The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-04
Radgss' New City Directory Be-
ing Circulated Today.
The Book Is Better Than Ever
Before.
OVER 10000 NAMES.
An Increase OF 5000 Over the
Former One.
Author Writes One of His
Characteristic Sketches.

The first copies of the new city d.
rectory came from the press on Tues
day evening and were delivered today
Distribution viii continue today as rap
idly as the volumes are finished.
Bound in light, brown cloth and
printed on an excellent grade of paper,
the book is a handsome one. Each page
is circumscribed with a neat red Dor
der, which adds a great deal to the at
tractiveness of the book. The type used
this year is smaller than that of the
last edition. This was made necessary
BY the increased number of names.
Crane & Co. are the publishers.
Between the two covers is world of
useful information concerning the city
of Topeka and Shawnee county. Cuts
OF the important buildings in the city
are some of the adornments. Among
these are the state house. the Auditor
1uEn, the Santa E'e Office building, the
postohice, the court house, the city hall,
Rock Island depot, etc. Each cut was
especially engraved from a photograph
taken especially for the directory.
There are 2O,622 names in the direc-
tory. This shows an increase of 1926
over the last directory, when there
were but 1886 names. Figuring upon
the basis that has been approved
most nearly correct by the Association
OF American Directory publishers, Col.
Radges gives TOpeka's population as
4S,ssS- There is an absence of well
cellent pictures of the principal build
ings in the city.
No effort has been spared to secure
accuracy. Col Sam Radges, the pub
Usher, and Oscar Swayze, his manager.
have worked like Trojans Mr. Radges
ascribes all the honor to Mr.. Swayze
and says, his is the credit
In the publishers Salute Col
Radges says:
What surer index of a city's growth
and development than its directories ?
What mint of epitomiZed history the
apparently dull and uninteresting lists
OF names contain? As the writer
looks at the volumes of Topeka direc-
tories on the bookcase sh elves, repre-
senting thirty-five years of gradual
advancement, he is to be pardOned if
he drops into reverie. The first direc-
tory compiled by him in 1S69-hardly
larger than the old-fashiOned blue
backed spelling books dfminutive,
indeed, when compared with the last
the pages of names are scanned what
has become of the people who once /
were the city's most energetic, LATEST, /
richest, poorest popular and uni
popular, citizens of the early days. I
Where are the men who were consid- I
cred among the towns best citizens 4
when Topeka was in its infancy Z
Each name recalls a bit of history, 4
and the whole gamut of emotions, /
from grave to gay, figures in these
recollections of individuals. Some of
the best and most substantial of To- /
peka's citizens of those days are still
counted as such in greater Topeka /
Some fought bravely the battles of life /
and won or lost as the wave of sue
cess caught them abreast or in its
trough and now are longingly looking
Topekaward and waiting for Provi- 4
dence to send them to the old town
which they regret having left. Others
have won fame and fortune and be-
come forced to seek broader fields for +
their talents. Still others are with US,
loyalty standing up for the town they \
helped to build. But enough of rev
cries. It is said that the past belongs
to God, and the present only is ours. \
This is certainly a fitting motto for a
directory, which, of all publications, /
must reflect the NOW. 1t must be /
up-to-date to be of value. and such
has been the aim of the publisher
If this is a perfect book it will be the I
first ever printed that could claim that \
distinction. That honor is not claimed, /
for the publisher. too well aware of the 4
liability of man to err. knows that err \
rors are bound to creep in. He rests /
his case with the people of Topeka. /
who must be judges of the work, and \
who must assume much of the RESPONSE /
biilty If there be errors in the book !
Its accuracy is measured by the interest /
the people OF the city themselves took /
in imparting the information necessary /
for its pages. The enrollers were eau I
toned to spell for nobody but to have /
eNe<y Douy IN IOpeka spell for them. If I
the owner of a name does not smell it 4
correctly. he or she can hardly assume /
that the enroller can always guess the |
correct way. If people do not know /
where they live, they can scarcely de- /
mand that the directory man should |
know when no numbers appear uDon
the houses. If the invitation extended /
through the press to all Topeka to do /
its share in making the directory com
plete was not needed. it is no fault of |
the publisher Suffice it to say that +
every precaution has been taken tomake
the book as nearly absolutely accurate !
as human ingenuity and expense could |
contribute to that end. With !