The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-12
President Mills Of Commercial
Club Reviews TrIumphs.
Signalizes Another Stride For
ward for Topeka.
MUCH HAS BEEN DONE.
Commercial Interests Work Side
by Side for the City.
Good Words for Taylor Grain
Co. and Other Enterprises.

w. w. Mills, the retiring president
of the organization, read the annual
address to the Commercial club at its
meeting on Wednesday night. He
took up in detail the progress of the
year and pointed out many things
to which attention should be given.
The address follows in full:
''It has been well said that. sta
tistics. though an excellent and useful
science, is not all-suficient.' APP
piled to certain questions. it becomes
absurd.
ITO find what art is, we must go
to the works of the masters. and yet
the masters themselves, if we might
question them, would reply. What is
art? Not we and our works, it is
what we dreamed rather than what
achievements fall far short of our as
pirations; they are only the reflections
of the unattainable ideal.
The most beautiful songs have
never been written: the most beau
tiful pictures never painted. Let US
apply these reflections as we attempt
to do what has always been the presi-
dents duty at each annual meeting,
viz, tell what we think has been ac-
compltshed by the club during the
year past and make some recommen-
dations for the future consideration of
this club.
The Commercial club is an associa-
ton OF Topeka business men, property
owners and others, who are interested
in the material prosperity and devel-
opment (alOng all lines) of the capital
city of the state, and ali citizens are
welcome to membership who are will
ing to contribute their time and
money for the public good. This club
will continue in the future as in the
past to be an important factor in the
growth and commercial advancement
of our city, If it does not lend itself
to the promotion of individual inter-
ests but at all times places the en-
phaStS OF its influence on those things
which make for the greatest good to
the greatest number.
The Business of 1904.
eve can safely say that practically
without an exception, all lines of
business in Topeka prospered during
the year, and that our wholesale and
retail establishments are prepared for
a largely increased volume of bust
ness during 1905. The output of our
manufacturing plants is undoubtedly
sense of comparisons can not state
just how much. You all may not
know that in one year the products
of our hour mills amounted to
nearly 100000; our creamery COM
panies, 100000; the Santa Fe
shops, 100000; Chas. Wolff Pack
ing company, $2,o00,0OO; ice and cold
storage companies, $750,O00; planning
mills $3.50, 900; foundries and ma
chine shops. s25O,oOO; brick COM
panies, 100000.
more than 5000 cars of grain
were inspected during the year. The
does not include the cars handled by
the Home Grain company, which are
not inspected here. 1t is safe to say
that 5000 cars of grain were handled
during the year. Topeka has a total
storage capacity of about 100000
bushels.
1.-THE commission men of the city
handled in and out 3,103 cars of pro-
duce during the year.
"Our Touring mills have been un-
able to export their produce profitably
by reason of the higher price of wheat
yet they have found a fairly good do
nestle market.
1.-THE sharp advance in the price of
wool after orders had been taken on
the manufactured goods reduced the
net profits of our two wooden mills.
this handicap, they
have done reasonably well.
1.-THE tobbing trade is largely in ex-
cess of last year, in spite of the loss
of business incident to the fire that
destroyed the buildings and stock of
the Parkhurst-Davis Mercantile COM
pany and the National Harvester COM