rose from 74,174 barrels in 1900 to more than 5,500,000 (estimated) barrels in 1906. Salt is mined in the central portion of the State, the value of the yield in 1905 being $576,139, and giving the State third rank. Stone quarried in 1905, principally limestone, was valued at $1,003,006. The production of cement and gypsum is also worthy of note. AGRICULTURE AND STOCK-RAISING. Kansas is preeminently an agricultural State. The greatest obstacle to the industry is in the western part of the State, and is attributable to the lack of rainfall. Several elaborate irrigation schemescanals have been tried in this section; but they have been ill-conceived, since the surface supply of water and the flow in the streams are erratic. The results therefore have been generally disappointing. A greater degree of success seems to be promised through the utilization of ground waters by the use of windmills and the building of small storage reservoirs. In the middle and eastern sections the rainfall is sufficient, and almost the entire area is included in farms. The total farm land, of which 60.1 per cent. is improved (1900), is 79.7 per cent. of the State's total surface. The greatest absolute increase of farm land was made in the decade 1870-80, and of improved land in the following decade. During the last two decades of the nineteenth century the average size of farms increased from 154.6 acres to 240.7 acres. The most prominent cause of this increase was probably the desertion of numerous farms in the western part of the State, groups of which became united as single holdings in the hands of the former mortgagees. From 1880 to 1900 there was a very remarkable increase in the number of rented farms, the percentage of which increased from 16.3 per cent. in 1880 to 35.2 per cent. in 1900, the tenants on shares being more than twice as numerous as the cash tenants. Kansas has risen with great rapidity to the front ranks of the agricultural States. In 1900 only two States-Iowa and Illinois-had a larger acreage in crops. In the census decade 1880-90 the acreage increased 83.1 per cent., and in that following 24.6 per cent. In the year 1906 the rank in production of corn was fifth, wheat first, and hay eighth. There were raised in that year being exceeded in number in only four States. Kansas ranks second in the production of broomcorn (34,383 acres in 1900), and is important in the production of castor-beans. The acreage in 1900 (154,706) was more than one-half the total for the United States. Kafir corn is proving a very valuable crop, since it can endure a much greater drought than can Indian corn. Broomcorn is grown most extensively in the central part of the State, and castor-beans in the southwest corner. In 1906, 6200 acres of sugar beets were grown. The following table includes the most important farm crops in acres, according to the census of 1900 and the Crop Reporter of 1906: STOCK-RAISING. The raising of such enormous crops of corn and other stock feed has resulted in the development of a large stock-raising industry. In general the greatest development was that between 1880 and 1890, although the following decade witnessed a very remarkable gain in the number of neat cattle other than dairy cows; this was offset, however, by a nearly equal loss from 1900 to 1906. The value of the horses in 1906 ($79,266,955) was almost one-half the value of all domestic animals. Extensive areas of prairie land in the western part of the State are used for grazing. The sum of $5,936,662 was realized in 1900 from the sale of dairy products, and products of equal value were consumed on the farms. There was a decline in the numbers of both sheep and swine from 1890 to 1900; from 1900 to 1906 the number of swine decreased still more markedly, but the number of sheep increased slightly. The following comparative table includes the most important varieties of farm animals returned by the census of 1900 and the Crop Reporter of 1906: 125 bushels of corn to each inhabitant. The figures given in the table for 1900 are not representative of a normal year, since the late spring of 1899 resulted in less land being devoted to wheat and oats, and more to barley than there would otherwise have been. The increased interest in wheat cultivation since 1890, when the acreage was 1,582,635, is the most significant recent development in the agriculture of the State. There was a noteworthy decrease in the production of flax and likewise in the production of rye from 1900 to 1906. Potatoes and other vegetables are raised in large quantities. The State also raises a great abundance of orchard fruits. The number of apple-trees almost doubled in the decade 1890-1900, amounting in the latter year to 11,848,000, or 60.6 per cent. of the total number of fruit trees in the State, 3,814,622 979,695 2,628,653 1,056,752 MANUFACTURES. Compared with agriculture, manufacturing is of very minor importance. There was an increase, however, in the number of people engaged of 24.1 per cent. from 1890 to 1900 and a further increase of 30.6 per cent from 1900 to 1905. The census of 1900 showed 7830 establishments, with 35,193 wage-earners, and products valued at $172,129,398. Of these establishments, 2299-with 27,119 wage-earners and products valued at $154,008,544-are comparable with the class of establishments included in the census of 1905, when the establishments numbered 2474, with 35,410 wage-earners, and products valued at $197,394,992. It will be seen from the table that the industries are concerned chiefly with the transformation of the raw products of the farm into manufactured products. Slaughtering and meat-packing is alone fully as important as the other eight industries combined, estimated by the value of the products. The large slaughtering interests of Kansas Citythe second largest of any city in the world, amounting to over $90,000,000 in 1905-are located on the Kansas side of the State boundary line, and are therefore accredited to the State. Elsewhere in Kansas this industry is not extensive. The increase in the value of these products 1890-1900 was 73.2 per cent., and 1900-5, 8.6 per cent. The utilization of the waste products gives rise to the allied industries of soap and candle manufacturing. Flour and grist milling is next in importance. Despite the discrimination of rates in favor of long hauls, and other obstacles which hamper its develop ment, there was an increase in the value of products 1890 to 1900 of over 25 per cent. and from 1900 to 1905 of almost 50 per cent. The production of cheese, butter, and condensed milk by the factory process, which quadrupled 18901900, increased somewhat from 1900 to 1905. of the State there are no trans-State north and south lines. Formerly the State suffered greatly from the lack of railroad connection with the Gulf ports, but this has been supplied. Important lines are the Union Pacific; Missouri Pacific; Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe; Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific; the Missouri, Kansas and Texas; and the Saint Louis and San Francisco. BANKING. The wave of speculation which swept over the West from 1885 to 1891 greatly affected the banking business of Kansas. Heavy loans on over-valued real estate figured largely in the assets of the State banks, unrestricted in their activity by any control. When the panic of 1893 came, with a general foreclosure of mortgages, dozens of banks suspended. From 447 in 1892 the number of State and private banks decreased to 364 in 1898. The first comprehensive banking law was passed in 1891, and the office of Bank Commissioner was created. Due to his efforts, the present banking law was passed in 1897. This law contains stringent provisions as The importance of car and general shop construction and repairs is due to the State's large agricultural interests, inasmuch as the extensive railroad mileage and facilities are required to handle the farm products. The zinc-smelting industry has been almost wholly the development of the last fifteen years. This is the result of the abundance of fuel-coal, gas, and oil-obtained in the same locality as the zinc ores. TRANSPORTATION. The highly favorable situa tion of Kansas with reference to the transcontinental traffic, in consequence of which a number of the most important lines of the country traverse its limits, has given it a large railroad mileage, being exceeded by only five other States. The mileage rose from 3400 in 1880 to 8892 in 1890, fell to 8714 in 1900, and rose to 8940 on January 1, 1907. The mileage is much the greater in the eastern half of the State, where there are a number of north and south lines as well as east and west lines. In the western half to the investments, overdrafts, liability of shareholders and directors, and cash reserve. Quarterly reports to the commissioners are required. The amount of loans to one firm is limited, and additions to the surplus is obligatory. These regulations have put the State banks upon a solid foundation, and they share the confidence of the people equally with the national banks. The number of private banks is declining, the reports showing 162 in 1892 and 41 in 1902. Incorporation of savings banks is authorized by the law, but very few exist in the State. The condition of the banks (1906) is as follows: |