The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-04
GOOD FOR TOPEKA
StopOver Privileges Are Proving
of Benefit.
Why E. L. Graves of Texas
Came Hero to Live.
WHAT HE WANTED.
Induced to Make Visit by the
"StOpover."
Real Estate Market Is Showing
Signs of improvement.

A new phase has been presented
in the race of Topeka for her SUI
premacy. The advantages of the stop
over privileges granted by the rail-
roads through the efforts of the Com
mercial club. and which became eff
fective August 1. are now being felt.
Home seekers and investors from To-
wa, Illinois. Nebraska and other
states have been arriving in the CAPT
tai city and as Topeka Kan-Topeka
willard incidentally does-show Wis
1tors good city, some excellent i'm
pressions have been made upon the
minds of the investigators. These i'm
pressions, moreover. have been suf-
fciently profound to be productive of
substantial results
This is one of the items in connec-
ton with the general situation this
weekend which should cause the pes
s1mists in Topeka to sit UP and take
notice. But this is not all. The pre-
diction made in this column two
weeks ago to the effect that a "brisk
dull season" was about to be replaced
by decidedly active fall period from
the real estate dispensers and build
er's point of view. is about to be
realized. With the ushering in of the
first autumn month a stronger pulsa-
ton began to be felt and inquiries
for property came in perceptibly
large numbers. There has been no
radical change from last week. but
still there is slightly heightened
air of activity that there is no getting
around, and a highly optimistic view
point of the prospects for a brisk
trade in the near future is almost in
variably taken. Although it has been
common talk on the streets that the
intense activity in a building way will
subside as the fall season advances
and it may to certain extent-per-
mits for the past week have been ex-
ceedingly satisfactory. They have
been substantial, If by no means start
ling, representing prospective dwell
ings to cost for the most part some
where around the $4,000 mark.
During the week a noticeably large
number of home seekers and inves-
tors in property have been in the city
hailing especially from Northern and
Western Kansas. Iowa, Illinois. Ne
braSka and Texas. There has been a
demand for modern houses which
the dealers have not been able
to fully supply A number of calls
purchase homes. for houses of a type
ranging from $4,000 to $4,000 in
value. Inquiries in regard to the pur-
chase of city lots by those who in
tend to build homes next spring have
been recorded. The new motor car
running from EmDoria to Topeka
has continued to bring capacity
crowds into Topeka from the rural
The East Side improvement associ-
alton has been perfecting it's plans in
regard to the proposed Shunganunga
drainage district. Along Kansas avenue
the building activities have continued
undated. The prospects for the
greatest fair and exposition Kansas
has ever known are becoming more
rosy all the time as progress is made
in connection with the arrangements
for the state wide fair. These are but
a few of the signs of the times which
should make Topeka boosters boost
with renewed vigor, for what is there
that would be more productive or re
suits than one continuous concerted
rip-roaring optimistic shout-"To-
peka Kan-Topeka Will"
They Stop in Topeka.
The following incident is illustra-
tive of the value of the stop-over
privileges in connection with bringing
into the city an influx of desirable cit
liens. In the early part of August
E. L. Graves, a prosperous ranchman
of Gaines county. Texas, purchased a
railway ticket which was to carry him
into the far Northwest by the way of
California and return by Topeka
where he intended to take advantage
of the newly granted stop-over priv
ileges. The idea of this extended
journey was to visit various cities
with the view of selecting an ideal
place to bring his family in order that
NSoS
school and other advantages.
Mr.. Graves arrived in Topeka two
weeks ago with the intention of re-
naming but a day. He hired rig
and made thorough investigating
tour of the capital city.
BY the time that all was enveloped
in darkness a sufficiently favorable
impression had been made upon his
mind to induce him to remain over
another day in order to get glimpse
of the surrounding country districts.
Recognizing a prosperous farming
section when he saw it on account OF
his long experience as ranchman,
and realizing that such a district must
necessarily mean that the nearest
center of population is of substan-
tial fiber from a financial stand point,
he found himself more than ever de-
lighted with what he saw. He con-
tinued on his journey homeward, ana
the result of the long tour of 1nspec-
ton was that on Sunday last he ar
rived in Topeka with his family. his
household goods having been shipped
in quick order. Later. on he Will
probably either buy or build a nome.
but in the meantime he has rented
the house at 1920 Polk street. Until
the household goods arrive his fam
ily will remain at a hotel
One of the points which appealed
to Mr.. Graves in connection with his
decision to come to Topeka was the
fact that there are no joints to be
Then he liked the CITY itself