1938: Kansas

Area and Population.

Kansas, the 'Sunflower' or 'Jayhawk' state, occupies the geographical center of the Union: between Missouri and Colorado, and Nebraska and Oklahoma. Admitted to statehood Jan. 29, 1861, Kansas ranks 13th in size among the states, with an area of 82,158 sq. mi. In population it ranks 24th, numbering 1,880,999 according to the Census of 1930; 1,864,000 on July 1, 1937, according to the latest Federal estimate. Of the total, 93.5 per cent are whites, 3-5 per cent are Negroes. Among the foreign-born groups, Germans predominate. Like Nebraska, the eastern half of the state is much more thickly populated than the western. The original territory was settled largely by pioneer immigrants from New England; hence, though the state is no farther north than its eastern neighbor, Missouri, its people are traditionally Republican.

The state capital is Topeka, 75,000; the other chief cities are Kansas City, 125,000; Wichita, 103,000 and Hutchinson, 33,000. (Populations as estimated in 1938.)

Agriculture.

This 'great plains' state is predominantly agricultural. Eighty-four per cent of its area is farm land, two-thirds of this being crop land. In crop values Kansas ranks fifth in the Union. Nearly two-thirds of its people, 61.2 per cent, live on farms. Wheat is the chief product, mostly hard or winter wheat of which it produces twice the output of any other state. Indian corn ranks second, oats third. The drier western part, more largely pasturage, specializes in dairy products. The second industry of the state is meat-packing; Kansas produces a tenth of the national output of meat products.

Mineral Products.

The leading place among the mineral products of Kansas in 1937, was again occupied by petroleum. Because of the discovery of many additional oil fields, chiefly in the Forest City basin in the northeast adjoining Missouri (which see), production for the year reached a record high, 70,761,000 bbl., compared with 58,317,000 bbl., valued at $65,900,000 in 1936. Next in value was natural gas, with an increased production above the flow of 69,178,000 M cu. ft. in 1936. Zinc ore, in which Kansas ranks third in the Union, totaled 80,300 tons, a slight increase over 1936, but with a greatly increased value, $10,439,000 compared with $7,901,700 the previous year. Production of salt for the year, 654,089 tons, was slightly below that for 1936.

Education.

The public school income as of June 30, 1937, was $35,836,000; the expenses, $28,441,000. Of the 520,400 inhabitants of school age — between 5 years and 21 — there were enrolled 395,481 in the following public schools; primary, 287,222; secondary, 108,259. There was an additional enrollment of 10,593 in kindergartens; and of 18,396 in private and parochial schools. Teachers in the kindergartens numbered 172; in primary grades, 11,788; and in secondary grades, 5,281. Salaries ranged from an average of $580 to $1,218 for men; and from $674 to $1,128 for women. Teachers in private and parochial schools numbered 770.

The 1937 appropriation for vocational education was $70,000. The 1939 budget calls for $159,000. The enrollment in such courses in 1936 was 12,572.

Finance.

The general reserve fund of the state for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1939, is estimated at $9,192,426; and the requirements for the year are budgeted at $8,442,426.

Banking.

The 503 banks of the state, as of Sept. 17, 1938, listed loans and discounts of $78,842,343, an increase of $4,278,045 during the preceding twelve months; capital, $15,189,000, a decrease of $208,330; and deposits, $156,439,858, a decrease of $13,631,521.

Events of the Year.

General conditions in the state showed little improvement over 1937. Agriculture improved somewhat, due to better rainfall and the decline of the disastrous dust storms in the west and southwest. Banking and manufacture showed little change. Relief needs and unemployment both grew worse.

The major event of the year was the November election, which returned Republicans to the positions of governor, lieutenant governor, and superintendent of public instruction; to one of the U.S. Senatorships, and to one of the two U. S. Congressional seats that had been occupied by Democrats. Most of the local elective offices throughout the state were correspondingly changed in the election.

Former Governor Alfred M. Landon was appointed by President Roosevelt to membership on the United States delegation to the Pan-American Conference at Lima, Peru. Chancellor E. H. Lindley of the University of Kansas at Lawrence recently resigned, effective June, 1939, after nineteen years of service as the head of the university.

The biennial legislature was not in session during 1938.

Social Welfare.

Payments for unemployment insurance in Kansas, beginning January 1, 1939, will be made from funds collected in 1937 and 1938 amounting to between ten and eleven million dollars; of this sum, about six millions were paid by employers in the form of contributions during 1938.

The State Social Welfare Board reports as of Dec. 31, 1938, a total of all obligations and expenditures for 1938 amounting to $14,790,191. Of this, 82.59 per cent was spent for assistance grants and payments, including commodities, made directly to clients; for old-age assistance; for blind persons, dependent children, and veterans; and for work projects; 7.09 per cent was used for special activities required by the state law for the state and county boards of welfare. Administration costs were 10.32 per cent, including 5.99 per cent for county administration, 2.58 per cent for state agents' compensation; and 1.75 per cent for State Office administration.

The WPA reports Federal funds expended in Kansas during the calendar year 1938 as totalling $20,722,855. The projects include public buildings, highways, airports, recreation facilities, water supply, flood and erosion control, electric and communication utilities, ground improvements, conservation activities, library work, sewing, canning, school lunches, medical, dental, and nursing assistance, adult education, art, music, and recreation centers.

State Officers.

As the result of the 1938 election, the chief officers of Kansas are: Governor, Payne H. 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, Geo. L. McClenny.

Judiciary:

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, John S. Dawson; Associate Justices: W. W. Harvey, Wm. E. Hutchinson, Wm. A. Smith, Walter G. Thiele, Hugo T. Wedell, and Harry K. Allen. Judge of the Kansas District Court of the United States, Richard J. Hopkins.

United States Senators:

Arthur Capper, and Clyde M. Reed.