and easily places Kansas in the
front rank of wheat producing states,
the yield in fact being double that of
any state in the Union. In this con-
neetion it is interesting to remember
that the yield of wheat for the past ten
years has averaged over 20 million
bushels each year. The year 1906 was
also a great corn year, the yield being
exceeded but twice. 1 believe, in the
past. All other farm products made a
good showing, as did the great live
stock interests, so that the year was
~
farmers of the state. Hon. F. d. Co
burn, secretary of the state board of
agriculture, who honored agriculture
by exalting its secretaryship above
highest political honors in declining a
United States senatorship, thus sum-
marizes the years results:
Never before have the soil products
represented so much wealth, and the
rewards OF industry are revealed in the
years values of farm products and live
stock, amounting to $424,222,277, or
S15,5S2,455 In excess of their value in
the best preceding year. They are
about SIS per cent more than the
value of the same items of ten years
ago. This years wheat is worth more
than that of any preceding year; this
years corn ranks third in aggregate
ed or sold for slaughter is ten million
dollars more than last year, and
eclipses all former records; the value
of her dairy products is more than one
year ago, and her improving herds and
flocks have a value greater than ever
before"
But perhaps the best evidence, after
ALL of the great material prosperity
the condition of the banking interests.
Hon. John Q. Royce. bank commits
sioner. in his able biennial report to
me, furnishes the remarkable and gra-
tifytng information that there has not
been a single bank failure or a bank
closed by his department during the
past two years, and that during this
time not "a dollar has been lost to
depositors in state banks, nor have any
of their funds been tied up or with
held from them for single minute"
From the same admirable report I
learn that the total deposits in Kan
eas banks. state and national, ten years
ago. aggregated only $32.031,7 S0.36.
Of which the national banks contained
$16.S11,672.97 and the state banks
$15,220,10 80. For eight years there
after the deposits increased at the
enormous rate of an average of ten
millions of dollars per year. and on
September 1. 1904, reached the high
est point in the history of banking in
the state up to that time. showing to-
tai deposits amounting TO $11O,325.-
1850, of which the national banks
had $5S,31S.970.4S and the state
banks S52.2o6. 925.42. But during the
past two years the increase has been
greater than during any biennial period
in the history of the state. During
this biennial period the increase ex-
ceeded thirty millions of dollars, or
more than fifteen millions of dollars
each year, the total deposits at this
time being $14O.1s6,2e of which
the national banks show $71 962,S77.O2
and the state banks $6S,2324166O.
This-s an average of over ninety doll
lars per capita-nearly three times the
average in the United States. Mr.
Royce estimates that of the 14O mill
ion dollars on deposit in the banks of
Kansas 1870 million dollars is the
money of individuals. and represents
their surplus earnings. The popula-
ton of the state has increased over
$4,000 during the past year. the great
est annual increase in twenty years
Surely every Kansan has a right to be
proud of the wonderful progress and
prosperity which characterize the state
of his birth or adoption.
But, gentlemen, there is a good old
book which tells us that much shall
be required of those to whom much is
given" Responsibility is measured
by ability, and ii should be the highest
aim and ambition of every citizen of
the state. in public position and in pri-
vate station, to see to it that progress
in moral and mental matters keeps
pace at least with the progress in ma
terial things. For. after all, the real
greatness of a state Is not measured
by Its bursting bins or plethoric banks.
but by the beneficence of it's laws
obedience thereto. enforcement there
Of and by the character of its indi-
vidual citizenship.
To you, gentlemen Of the legislature
has been committed great trust-to
study the governmental needs of the
people. to supplement former legisla-
ton with additional enactTnents neces-
sary for its enforcement and efficiency.
and to put upon the statute-b books
Puch new laws as new conditions and
experience may show to be necessary.