The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-13
Topeka and POtWin Place Will
Be Consolidated Tonight.
Greater Topeka the WatchWord
of the City Council.
NO OPPOSITION.
Population Will Be Increased
at Least 900.
Now Let "The Strip" Be Made
a Part of the City.

The committee on ways and means OF
the Topeka city council has decided to
recommend the annexation of the city
of POtwin Place and unless something
unforeseen should occur the consolida-
ton of the two cities will be consum-
mated this evening at a joint session of
the councils of the two cities.
The objection on the part of the eoun-
ell of the city of Topeka was made be-
cause of the unoccupied territory in
cluded in the boundaries. but it has
been agreed that this territory shall be
vacated as soon as possible. The people
who own the unOccupied portions of
Potwin Place are more interested in the
proposed vacation than any one else
for they would be compelled to pay
city taxes in the event of annexation,
while the city would pay nothing for
keeping up the streets or for lighting
them.
The people of Potwin will be asked
to wait for the electric street lights un-
til the next levy is made because the
general revenue fund will be low when
the necessary expenses are paid 1t
will cost the city several thousand dol
lars to provide for lights for the Pot
win streets because another circuit
must be added and this will require q
new dynamo. These improvements Will
d
win will be as we'll lighted as any Sec
ton of the city.
The annexation of Potwin will add
about 150O to the population of Topeka.
1t is in reality a part of the city of To-
peka and there never has been any
justification for the organization and
maintenance of a separate municipality.
Two or three times plans have been
made to unite the two cities but politics
or something else prevented it's realiza-
ton. The people of Potwin are almost
a unit in favor of annexation and they
ought to receive a hearty welcome.
Mayor Drew said today: For a year
or two it will probably cost more to
keep up Potwin than Will be received in
taxes but after that time it viii be self
people are willing to wait until after
the next levy for their lights and that
will make the burden less. 1t may run
the general revenue fund short for a
year or two but that is ALL
The movement to include THE Strip"
in the city limits has not yet borne fruit
but it is believed that the annexation
of this Valua BILE territory will be accom-
plished within a short time. Many of
the people who live in the district OBJ
ject to being included in the city of To-
peka for fear that it will increase their
taxes but the cost of sending one child
to the high school from that section
now is more than the increase in the
taxes of any taxpayer would be under
the new order of things. The Strip" is
covered with houses and the people en-
joy all the privileges of life in the city
without paying their share of the taxes.
1t is only necessary for the city coun-
ell of Topeka to pass an ordinance ex-
tending the city boundaries to include
this section and some of the taxpayers
are insisting that this be done. If this
be done it will give the city of Topeka
proper about 700 more inhabitants.