The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-24
HALF A BILLION.
Value of Kansas Products Has
Passed That Mark.
Secretary COburn ISsuesThankS-
giving Proclamation.
AN EPIC IN PROSE.
Best Message, Fattest Year,
Greatest Prophet.
Figures to Back Up an Arabian
Nights Story.

Secretary Coburn has issued his
Thanksgiving proclamation for 1903
and it surDasses in interest and i'm
portance the manifesto of rulers or
the mandates of, kings. The secre-
tary of agriculture is a graduate of
the school of prophets at Ramah
and his messages to his people always
carry good tidings of great joy, but
this time he has taken a wheat straw
and an ear of corn and a beast of the
field and turned them into gold and
gladness. He has written an epic in
prose. He has comprised the seven
month. He has taken the total of
Kansas products of the year by the
neck of its jersey and dragged it over
the half billion line for a touchdown.
Every dog has his day, and this is
the day of the Kansas farmer. The
in the background and listen to the
ex-rulers sing the Harvest Home.
Coburn's Thanksgiving message
this year is the sequel to the Arabian
nights with the seal of sober truth
and fact set upon il.
There have been other great years
and optimistic reports but it remained
for 1909 to lead all the rest. The re-
turns were of such stupendous size
as to excite most men but Secretary
L
in order and set them forth in terse
paragraphs. To him they are but the
fulfillment of prophecy. Here is the
Thanksgiving story as he has told it,:
Set New Standard.
The Kansas board of agriculture has
issued its last crop report for 1909, a
final summary of the agricultural,
and live stock, for the state-yields,
numbers and values, including winte-
and spring wheat, corn and oats, which
were previously reported, in detail, No
vember 9.
Great as has been the returns from
Kansas farms in former years, the 1909
inventory shows that the state has this
year eclipsed all previous records and
set new standard in wealth produc-
ton For the first time, the value of
farm products and live stock has
passed the half billion mark, aggre-
eating, to be exact, 1882, 6S5.245, or $751;
440,41 in excess of 1908, the best prior
year The larger increases over the
preceding year are in the values OF
wheat, oats, hay and horticultural pro-
ducts, which show a net gain of $24. 1885,
247, and live stock. which are worth
more by s27, 636,20
In spite of smaller yields of several
crops, notably corn, the aggregate value
| of each crop, excepting two or three OF
minor Importance, is greater this year
than in 1908, and field crops were worta
$215, 057 OPS, or more by $25,997, 1863 than
those of last year. They outvalue by
over 100 per cent those of ten years
ago. The total of all farm products
1901, 53S 164-is 70 per cent greater than
the average for the 20 years ending
with 1908, and the net increase in Their
value over the preceding year amounts
to $29,804, 211, making the total of these
as it is in live stock values. the great
est in the states history. The whea.
and corn crops were the most valuable
ever raised.
, Live Stock Figures
The value per head of all live stock
is higher than a year ago. Horses and
mules average, respectively. SO and 81
Per head more, and each other kind ag-
Gregates greater value, although milct
cows and swine were less in numb ers
The states live stock was worth $685.
147,0S0, and the value of their products
is greater, although there is decrease
this year in the item of animals slaugh-
tered OF sold for that purpose. indlcat-
Ing that higl prices for corn have g
| marked tendency toward curtailing fat
| tening operations.
Increase of Alfalfa Area.
| The states alfalfa area aggregate:
| 99S, 539 acres, an increase of 10 per cent
| AS result of the more extensive grow
| ing of this plant the tame hay output