The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-17
WHIRLINC WHEELS
Kansas Avenue to Be a Mass of
Coiored Whirlygigs.
Most Elaborate Decoration in
History of Topeka.
BLOCKS OF COLORS.
Banners, Flags and Escutcheons
Will Be Used.
One Thousand Visitors During
Merchants Week.


and blue pin wheels, blazing scutcheons,
and banners and flags of all kinds will
give Kansas avenue a gala day ap-
pearance during the big Merchants
Week in Topeka June %, "a and rs.
Charles H. Trap, of the decorating
committee of the Manufacturers and
Jobbers' association. has perfected a
plan to decorate Kansas avenue never
before attempted in this city or any
other city. He has made arrangements
to place on every trolley pole between
Tenth avenue and Crane street on Kan
sas avenue a series Of red, white and
blue card board pin wheels. These
wheels measure Ia inches from tip to
tip and are parafined to such an ex-
tent that the weather viii not damage
them in any way. On each trolley pole
will be % of these wheels, which are
easily propelled by slight breeze.
Both sides of the pole will be decorated
In the same manner.
The details require four wheels on
each side of the center of the trolley
sides will make 10 pinwheels on the
Cross arm of each pole. Down the
perpendicular pole will be six wheels
IL in all, including both sides. This
gives a grand total of 20 colored wheels
on each pole. There will be 45 of these
poles decorated on Kansas avenue. In
other words during the merchants
week Kansas avenue will be one mass
or buzzing, whirling wheels, 1880 in
number.
placed two big red. white and blue
scutcheons. In the center in blue on
one pole will be TOPEKA KAN" The
blue letters will be on a background OF
white borderd by streak of red.
Scutcheons on both sides Of the poles.
the street will
be the same color scheme with the
words TOPEKA WILL Merchants
and Jobbers' association will also be
placed on the scutcheon. 1t will be
lettered just above the slogan Two
Of these on each pole will make 80
scutcheons on Kansas avenue.
At the corner of Fifth and Kansas
avenue will be a big welcome sign
strung across the street built along
the same lines as the rest of the deco
rating. This sign will read Welcome
and will be built in seven foot let
ters These letters will contain 100
of the red, white and blue pin wheels
in all.
It was the scheme of the decora-
tors to place this big sign at this cor
ner on account Of its reliability. from
all streets going to the city from the
railroad depots.[ Every person enter
ing Topeka on the railroads must pass
Fifth and Kansas avenue. The 1oca-
ably.
The pin wheels invented by the fer
tile brain of Charles H. Trap are
made just like the little boys who
cuts a square piece of paper in such a
manner that folding of corners will
make a windmill and will revolve
with the least little breeze. These
wheels are cut in the same manner
and revolve in the same velocity. The
hard paraffine paper makes them i'm
IL l. @I,<. E7ars h n
through which the little axle passes
is brass bordered and will not wear
with the friction. Special spoolS
made in Topeka have been carved for
the purpose of fixing firm back
ground for the little buzzing wheels.
The matter was tested the other
day on one of the trolley poles and
worked in an excellent manner. The
little wheels whirled and buzzed with
the slightest breeze and when taken
down did not look one bit the worse
for wear.
The jobbers and manufacturers are
greatly pleased over the novel idea
worked out by Mr.. Trap and they
have given him strict orders to carry
out any plan he wished if 1t would
correspond favorab1y with this
scheme. Almost 1000 flashing red,
white and blue wind mills on Kansas
avenue for ten or twelve blocks up
and over the hill will make most
beautiful sight.
This is but a fraction of the ar
rangementS made by the jobbers and
manufacturers for the entertainment
of the out of town merchants during
the coming big week. They have is
sued strict orders to the merchants
giving them to understand that their
money will not be good in Topeka.
Everything will be free to them and
they will not even be allowed to spend
script The banquet committee with
mouths watering meets every day at
the rooms of the Commercial club
and they promise big time at the
auditorium
Merchants week will find 1000 Wis
iting merchants from all over the
state of Kansas in Topeka. Letters
from them every day express their
enthusiasm over the coming event
and Topeka will add to their dreams.