The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-08
They Want LAND
Commercial Club Proposes to
Acquire a Tract.
Will Offer 1t as inducements to
Manufacturers.
OTHER CITIES Do THIS.
Something Must Be Done to
Compete.
Will Give or Lease Land to the
Enterprises.
OTHER CITIES DO THIS.

In order to compete with other
cities, in an effort to induce new COM
mercial and manufacturing concerns
to locate in Topeka, the Commercial
club viii offer a subsidy, in the shape
of land upon which to operate.
Secretary Anderson has in view
large tract of land in the neighbour
hood of the Santa Fe shops for this
purpose He set about this morning
to acquaint himself with the condi-
lions upon which the Commercial
club can either lease or buy the prop
erty. If favorable terms are offered,
it is possible that the latter action
may be taken.
The plan under consideration is to
assist new companies when they come
TO Topeka, by practically loaning them
a piece of land upon which they can
build and operate Should they choose
to buy the place. that opportunity viii
always be open to them. and all the
Commercial club Will ask is that the
same price is received as was paid out
in the first instance. Should the com
pany decide TO withdraw from the city
at any time, the land will then simply
revert TO the Commercial club
we will have to do something like
that" said Major Anderson this morn
ing. 1T is absolutely necessary. Take
for instance, the competition which
we have against us, in the way of
the cheap fuel offered to new con-
Germs in the gas belt. Why that is a
tremendous factor And then in other
places. not in Kansas alone, where
they do not have d natural advantage
TO offer. they hand out to new con
Germs a good inducement in the shape
Of solid financial aid. That is what we
viii have to do here in Topeka to get
more misunderstanding and commercial
concerns.
over in the east they offer all kinds of
cid. The help out with cash with 10
cations. with guara ntees to stand by the
company for certain number of years
These are all honorable. legitimate
methods. and it is time that Topeka is
waking UP to the fact that we ought TO
do more.
To that end am writing this morn
ing TO a man here IN the city who owns
a big lot Of land near the Santa Fe
shops suggest that we lease the
property for a certain term OF years or
perhaps buy it. if a suitable figure can
be obtained. In this way we car sup
ply new concerns with q location. ''
Major Anderson's ideas viii probably
bear fruit On frequent different occa-
EiOns, the location committee of the
Commercial club has had 70 wrestle
with the problem Of giving new con
Germs good place upon which to estab-
lfsh their mandatory or place OF bust
ness An instance OF that kind is nm
right now. Ross Brothers & Wilson.
makers Of an automatic hay press. who
have been in Emporia for a number of
years wish to remove TO a larger field
and have signihed their intention to
come to Topeka. They were here sew
eral days ago and the committee looked
over the city with them. It is easy
enough to ind places. but the figures at
which they must be bought are fire.
ouently big enough 10 balk new con
Germs. That does not say that the prop
erty prices are unusually high IN To-