1941: Kansas

Area and Population.

The geographical center of The United States is in Kansas, the 'Sunflower State,' which is 13th in size, with an area of 82,158 sq. mi. It is 29th in population, with 1,801,028 (1940); of these 60 per cent live on farms, which take up 84 per cent of the total area. The population is 93.5 per cent white, with Germans predominant among the foreign-born. Kansas is often called the westernmost New England state, since most of its pioneer settlers were from New England. Its largest cities are Kansas City, 121,458; Wichita, 114,966 (actually now about 200,000, see below); Topeka, the capital, 67,833; Hutchinson, 30,013.

Agriculture.

The state is mainly agricultural, and first in wheat-growing in the Union, with its high percentage of rich arable land, intensively cultivated. The great plains in the west are largely cattle country; the blue-stem pastures of the Flint Hills are considered the finest grazing land in the United States; and meat-packing is the second most important industry. The best combination of plentiful crops and good prices known in sixty years was reported for the state as a whole in 1941. Good moisture throughout the year resulted in exceptionally good pasture conditions, probably the best in a dozen years; and prices for grass-fat cattle were high.

Wheat was hurt somewhat by excessive rainfall; but even so the crop of 173,332,000 bu. reported by the State Board of Agriculture was 47,000,000 bu. above 1940, and 41,632,000 bu. above the 10-year average, 1930-39. The acreage of all crops harvested amounted to 22,313,000 an increase over 1940 of 17 per cent; and the farm value of all crops was $277,172,000, an increase over 1940 of 66 per cent.

The 'food for freedom' campaign of the U. S. Department of Agriculture to increase the production of high protein foods, reported in mid-December that Kansas farmers have signed up to increase milk production in 1942 5 per cent (4 per cent asked for), to 3,431,000,000 pounds; egg production 15 per cent, to 147,967,000 dozen; beef and veal 25 per cent (18 asked for), to 1,284,200,000 pounds; pork 20 per cent (10 asked for), to 580,500,000 pounds; soybean acreage 15 per cent (12 asked for), to 76,000 acres.

Minerals.

Next to agriculture in value are the production and processing of mineral products, oil and natural gas being far in the lead. Oil fields have been developed from the northeastern corner to the Colorado border, with the oil capital at Wichita. The product amounted in 1940 to 66,270,000 bbl. Zinc, salt, and lead are the next chief minerals, followed by coal (from strip-mines), and chalk.

Education.

The Superintendent of Public Instruction reports as follows for the year ending June 30, 1940; inhabitants of school age (5 to 21), 487,546 (nearly a 3 per cent decrease from the previous year); school districts, 7,396 (a decrease of 2 per cent); enrollment, 365,970 (not quite 2 per cent decrease). Elementary pupils, numbered 254,017 (almost 4 per cent decrease); secondary pupils, 111,953 (more than 2 per cent increase). Officials and teachers were 18,944 (almost 3 per cent decrease); the latter included kindergarten, 188; elementary, 12,169; secondary, 6,587. Public-school expenditures were, for instruction. $19,615,302; for operation, $4,551,786 (a total decrease of less than 2 per cent); the balance on hand in school funds at the end of the school year was $6,954,044. The average salary of teachers was, in one-teacher schools for men $531, for women $525; in graded schools, men $785, women $735; in rural and 3d class city high schools, men $1,660, women $1,050. In 2d class cities, grade schools, men $1,058, women $1,010; high schools, men $1,562, women $1,186. In 1st class cities, grade schools, men $1,419, women $1,484; high schools, men $1,922, women $1,751.

Finance.

The Director of the Budget reports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940, as follows: general revenue receipts, $8,805,614; disbursements, $8,464,754; state trust accounts, receipts, $26,298,934; disbursements, $25,584,945; Federal custodial trust accounts, receipts, $339,133; disbursements, $359,886; departments, boards, commissions, and institutions, receipts, $43,949,114; disbursements, $39,104,168; grand total of receipts, $79,392,798; disbursements, $73,513,755; cash balance in state treasury, $35,622,670.

The current legislative session appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1942, for departments, boards, and commissions, $2,564,870; for educational institutions, $4,277,575; for welfare institutions and projects, $2,429,087; for penal institutions, $755,700.

Events of the Year.

Defense activities throughout the state have been numerous and important. The $10,000,000 factory for making twin-engine bombers near the Fairfax airfield in Kansas City was completed late in December, several months ahead of schedule, and was already turning out finished planes. The Kansas Ordnance Plant at Parsons, for shell-loading, covering 17,200 A. and costing from $25,000,000 to $40,000,000, was begun. The Jayhawk Ordnance Works near Galena, to cost $17,500,000, on a 2,800-acre site, will manufacture ammonium nitrate, and will be a permanent establishment making materials for soil rehabilitation. New construction at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Riley is extensive and important. On Dec. 29, the establishment of an Army bomber base was announced, to cover 1400 A. near Topeka, to cost $10,000,000, and to require 5,000 officers and men.

Wichita, already the oil capital of the state, has become one of the chief aviation centers of the whole inland region; its population is now over 200,000, an increase this year of almost 100 per cent. Four major aircraft plants, with a quarter of a billion dollars' worth of defense contracts, have 13,000 workers (increased 550 per cent this year) and 1,706,000 sq. ft. of floor space (increased 296 per cent). Expansion now in process will in the next few months increase the workers to 38,500, with a monthly payroll of $4,500,000 and the floor space to 70 acres. Many smaller plants, with flying schools, and a municipal airport with a thousand landings and take-offs daily, and other organized activities have developed. The region is reported to have more hours of flying weather than any other in the country except the Rio Grande valley and Southern California.

Abnormally heavy rainfall during the summer and early fall caused widespread and serious flood damage, chiefly to farmlands and crops.

The Coronado Cuarto-Centennial celebration throughout the state commemorated the first coming of white men to this territory. In 1541 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado journeyed from Mexico City to the Kingdom of Quivira, now a part of northeastern Kansas. All automobile license plates used the gold and scarlet of Coronado's Spanish flag; and pageants and fiestas were widely celebrated.

The chief political event was the right-about-face in August of the Republican state government from uncompromising opposition to the White House, to complete accord with the President's foreign policy.

Legislation.

Legislative actions of importance were numerous. A 15-year dispute over irrigation rights to the waters of the Republican River system was settled by the states concerned, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado. After ten barren years, the state educational institutions secured an annual levy for a permanent, systematic building program. A teacher-retirement plan, based on earnings and service, was adopted. A merit system, to take state employees out of politics, approved in principle in the 1940 state election, was adopted by the 1941 Legislature. The Kansas State Guard was set up to take the place of the absent National Guard; and a State Board of Investigation was authorized, in collaboration with the highway patrol, the Adjutant General, local peace officers, and the F.B.I., to deal with fifth-column activities.

A special old-age assistance fund of $1,020,000 was established, and all welfare allocations increased. Improvements were made in the unemployment compensation law, to reduce the payroll tax on employers by $1,500,000 a year, increase employee benefits $600,000 a year, and put to use stagnant surplus funds. The State W.P.A. Administrator announced that W.P.A. rolls in 1941 were down to 15,300 (from 54,000 in 1937), reduced by defense industries and private employment. The average age of W.P.A. employees has risen in the year from 40 to 51.

State Officers.

Governor, Payne Ratner; Lieutenant Governor, Carl E. Friend; Secretary of State, Frank J. Ryan; Auditor, George Robb; Treasurer, Walter E. Wilson; Attorney General, Jay S. Parker; Superintendent of Public Instruction, George L. McClenny.

United States Senators:

Arthur Capper; Clyde M. Reed.