The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-28
MODEST Mr.. ROSS
The Mayor of Wichita TOots His
Horn.
Says Some Things That Are
Decidedly Funny.
THE MOST MORAL CITY
Knows Nothing About Gambling
Houses or Joints.
Isn't a Bit Afraid of Attorney
General Coleman.
THE MOST MORAL CITY

ours is the moral, Intellectual and
commercial center of Kansas; it is the
ne plus ultra Of the state"
No, it was not Topeka that the
speaker meant 1t was Ffndley Ross
talking. and he was directing his re-
marks at the town of which he is the
nlayor-Wfchita, in Sedgwick county.
near the southern border Of the state.
Wichita" remarked Mayor Ross,
us all one happy, harmonious family.
The town is the cleanest and most
moral city in the state We go in
strong for morality"
How about your Joints and gam
bling houses ~ was asked
Il don't hear anything about such
places, and 1 judge that conditions in
mat respect are worse here in Topeka
than in Wichita
e., Does Wichita get any revenue
Why, believe that the police de-
partment collects some money from
nnes- But don't pay much attention
70 that am watching Wichita grow
Ihere IS not block ir town where
you can not hear the din of hammers
and the click of trowels VVichit7ss
building permits last year we're over
$1,000, zoe, and this year the million
mark has already been passed. There
IS more building there than at any
time since the boom
wichita is the commercial center
OF Kansas and I don't except Kansas
City We have three jobbing houses
in Wichita for every one vou have IS
Topeka. Everything is business. we
are Just having erected the biggest
department store in the west: a build
ing 130 feet deep, 225 feet front and
seven stories tail, all for department.
store purposes.
We are also building a canal three
miles long to take off storm wafer.
We already have the biggest sewer ia
the state, built at an expense Of $500. =
coo and all paid fer. But IL isn't big
enough to handle the storm water
from our great and growing com
mun1ty. The storm water viii all be
turned into this canal. It is expected
mat this canal. besides taking away
the storm water. Viii make a navi-
! gable channel from Wichita to the
gulf. through the Arkansas river. one
| big steel boat is already under con
struetion to ply on the canal"
w hat is it, Il dredge ?" was asked
Yes. its 4 dredge. bur you shouIdn' Z
ask so many questions
How about that race war you have
on down there, concerning coIored
schools - was asked.
why. I haven't heard ANYTHING
about it, replied Mayor Ross biandly.
Has there been some trouble of that
kind -
Are the telephone linemen and the
strikers having any more clashes -
Why. they haven't had any trouble.
have they2 Some irresponsible news
paper man must have been sending
space stories out of Wichita We never
have any trouble down there
What do You think of Hoch-s
chances in the coming election. 50 far
as sedgwick county and Wichita are
concerned" ?"
q don't know" replied Mr.. Ross
Y on see, I am not in politics I
keep out. I am a business mayor. not
politician. However, it is my opfn-
ion that the Republican ticket is In
good shape with us
Have you heard any rumors about
custer proceedings heing started
against you by Attorney General
Coleman on the ground that you fzvs
failed to enforce the prohibitory
law2''
He can't begin any too soon to suit
me. replied Mayor Ross
Mayor Ross came TO Topeka to at
tend to the registration of $S2 600
worth of new bonds, which are to pay
for the new canal. and for paving. He
also arranged to deposit SIS. 900 worth
of the new bonds with the state treas
urer to take the place of $4,000 other
city bonds placed there by the Fourth
National bank of Wichita as its Sc
curity under the state depository Law.