The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-28
MILLION MARK.
Building Permits Over Million
and Quarter Dollars.
Record of the Past Ten Days Is
Over $4,000.
WANT GOOD HOUSES.
Few Small Homes Are in the
Recent List.
Activity on the East Side Is
Notable.


The building permits issued at the
office of Fire Chief Wilmarth have
passed the million and quarter dol
lar mark. 1t is not the purpose of
| these articles to .envelop the facts in
wreaths of roses and garlands of boom
phraseology, but figures speak for
themselves. What Topeka wants is a
steady, substantial growth and that is
what she is getting. The fact that
been granted that amount to nearly
$4,000 which call for the erection of
something like twenty houses at an
average cost of $4,000 indicates an in
fiux of population, and also that the
working people-those of moderate
means-are demanding better homes.
There are those who have made rash
predictions In regard to an enormous
increase of population during the next
year or two, but those who look upon
matters from a rational viewpoint do
not anticipate anything of the kind.
of the past few months in the way of
building and general improvements as
well as a steady influx of people to go
on undated. 1s
ground it is hard to realize the ex-
tent of the improvements which have
been and are being made this year.
Aside from the smaller items, rs
walks were listed In the special tax
assessment for 1909 which has been
certified to the county clerk by City
have materials aHscted the price of
real estate adjacent.
portion of the city which has be-
come decidedly popular during the
past few months is that. which en-
braces the Kenwood and Potwin dis
tricts. The latter was laid out years
ago by c. w. Potwin- At that time
signed to cost at least $4,000. At the
time the district was taken in as part
of the city the-Festrictions were abol-
ished and an influx of population at
larity Of the community was not
reached, however, until the present
year as is shown by the record of real
estate transfers. The price of Potwin
real estate is no higher than that pre-
vailing in the southwestern portion of
the city where there is also great ac-
tivity in the way of building. The i'm
provements have been paid for and
the people of the vicinity have no sew
err and other taxes of a like nature
upon their hands
1t may be of interest to note few
of the real estate transfers and the in
dividual dwellings erected during the
past few months. J. B. Larimer has
sold his property on Greenwood ave-
nue. and in its place has purchased the
Jensen -nroperty on Woodlawn avenue:
J. G. Emahizer has recently remodeled
his residence on Greenwood avenue;
the erection of a seven room modern
house on Greenwood avenue, irnme-
diately to the north of the residence of
DR.. Embree, has just been COM
menced; four new houses have been
built this year on Ashland avenue.
block south of the Potwin school
house; two dwellings have gone up on
Park street, a block north of the Pot
win school house; a fine new home
has been built by Mr. H. s. Montgom-
nrxv mt "a fnh n
year on Grove avenue; F. G.. Kelley of
the street railway company, has
bought one home and is building an
other; Mr.. Anes, cashier of the Cen
trail National bank. is now. repairing
the LOOMS property which he recent
ly purchased; Guy Adams purchased
Greenwood avenue; J. L. Galbreath,
special agent for the Shawnee Fire In
Surance company, sold his place in the
district but has since regretted the
sale and is trying to secure other
propertv in the same vicinity. These
items are but a few of those which
might be given. There are a number
of contemplated houses which will be
erected in Potwin before the year
closes, among which is a or room
modern dwelling that c. kresby, with
the German National bank. will build.
1t means that the East siders mean
business in connection with the forma
ton of a drainage district in order that
the flood question may be dealt with
in a satisfactory manner. 1t appears
that the people east of the city are de-
sirous of having their property placed
within the proposed district. A commit
teeman of the East Side Improvement
association this week made a hasty
canvass in this vicinity and found that
the property owners were eager to en-
ter into a proposition which would pro-
tect their lands. A man who not long
since hailed from Michigan was espec-
tally enthusiastic over the plan. Eighty
acres of his farm in Michigan had been
valueless on account of annual floods
until the creek was cleaned out and
and the flood danger en-
tirely eradicated. City Engineers Rogers
has made the statement that nearly
half the mileage of the Shunganunga
east of the city could be cut off by
the creek. The commence
ing of operations in a flood district on
the East side and the portion of the
district beyond the city
limits would be the beginning of soar
ing of the prices on real estate
Mr.. Jacob Yoder. who was hit by a
Santa Fe train a short time ago Is
recovering from his injuries in a re-
markable fashion. He has been award
ed the contract for the Improvement
Of the Rickenbacker addition on the
south side and will. commence opera
tons on the work as soon as he is able
to attend to his duties. The improve
ments will consist among other things
of the putting in of large stone en-
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