The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-14

that more than billion dollars IS lost
= annually in this country on account OF
inefficient road. It is disgrace to
our country and should not be permit
i ted
Mr.. Badders' Address.
/ Geo. S. Badders was the next speak
/ er on the program. He gave an ad-
dress Of welcome on the part OF the
city which follows:
1.-The Commercial club is very glad
that this organization has honored the
| capital city of the greatest inland
| state in America by holding its con-
| vention here. We are happy to nave
| you with us for a season and we want
| faces and CHEEKY words of our peo-
| pie will announce their welcome and
assure you of their respect more earn
estly and eloquently than can be ex-
pressed by me.
1--WE are glad you are here. We want
you to have a most pleasant time. we
intend to have a good time with you
and We hope you also will ENJOY IL we
hope you will have such fine time
that you will want to come and see
Us often. 49,
TT is pleasant to meet people with a
high mission and that is the reason we
extend you a most cordial welcome :,
You are gathered here from all
parts of the country to discuss one OF
the nations greatest needs-improved
highways. If you can even to small
degree give added impetus to the move
ment that is now sweeping over the
| country for better roads this congress
will have been worth the etforc.
I'VE are rapidly getting over the idea
| that improved roads benefit only few
| or a certain class. We are gradually
| coming to see that good r1ads mean
more than merely adding to the pleas
| ure of an occasional trip to the coun-
| try. Good roads not only make auto
| MODELLING, riding and driving safer and
| more pleasant, but mean for the farmer
| a maximum load with a minimum pow
| err. They mean cheaper transportation
Tor farm products and a consequent re-
| duction in price on those products to
| the consumer. The mercantile and in
| dustrial interests of our cities are rap
| idly coming to realization of the fact
| that if they are to cater successfully to
the rapidly growing populations of our
| towns in the matter of the dispensing
Of the products and by-products of our
| farms they must assist our farmers in
every possible way in getting those
same products to the cities in the most
| expeditions manner. This can best be
accomplished by good roads. But will
| leave the discussion of this important
| subject to those more capable of
| handling it than 1.
What Topeka Has.
Il would be failing in my duty if I
| did not call your attention at this time
to a few Of Topeka's points Of interest.
First, as Good Readers you will be
interested in the fact that Topeka a
town of fifty thousand people, has felt
the need and benefit of good roads to
such an extent that she now has with
In her corporate limits a main street
three miles long, paved the entire dis
lance, and altogether has sixty miles of
| paved streets.
Topeka has the Santa Fee shops,
the largest railway repair shops in the
world, employing upwards of three
thousand men, and the general offices
| of the same road.
Topeka has the largest creamery in
the world. Three million dollars is
| the annual product Last year seven
| million. five hundred thousands pounds
| of butter were manufactured and fifty
million eggs shipped The by-prod-
| ucts alone of this great plant are no
small item and are useful in a num-
| Der of ways; for instance. condensed
buttermilk makes an imitation ivory
and is used for knife handles and
/ backs of brushes. Look out the, next
time you buy hair brush-you may
| only be buying Topeka buttermilk
Most of you have probably eaten
bread made from Topeka flour as we
ship it to nearly every state in the
Union and to every country in Europe,
| Africa, South America and the West
Indies
| "Topeka's manufacturing plants