The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-12
Observations on a Washburn
downward Car.
Voices the Spirit of the Whole City
Since New Commercial and
Building Awakening.
Bright Future For Topeka Assured
With Such Universal
Enthusiasm.
Eavesdroppcr Was Imbued With
The Boost Spirit.

Some uncanny, spook. influence or
disease germ has certainly fastened
its clutches into the minds and
hearts of Topeka people. for nothing
else can account for the wonderful
activity and general enthusiasm be-
ing displayed by them. Topeka is no
more the peaceful and sleeping viii
lage of lazy town boys and basking
dogs-squatty buildings and rafting
omnibuses. The old days are gone.
Topeka has shaken off the reputation
of being a semi-big town and has
come into her own as the biggest and
thriftiest real city in Kansas.
For ten years the city has been
rambling along with a half satisfac-
tory growth and had really outgrown
her proportions, until the true awak-
ening came-it was the awakening of
the people of Topeka, to the real
greatness and beauty of the big me-
tropolis of all Kansas. The movement
has swept like wave-it is still
sweeping-it has washed away all
the barnacles and will land Topeka in
the class she justly belongs.
The writer cannot account for, nor
offer excuse for the above. 1t was all
inspired by street car conversation
overheard as he was coming to the
daily grind this morning. Contrary
breakfast and running to catch the
car without his umbrella, he awoke
early, ate breakfast calmly and
boarded the car along with other
white folks before 8 o'clock. But,
returning to the conversation. Two
men of middle age and intelligent,
welI-to-do type sat directly behind.
One was rather tall, dark complexion
ed man with a stubby moustache
while the other was a slightly portIy
~ n eI1o yV-iv
killed. face. For two blocks or more
riding north on College avenue, the
observer had been idly listening to a
host of generalities about the wealth
er and other equally uninteresting
things, when, as the car rounded the
corner, the tall conversationalist,
glancing out of the window, remarked
upon the wonderful strides of pro-
gr~ssiveness Topeka was making in
the way of building activity and re-
juvenated business enthusiasm. NOW
just look at that he was saying,
here is a tract that has been lying
dormant until the city has slowly
built around it. Now I was reading
in the Journal the other evening that
this new place they call Elmhurst is
only eleven blocks west of the state
house. Funny thing, isn't it? They
say in their ad that more than half
the lots have been sold and 1 see that
several are already building.
We'll" said the stout gentleman.
Il can't see any reason in the world
why this shouldn't be one of the best
places in the city to live in within a
very few years and the quicker they
get it built up the better it will suit
me, for it means an advance in value
for my property on College avenue
when they do. To be frank with you
I think that those lots are a mighty
fine investment at the prices they are
asking. Why I wouldn't take double
the price for those two lots I hold
out on College.
things are booming in this town. To-
peka is growing and the new Com
mercial club is going to do a lot OF
good"
The car had passed the new addi-
ton and the conversation naturally
turned to other matters. The two
men noticed several new houses 60
ing up and talked of business matters
and the new contemplated improve
ments in the business district. They
commenced to count up on their fin
gers, the big new business buildings
and flats to be erected soon and
found that they had run out Of fin
gers long before they had the list
completed. The new Mills building
the Thompson building, a new Cope
land hotel and the Parkhurst-Davis
building were all thoroughly gone ov.
er and the Topeka spirit" they work.
ed up between them was boon tc
any doubter in Topeka'S liveness. The
car stopped at Sixth street and Kan.
sas avenue and the tall man got off
He shook hands with the f1eshy mar
and said: Brown! I'm going to joir
the Commercial club and the AID clul
and every other club that's in tn,
game to start things in Topeka" AND
Brown said to Jones: "So'm I, an(
I'm going to get some of those Elm
hurst lots too and make some none!
while am doing it,
The writer stepped off the car a
Fifth street and went about his dali,
tasks with new spirit in his sou
and new faith in his heart. Funn!
what can be done. when everybod!
gets to talking, isn't 1t?