The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-10-18
spanned by noble iron bridge which cost 800.

0OO Along It's northern bank lies grove
which, if it possessed turf as green and trees
rs stately, would be almost the exact image OF
IToess Grove. From the bridge you pass d
rectly INTO the imposing chief avenue OF the
capital which, like the river, bears the name
Of the state and So impressed Col. Forney by
its grand proportions that he deemed il worthy
of "A place in his memory beside the magniii
cent Broad street of the Quaker City, Phila-
delphia. Noticeable, and proving that Tope'
ka does not believe in dull monotony is the
rregulariy in height of the buildings which
line this street. The majority stand up tall and
straight, looking down with the lordly air OF
two, three and even four stories but there are
numerous exceptions where republican sim
pllcity hides republican worth under only one,
Two stately banks at least three hotels Of com.
Portable proportions, q tasteful court house, an
opera house, the post office, and many stores
in lines of business almost as varied rs their
names prove Significantly that the tide Of bust
ness life Is far from stagnant in the capital,
but that, on the contrary, they flow with free
and vigorous circulation In proof of this,
during the hour which the writer spent IN the
Office of leading real estate agent of Topeka
she CLEANED the following facts Topeka now
claims population of 10000; year ago last
March her population was but 1900. Thus
the increase of the city has been 331S per cent.
in inhabitants during the past year, and bust.
ness has increased propornonately. Every
day, this gentleman stated, new families were
coming INTO the city to stay. The increase OF
student children during the year had been SOC.
army of youthful citizens in embryo, had built
seven school buildings, three of brick, three
of stone and one Of wood, and it WAS possible
that il would soon need more. These build.
ngs did not include the two large colleges on
the outside of the city.
Property was high in Topeka for the reason
that none of its residents had any lots to give
away, and there were few buildings to rent
AS if to give point to this statement, just at
this lull In our conversation couple of gentle.
men stepped IN, desiring to know whether Nh.
R had any dwelling houses to rent, and il
80 what we're his terms. Mr.. R reflected
moment, then slowly answered that he had
no houses to rent at present, buSwas building
one which would be completed on the first Of
the next month"; giving location, and adding
that it would be finished in good style, would
contain five rooms, had well and cistern, and
would rent for $40 per month. The gentle
man, without moments hesitation, replied
that he considered the terms very reasonable;
that he would Immediately look at it, and
would probably take it. We thought of town
not thousand miles away where the gentle
man could have found a large and roomy
home, with spacious grounds, on the simple
condition that he should care for it, but We
did not tell him so.
Just across the street from Mr. Rs office
stands large plat of ground strewn with great
blocks Of stone, on which the sound of ham
mer and chlsel Is constantly heard Here In
the future will stand grand building known
as the Postofllce and L. s Revenue building.
The cost when completed, will reach nearly
100000. Like the capitol, It's principal ma
teral will be Kansas granite
Very unfortunately tor poor Topeka, the In
crease of her saloons has by no means cores
pended to her growth IN other directions She
has only twenty, large and small, and is cruel
enough to lay tax of from $40O to $500 a
year on what she has The air of Kansas IS
extremely unhealthy for persons engaged in
this particular industry. In the whole vast
state, sufficient in its area to make two or
three respectable nations over in Europe, there
is but one distilery. This one, which came
from Toledo, Ohio, to Topeka three months
ago, and spent from $4,000 to $4,000 in get.
ting into running order, now has the doleful
prospect of soon removing to more congenial
state, if, as is more than probable the stringent
temperance amendment to the constitution
passes.
We asked whether taxation did not burden
the people, and received the answer that the
citizens of Topeka paid about $50 to $50 per
cent.
Coming back to the city again, however
From the broad central avenue all other streets
cross or branch. 1t is the heart, they are the
arteries; and that both heart aud arteries are
IN good condition is evidenced by the fact that
both avenue and streets are always thronged
with vehicles. The streets running north and
south, beginning at the east, bear the names
OF the presidents of the United States
The city lies IN slight valley slopng gen.
tly from its highest elevation, crowned by the
capitol to the river All around it sweep the
beautiful, billowy prairie hills, alternating
everywhere with little valleys. This feature