The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-06
THINGS PICK UP.
Elaborate Plans For Improve
ment of "Great White Way"
New Building Fronts, New Build
ings, New Business.
OTHERS FOLLOW SUIT.
New Business Blocks to Adopt
Lighting Scheme.
Many Plans to Brighten Up
Kansas Avenue.


along the east side of Kansas avenue
between Seventh and Eighth streets
will soon be more glorious than ever.
Numerous new building fronts, new
buildings and other improvements are
being planned and will be completed by
the first of September. The Great
White Way is the name given to this
district occupied by progressive and
enterprising merchants who have
pIeced huge arc lights so feet apart
along the fronts of their places Of bust
ness.
Since the adoption Of this new elaoo-
rate and still inexpensive system the
rents on the buildings have gone up
and the business of the merchants has
increased proporttonately. am get
ting almost 40 per cent more business
than ever got before" said one OF the
merchants this morning.
Among the new improvements plah-
ned and under completion and caused
directly by the new spirit existing
along this busy part of the Avenue is a
large new glass front extending nfty
feet for the new Central bank This
front will give an entrance on Kansas
avenue. Next door south the eating
Drug company has arranged with the
proprietors of that building to place al
expensive modern front here. The ma
LeTlaI Is on the STOuIAO 1OA lily
provement Just one door south OF this
building the Capital Hardware com
pany occupies the first hoor They say
that a new front will be built In their
building before the end of the month:
H B. Howard the sporting goods and
electrical supply man, also promises d
big new front before the first OF Au-
gust The small building now occu-
pied by the Trap Cafe will be torn out
and a large modern two story Dr1ck
structure will be built in this number.
This building will correspond TO the
building now under construction Just
one number south. The Trap care
will be moved to the building now &C
cupied by the Green grocery and the
old front will be torn out and new
one placed in. Mrs. Trap says that
she will put in one of the finest res
taurants ever patronized by Topekans.
Dick Cooley has just completed new
front on the building being occupied
by his new smoke house.
AS a whole the Great White way
will be under one mass of construction
and remodeling within the next 30 days
Thousands of dollars will be spent IN
his work of rebuilding fronts and also
n rebuilding the buildings themselves
The merchants and landlords along
The Way all insist that the cause OF
such an outgrowth Of business is due
directly to the new spirit aroused In
he introducing of an electrical display
n front of the places of business every
night.
There are a number of plans on foot
% light up the other blocks on Kansas
VENUE in the same manner. e. H.
Crosby of the Crosby Brothers firm,
5 working on a plan to light up the
vest part of Kansas avenue between
sixth and Seventh streets. 1t is thought |
hat practically every business house |
n this block will consent to the new
scheme.
Nothing new has developed on the
lighting of the state house dome. The |
natter is still in the hands of the state
Lrchitect, who is drawing up the plans
md the specifications for the outlining |
# the dome with incandescent lights
md the placing of a huge spiral of arc
lights on the very top. Several sug-
,estions have been sent into the Com
nercial club for the lighting of Kan
as avenue The idea of placing arches
ver the streets and filling them with
seems to be gaining a |
.ost of supporters at the club. Several
tiles in the country have adopted the
cheme and they are being featured as
ich attractions. Something will be
one very soon for the grand electrical
isplay of Kansas avenue-the greatest
BUSINESS street in Kansas.