Kansas Vs. Michigan

Toi'eka Commonwealth, July 2!tli, 1884. A somewhat enthusiastlo admirer of the good oíd Peninsular State declared the otlier day that Michigan was a better farming state, vore for acre, thau Kansas. Thls led us to ook up the statistics on the subject, and we werealittle astonished at tlie actual facts, and began to wonder why a lariner sliould stay In Mluliigan at all, wlien he could gel and in Kansas. In sober truth, Michigan has buen tucked away un in the corner bestde Canada so long, and her people hiive done so well that they scarcely realize tiiat [vansas has done better. But now to the I'acts: Last year Kansas raised 3U.7 bushels of corn to the acre, while Michigan farmers were gatherfng 23.5 bushels. And more than that, Michigan only raised 21,414,200 bushels, and but 3,854,211 bushels were merchantabie, whlle Kansas produced 172.851,214 bushels, of whtch 158,970,823 bnshels were merchantabie, accordlngto Oommluloner Loring's report, ïhls looks a little as if Kansas were the better cora state. Of wheat Kansas averaged 17.5 bushels, while Michigan was threshing out 14. The Kansas oat erop went 44.6 bushels to the acre, that ol' Michigan 54 6. These and similar facts wlll startle those who have been acciistomed to regard Michigan as "a very flue farming state, sir." But the fact is that the great prairie State already occuples oueofthe big mahogauey chairs lu the National clrcle, and shows a dispositlon to stay there. Commissloner Loring'a report further proves that Kansas field crops actually yleld four per cent. more on money invested in land, in farms, than do those in Michigan. Nor do the reports now in for 1884 show any decrease but rather an increase in Kansas crops. The yleld of wheat is estlinsted at 49.UO0.0OJ bushels, a galn of somt: 23,000,000 bnshels over last year's product. The average is reported at 22.28 busliels, a gain of flve bushels. Later reports may show a slight increase or decrease frota this, but it is very uearly riglit at least. The area planted to sorghum cane is mucli largor than that o: last year. Oiher crops have increased iu area as follows: flax 14 per cent., oats 1Í per cent., and wheat 29 per cent. Indeed, It looks as 1 Kansas would do better this year than last. The longer we study the tirgures the more we are surprised at onr Michlgau friend. Why, four couulies like Sedgewick would ralse more corn than the whole State of .Michigan, and Sedgewick really dld ralse more merchantabie corn last year than dld Michigan. Six counties like McPhersou would out.dothe Michigan wheat erop. National statistics glve the average value of land in farms in Kansas at $10.98 per acre. whlle those of Michigan are held at S3ti.l5. Whatlsthe use of holding land worth tM that wlll only yield 23.5 bushels of corn and 14 bushels oí wheat, when you can buy land for 311 that isproduclnc 30.7 bushels of corn and 17.5 bushels of wheat? Invest $3(i In Michigan anti you get Ji',.7 bushels of corn and 14 bustiels of wheat. Invest the sameamount iu Kan-as and you recelve lïl bushels of corn and 58 bushels of wheat. The present geueralion of Michigan farmeis bought their land at frora $5 to $18 per acre. and have feit thern grow iu value beneath their very feet. Ho It will be In Kansas. Those who now own land worth $11 will live to see it worth $30 or 810. Over and above eveu the erop reports this fact stands prominent that those who buy low priced land now in Kansas wlll own high prlced land ere many years. As It has been In Michigan and other states, so it will behere. Kansas is a state of great development, bat of greater possibilitles. Of the State's 52,000,1X10 acres only 8 200,000 are cultlvated, and 30,600,0110 are not in farms at all. Michigan is a Une State, with advantaw -s peculiar to herself, whlch Kansas does nol pwsess. But wlien It comes to talklng of acre lor acre, and year lor year, of opportunities for farmers and stockmen, she must yleld the bauner to the great cornfields and pastures ef the Arkansas Valley. J. O. PHILLIPPI, Gen. Agent, A. T. & S. F. E. B., 51 Clark-st, Chicago, 111.