The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-23
COburn Says State Is Core of
United States.
Tells of the Soil and Its Pro-
ductiOns.
VALUE OF THE CROPS
Over Half Billion Including Live
Stock in 1910.
Noted for High Order of Its
Citizenship.

The Kansas Real Estate Dealers
association has issued an attractive
folder filled with cuts of prosperous
farms and Kansas products. The fore
word has been written by F. d. Coburn
and is an eloquent exposition of the
advantages of Kansas. 1t follows:
Kansas as a State.
The United States is an imperial do
main, unequaled elsewhere in all the
] world. Its center, core and pivotal
/ state is Kansas.
Look at the map and see!
! In size the state is 400 miles long
| from east to west and 208 miles wide.
This means 100000 acres, practi-
cally all tillable, an area twice as large
as Ohio, or equaIing Pennsylvania and
| Indiana together.
The soil ranges from the deep black
| loan of the linn estone land. general in
the eastern half or two-thirds, to the
sander formations further west, con-
tanning large proportions of decaying
/ vegetable matter, and hence is very
! productive. Alluvial deposits in the
! valleys often exceed depths of 20 feet.
/ While their depth of available fertility
| is not so great, the slopes and uplandS
J n many instances yield nearly as
| abundantly, and for certain crops are
preferred by some.
| The climate is mild, without either
tropic heat or arctic cold, and every
where healthful. The air is dry, in
MIGRATING and wholesome, and espe-
dency to lung and throat diseases.
Weather extremes that occur are of
short duration, and by far a majority
of the days are fair and sunny. Owing
to situation, the cold of long northern
winters and the facilitating heat of
the summers farther south are avoid
ed. Some winters have almost no real
ly severe weather. Both summers and
winters are several degrees warmer
in the south ern than in the northern
portions of the state.
The average velocity of Kansas winds
is about 8.5 miles per hour, and the
government weather bureau is author
ity for the statement that storms such
as are denominated "bIizzards," not
withstanding a silly, common belief
by strangers, seldom, If ever, occur in
the state, and that cyclones are equal
ly uncommon.
The eastern part is quite literally
provided with timber, the supply grad
Il llv decreasing to the westward. Ar
tif1cial paintings are being constantly
made.
Throughout the state inexhaustible
supplies Of pure water are available
from wells of varying DEPTH and
drawn to the surface by pumps oper-
ated by wind or other power. Numer-
Gus springs also furnish an exec lent
water supply. Because of their prac-
teal and unlimited ayafla bilfty. the So
called underhow waters are more or
less extensively used by means of wells
and pun ping for !rrigating consider
able gardens and even larger tracts in
the western portion Of the state. Irri-
cation is practiced quite extensively in
the western end of the Arkansas River
valley, the main source of supply being /
the Arkansas river. Artesian water |
flow has been developed and is ut1l- /
lied for irrigating and other purposes |
in Morton and in the north eastern /
part of Meade county.
The annual average precipitation, |
which includes the rainfall and water |
from melted snow, as shown by the
official records for 20 years. has been,
for the whole state, about 2S inches /
the average in the eastern third be
ing 35 inches; in the central part, 27.6 /
inches; and in the western third. 90
inches.
With such soil and climate, Kansas
is pre-eminently adapted to agricul
ture, and this including live stock has
bandry, is the states foremost indus
try. The value of farm products in
1910 vas about S3G5, 100000 and, with
aggregated $539,793, 900. Equally APP
portioned among the inhabitants this
would amount to more than 1913 each.
Corn is the foremost crop, and Kan
sas raises more wheat, Kafir corn and
alfalfa than any other state or pro
vince in the world, having of the latter
approximately 100000 acres. Other
crops flourish in proportion, and it
may be said, with no suggestion of
boasting, that Kansas comes nearer
yielding in abundance all the neces-
saries and more Of the luxuries of life
than almost any of the other states
The variety of production suggests
her wide ada ptability for profitable ag-
riculture. Besides leading in the i'm
portant crops already mentioned. the
state is prominent in hay. oats, rye.
barley, broomcorn, sorghum, sugar
beets. potatoes, cotton, fax, timothy,
clover bluegrass and, among others,
the various large and small fruits al
ways command a place in her annual
output. From the nature of her prin-
cipaI crops. Kansas provides a never
ending banquet for her live stock, and
the economical making of meat and
milk is everywhere possible.
Lead, zinc, natural gas. coal salt.
cement and gypsum are in unlimited
supply in their different territories.
No other state is more noted for the
high order of its citizenship or the
school, college and church facilities
its citizens so nunificentIy support.
People everywhere who would i'm
prove their conditions by a change of
location should carefully consider the
innumerable advantages to be found
in Kansas.