The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-22
A COMPARISON OR TWO.

Comparisons are declared to be
odious. Undoubtedly they are, but
this is more especially true of the in
dividua or the thing which suffers by
them often, however, comparisons
are made with no purpose of casting
anything of odium, but merely for the
strength and emphasis that can be
gained by them. That is the intent in
the present instance in a little discus
sion of the productiveness of Kansas,
the wealth of her fields and farms.
Kansas and Kansans have good rea-
son to be proud over their achieve
ments and the development of the
Sunfower state in all ways, but she
and they have no disposition to lord
it over her sister states. many of
whom are worthy rivals for several of
the honors that she holds, and all of
whom are held in the highest possible
esteem.
A glance at the figures on the
magnitude and value of the crops
grown in Kansas as detailed by the
annual report of Mr. Coburn, the
secretary of the Kansas department
of agriculture, and a comparison of
them with similar figures for the en-
tire country which have been made
agriculture will make known two
facts, which taken together, are really
remarkable, and which ought to make
certain the claim made by the friends
of Kansas that she is entitled to be
crowned the queen of agriculture in
Uncle Sans domain.
The latest figures on the population
in this state total up to approximately
$4,000 people. The estimated
population of the United States ex-
elusive of it's colonies and de-
Tendencies, of course, is approximated
at Ss,OOO,OOO,OOO. This gives Kansas a
population which is one f1fty-fourth
of that of the entire country. That's
not a wonderful showing for state
with an area as large as has this onet
But wait minute.
The estimated value of the products
of the Kansas farms, including live
stock for the year just about to end, Is
placed at $475, 245,O00 while the es-
timated value of the similar products
for the entire country is placed at
$7,76O,OO0,0OO. In other words, which
are simpler and much more astonish-
ing, the value of Kansas farm prod
ucts is one sixteenth of the value of
the products of the farms of the ma
ton. Think of it, This state has but
one fifty-fourth of the population of
the country and at the same time it
produces one-sixteenth of the farm |
products developed in the entire land. |
These are figures and comparisons |
to ponder over. No other explanation
is needed for the prosperity which i
prevails among the people of this |
state No other forecast or prophecy |
is needed of the prosperous future |
that is before them. The great
performed through their energy and |
their intelligence in the past year can |
be duplicated in the years to come |
and even bettered for the last farm !
ing season was not of the most favor |
able sort. Then again. there is much |
land in Kansas which is yet to be |
cultivated and practical and scientific |
farming which is developing greatly |
as each year rolls around will increase
the Droductiveness of the fields al |
ready under cultivation. More wheat |
and corn and other things will be |
grown to the acre in the future than
there has been in the past. Surely is
Kansas great and her future greater.
Surely she and her people may well |
be pardoned for indulging in OCCASION
al reveries over their own great for
tune and in extending the cordial in
vitation that to Kansas whatsoever
will may come"