The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-05


monwealth (now extincD of January 1,
1884:
Year after year since 1869 the Com
monWealth has on the present anniver-
sary wished its patrons and friends
very Happy New Year." and in doing
SO this morning it takes occasion to ask
that you look back with us over the
tWelvemonth past
Surely a more prosperous period in the
history of this or any other town will
rarely be found. 1t is not our purpose
to present general review, which no
one would read. but simply to take
parting glance of the year just ended.
That prosperity every hand
abounds will be admitted, without a
thought, by all. That business is on
steady and rapid increase is shown on
every hand. The increased stocks car
rico, the new store buildings completed
and those in course of erection all help
TO mark an epoch in the history of To-
peka of which her citizens may well be
proud.
Not only are we rapidly increasing in
inha bltants and taxable valuation, but
material increase is shown in our manu-
featuring and industrial interests. 1t
mas always been admitted that our
great need was manufactures. In this
line our chief increase has been in the
Touring or milling business
On the 10th of November the Crosby
roller Milling company turned on steam
ana are now operating as fine a mill as
there is in the United States. This has
been projected, built and put in opera
ton within the year. The main build
ing Is stone structure 5Sx58 feet, and is
flVe stories and a basement in height.
The capacity is $50 barrels of flour per
cay Connected with this is an eIeva-
for 5Sx45 feet, same height as the mill,
with a storage capacity of 100000 bush
els. The company is provided with
-four store house of brick, also connect
co, which is 58x58 feet The motive
power is supplied by a 200 horse power
Corliss engine. Throughout, the mill is
| provided with all the most modern and
improved machinery known in this
country or Europe, and would be
credit to any city in the land. The cost
is estimated to have been $125, 600
sIhls IS but one of four like institu-
lions, all of which are about on a par
as to capacity and rank. All use the
roller system of machinery which has
| been provided within from one to two
years During the past year the Inter-
| Ocean mills have added SIS, 900 worth of
improvements and the Shawnee mills
| Sz30 GOO, the latter not including the loss
by their boiler disaster. The Topeka
Mill and Elevator company completed
their works in 1882, and save a few
minor buildings have had no occasion
for an outlay.
The four mills have capacity of L.
200 barrels of flour per day and a stor-
age capacity of $4,000 bushels. The
business Of the three mills which have
been in operation foots up for the
| Twelve months considerably more than
$1,0o0, 000- This may seem remarkable
but the books will verify the state
| ment. The Inter-Ocean purchased
$4,000 bushels of wheat. paying on an
| average "a cents per bushel.
In addition to its Touring business,
the Topeka Mill and Elevator company
| operates hnseed oil mill. This does
a business of $4,000 to 100000 annual
| ly. and is one of three in the state.
we have mentioned the milling in
| oustry simply because of it's magni-
tude, but are not confined alone to this
| by any means.
| That real estate is moving rapidly
may be plainly demonstrated by the
books in the register of deeds office
| There have been filed for record 2,120
! deeds of all classes True these We're
not all for city property, but large
majority of them were. The number
| OF mortgages have fallen off consider
| ably, and most of them given We're for
| purchase money! and not to satisfy
old debts. as formerly was the rule.
| The fire marshal issued 6S4 building
| permits, covering valuation of 1888, OBJ
! OF improvements. The loss from fire
has been very small indeed, while the
| fire department has made So runs for
| serv1ce-a larger number than in any
former year. This is a very favorable
showing for our system of waterworks
and the efficiency of the fire service
| The building investment of the Santa
Fe is greatly in excess of any like per-
iod and is shown on every hand. The
| new general office building at the cor
ner of Ninth and Jackson streets, is
| well underway, and a large amount of
improvements in the yards have been
| completed. The chief of these is round
| house, accommodating SO locomotives,
and very large paint and a car shop.
|