Agricultural Reports Tell Larger Story
The Johnson County Museum’s shelves hold several volumes of the Reports of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture. Actually, the title pages run a bit longer than that: the 1875 volume is entitled
“Fourth Annual Report of the State Board of Agriculture to the Legislature of the State of Kansas, for the year ending November 30, 1875, including a Complete Census of the State, as required by Sec. 26, Art. 2, of the Constitution and Laws pursuant thereto, Illustrated, Embracing Statistical Exhibits, with Diagrams, in Colors, of the Agricultural, Industrial, Mercantile, and Other Interests of the State, Together with a Colored Outline Map of the State, Showing Congressional and Land Districts, and Sectional Maps, in Colors, of Each Organized County, Showing Their Relative Size and Location, Railroads, Railroad and Public Lands, Towns, School Houses, Water Powers, Etc., Etc.”
Begun in 1872, the annual reports originally consisted of a straightforward report of the Board’s transactions, essays and addresses of the Board, and “an attempt at a showing of industrial statistics in support of pet theories held by their authors.” In 1874, the Board decided to present an expanded report, believing that the first publications had not met the needs of the state. As the residents of Kansas were spread over a large area, the Board saw the need for an “Industrial and Statistical Bureau” which would gain a “mastery of the entire domain of facts in which the citizens of the State hold a common interest,” and aide Kansans in a united effort to further the progress of the state. The Board tried to present what might be called a more “user-friendly” format. The experimental report, initially met with little enthusiasm, became a big hit, sought after by Boards of Trade, state and municipal officers, and potential investors and settlers.
The 1875 report’s section on Johnson County gives us an idea of not just what was happening in this area at the time, but also what was important to the county’s inhabitants. Out of a population of 14,580 the vast majority were born in the United States, but significant numbers had immigrated from Germany, Ireland, England and Wales. 72% were employed in Agriculture.
Agricultural statistics included: pounds of cheese manufactured, numbers of farm animals and dogs (also, number of sheep killed by dogs), number of stands of bees, and total rods of fence.
Mills, banks, newspapers, schools, churches, and libraries were also listed. Interestingly, there were already five public libraries in the county, and 87 private ones.
Under the sober covers of these reports can be found surprises and fascinating facts about the people who came before us.
--ALBUM vol.11, no. 1 (winter 1998)