The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-01
Shawnee County Assessors Re-
ports Made Public Today.
Decrease in Grain and Live
stock Production Shown.
OCCUPY % OF FARMS
DObbin Gives Way to Tractor
and Auto.
Wheat Acreage DrOps-Marked
Fruit Yield Again.

Relaxation in farm production fol-
lowing the war is shown in the reports
of the Shawnee county assessors,
made public today by Kenneth Raub,
county clerk. A decrease in grain and
livestock production and increases in
poultry. eggs and dairy products are
shown.
The value of milk and cream
showed the greatest increase. MIX
and cream sold to creameries, ice
cream factories and other manuIac-
turers during the year ended March 1,
1920 tota1led 1852, ,S97, as compared
with s2647O2 the preceding year. That
sold by producers for city trade to-
tailed SS616O, an increase of S4,5O6.
Poultry and egg values reached $274,-
514, COMPARED with s224,217 last year
Livestock sales Tumble.
The value of livestock sold for meat
tumbled from s1.4S2,746 the preced-
ing year TO $92O,622 during the year
ended March l. There was also
decrease in number of dairy cattle on
hand despite the increase in dairy
productions. There were only 1867
milk cows on hand March 1, 1920, as
compared with S.Q9S the year before,
and only 2.190 dairy herd bulls. helf-
ers and calves. compared with S,50b
last year other cattle, however,
showed an increase from s,52S 10
1i.765. The number of swine De
crease from 1913 last year to 11,S34
this year.
That the farm tractor and the auto
mobile is replacing the horse is shown
Sin the report. Tractors and engines
"a hand last year numbered eighty
two - this year, 139. At the same
time the number of horses in the
country have decreased from 9.674 to
s784 and the number of mules and
asses from 1850 to 1,60S.
Winter Wheat Acreage Drops. ss,
Winter wheat acreage shows a de-
crease from e0,254 acres last year TO
5s,266 this year. The corn acreage
totals 5000. decrease of 3.482 acre
age The potato acreage in the coun-
try, which is much in dispute,
shows a decrease, according. to the
report from 2,647 to 2,586 Sweet
potatoes show a slight increase. There
were 1898 acres of oats planted,
also slightly less than last year. Sor-
ghum. kafir and alfalfa show in
creases this years acreage of the
latter being 20.5S1. There are r.
$50 acres of prairie grass for pasture
and tame hay. a decrease of 1000
acres from last year.
Butter made in families increased
from S6s63 the year before to go. O67
last year. Honey and cheese produc-
tion decreased.
During the fiscal year ended March
1. 1920, there were 6.32410S pounds
of butter manufactured by creameries
in Topeka.
Fruit Yield Increase Marked.
Fruit production in 1919 showed a
decided increase over 1918. The total
value of fruit last year was $47,65O,
compared with 26,S17 the year before
There were 15.425 bushels of apples
raised last year. compared with 9.422
in 1918. Peaches and plums showed
poor both years-cherries and berries
fair.
II was discovered that of all the
farms in Shawnee county. 1893 are
occupied by the owners, and only sos
are rented. There are 5S6 farms
mortgaged and sos that are not. In
SO cases the owners of rented land live
outside the county.
The assessors reports show the pop
ulation of the county to be 63.749. a
decrease Of 2,7s5. The population of
Topeka is given as 44,711. but the
population figures in both instances
are regarded as erroneous. The as
SCISSORS pay little attention to enumer-
alton in taking the personal property
statements.