Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-04-07
A PEEK AT TOPEKA.
fits Name and Location; Its Tendencies
and Beliefs.
+ Salt Lake Tribul

[Salt Lake Tribune.l
Topeka is the capital of Kansas, and
by the people of Wichita it is consid-
cred a capital offense to live there. To-
| peka is an Indian word signifying small
| potatoes, but you can't find Topekan
who will admit it unless he is away
| from home. Topeka is situated fifty
seven miles due west of Kansas City
and is built on both sides of the Kansas
river. Her people are usually to be
found on both sides of all the impor-
tant questions of the hour, as WELL
which is natural under the circum-
stances. Before the United States ac-
lauired Porto Rico and the Philippine
islands Topeka was within two and
one-half miles of the exact geographi-
cal center of the country's possessions.
Now, however, the center has shifted
away to the southwest, but there is a
movement on foot to erect monument
| upon the spot where it used to be.
The residents of Topeka are noted
for their liberality, and there is no city
| in the country, population considered
where as many people have been
taken in. =
| More trains run thru Topeka per day
| than any other town in the state, and
some of them stop there occasionally.
Topeka is built on three ridges which
Slope toward the river, but the people,
as soon as they are able. usually slope
4 toward Kansas City.
4 Topeka is at the present time the
home of Carrie Nation, the misguided
4 female who started in at one time to
| redeem the state with Ratchet. She
soon discovered, however, that her
/ stunt was a frost, as George Washing
ton had chopped off all the glory that
could possibly be achieved in the
ihatchet business. Then, too, so many
people had their hammers out for Car
| RE that her mission was seriously in
terfered with. Still, she caused good
1 many saloons or Joints" to go broke.
for a time Carrie was feared to such an
extent that even the ale in a Joint
would be found pale after one of her
visits. The beer would also froth and
the whisky scotch.
Saloons in Topeka are called Joints,
which is most appropriate. A joint is
defined by the dictionary as the place
or part where two separate things are
joined and this is true of the Topeka
Joints" There is perhaps no place on
earth where a man can be Joined to Il
Jag" more expeditiously and lastingly
than in a Topeka Joint" 1t is said by
the defamers of Topeka that after a
man has taken few drinks of the stuff
which is sold there nothing but
knockout drops will restore him to his
normal condition.
Topeka was laid out in 1854, and re-
manned in a comatose condition until
1861, when 1t was made the capital of
the state. Since then 1T has frequently
exhibited signs of life. There is no
question but that Topeka has a great
4 future before 1t, and people can still be
i found there who profess to believe that
the town will eventually catch up.
Topeka has an insane asylum, a gov
eminent building and other imposing
structures An attempt was also made
to get the penitentiary, but Lansing, a
|Leavenworth suburb, saw 1T first. The
people are not resentful. however, and
1.-THE fact that the penitentiary did not
go to Topeka has not prevented a few
people from going to the penitentiary
The children of Topeka are taught to
believe that Kansas is the greatest
state in the union, Topeka the greatest
city in the United States, and that bad
4 people go to Wichita when they die.