The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-11
SEESLIGHT AHEAD
W. e. Sterne Discusses the
Future Of Topeka.
Twenty-Five Thousand Added
Population In Three Years.
WHEN 1T WILL COME.
Largely Due to the Santa Fe
Shop Extension.
Only Small Portion of Work
Planned Yet Realized.
WHEN 1T WILL COME.

sTopeka's population viii be increas-
ed by twenty or twenty-five thousand
persons within the next three years,
possibly four" said William E. Sterne,
one OF the county commissioners. dur
ing talk today about the prosperous
times that are ahead for the capital
city. And this increase he went on,
will be brought about primarily by
the enlargement Of the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe shops here, accord
ing to the plans which have been made
by the company's engineers and ap-
proved by the executive officials Of the
road. AS everyone knows. the present
enlargement Of the shops and the erec-
ton Of new ones, are but a beginning
of the accomplishment Of the plans of
the company to make Topeka the shop
and manufacturing center for the en-
tire system, and 1 am reliably inform
ed that the other units OF these large
plans will be completed within three
years time. There is to be no dflly-
dallying by the company in the work Of
the shop enlargement Complete plans
for it have been developed and decided
on. So much is to be done this year;
mora next year and more the following
year.
when all of the present shops have
been enlarged and the proposed new
ones built at the end of three years,
the company win employ between four
and five thousand more men in the new
and enlarged shops than are now en-
p1Oyed in the present shops Figuring
IN the usual way, the employment OF
5000 more men here by the, Santa Fe
at the end of the next three years will
mean an increase in the population of
between twenty and twenty-five thou
sand persons. OF course this increase
will come gradually during the next
e7N,0
are completed from time to time. they
viii be put in immediate operation. and
the men needed to man them will be
brought mere.
"And mark my words, when the pop
u1ation of the city is thus increased
within three years to between sixty and
seventy thousand persons, then watch
Topeka grow. A city of that size. as
ideally located as Topeka, will grow of
itself. Merchants and manufacturing
plants VIII be attracted to take care
Of the business which VIII naturally
develop, and although Topeka is pretty
well supplied with railroads, 1t Is likely
that others will be attracted here to
share in the citys trade. It would not
surprise me in the least, when Topeka
attains this size, as I am certain that
she viii within the next few years that
it will not be long before the Chicago.
Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago
& Great Western, which now run as
near US as LeavenWorth, will be knock
ing al our uOOIS IOI terminals. Topeka
win be too big for them to pass by
when they are so close at hand.
During these next few years VIII en-
/ Topeka is bound to grow so fast be-
cause of the Santa Fe shop improve
ments every line Of business in the
city will be stimulated, none more per
haps than the real estate and building
business, and particularly in the terri
tory around the new shops. Land
value has enchanced there greatly in
1oe Pov
Santa Fe has expended about $167, 900
for land for the new shops, they have
not yet secured all they need, and will
spend 100000 more for the necessary
land. As I said, property values have
greatly increased in that territory.
Lots that sold there for $50 and $40 a
couple of years ago, now bring $500
and $225. Homes will have to be
provided all over that section of the
city for the new shopmen and their
families and there will be a great boom
In the building business.
tsBut the Santa Fe Improvements.
| large as they will be and of such i'm
portance to the city, are not the only
ones contemplated. which will benefit
the city and add to its growth.
THAT Topeka & Northwestern
branch of the Union Pacific viii mean
much for this city when it is completed
/ to Marysville and is used as part OF
! the main line Of the company from
Kansas City to the northwest. North
i Topeka viii be especially benefited,
and that in the near future by the
spending Of 100000 or so by the
Union Pacific for the erection of a
| large roundh ouse and some small re-
pair shops between the boundaries of
North Topeka and Menoken. The
/ Union Pacific. I am informed. has pur-
/ chased considerable land in that local
/ ity recently and viii begin work in
erecting a roundhouse and repair
t shops there before long.
"All in all Topeka is most fortunate
+ in its prospects for growing to a city of
t considerable size before many years
have passed. Considerable fun has
+ been made of Topeka by her neighbors
+ because of our battle cry of $4,000
i population by 1911 but when that
year rolls around there will be that
i many or about that many people here,
and the city will continue to have a
4 healthy growth.