The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-26
In Business and Residence Dis
trict Than Here.
TAXES S2.O2 ON $4,000
In the Arkansas Capital While
Only $1.56 in Topeka.
Population Less and Fewer Fac
tories in Little Rock.

Down in Arkansaw,' right in the
middle of the state, where the broad
brown river makes a big bow of smoky
water and starts south on a quivery,
crooked way, where old navigators,
bracing the current of the Arkansas.
found a little rock the first to peep
above the black alluvial loan of the
valley, is city.
Years ago, that little rock became
a land mark for the steamboat marin
pot pie for the politicians, the laughing
stock and the standing joke of the
whole wide world, but since 1920 that
city has grown steadily, regardless of
taunts and jeers and criticisms, and to-
day has real estate values over three
times higher than those of Topeka, the
capital city of the best state in the
Union.
George r. Brown, secretary of the
board of trade of Little Rock. is re-
sponsible for the statement that the
highest realty values reach $4,000
front foot and that within four blocks
Of the federal building in the principal
business district. Three blocks from the ne
postoffice property, is valued at 81, 800
and within one block, the cheapest
values in the business district is placed
at $1,000, 500 more than the choicest
locations in Topeka.
In the. residence district, five blocks
from the business center lots are valued
at $50 a front foot, eight blocks SIS and
fifteen and sixteen blocks out the aver
age value is $25. A twenty-five foot lot
in Little Rock at $25 a front foot
amounts to s625. The same values may
be found in Topeka. Along the south
side of Elmhurst and for one or two
blocks south, vacant lots sell for 1925,
yet Elmhurst lots sell for less than
half the Little Rock prices in CORE
spending district.
Conspicuous as the mules on the
streets of the Arkansas city is the tax
levy on the realty there. Listen! Don't
laugh! Mr.. "Toothpick'' Brown says
it's $202 on the 800, and Little Rock
thority gave Little Rocks population in
1907 as 42,036 and Mr.. Brown writes it Is
10000 now, yet the real estate prices go
steadily onward and upward.
The state house is built of brick and
the town cows meander across the
around the state house steps. They
leave deeper impression in the capital
city than Jeff Davis does in Washing
ton. Three railroads run into Little
emily lost in the hills and hazelbrush.
They make barrels for living there
and fry their pancakes in cotton seed
oil. Yes. that's Little Rock But real
estate keeps right on going up. Three
banks handle the finances of the city
while Topeka needs double the num-
Der.
"One of the most important facts
which Topeka people and prospective
investors in Topeka property must re-
alize is that frst-class residence and
business property in Topeka is held at
lower price than any city of the
same size in the United States" said
w. A. Neiswanger. of the firm of Will
son & NeiSWanger. This statement has
been made by men of experience and
wealth who have looked into condf-
lions OF property and realty values and
among them was the former president
of Washburn college, Mr.. Plass. Pres
ident PlasS was one of the first men
of Topeka to call attention to the low
values in the vicinity of Elmhurst and
College Hill.
To-day the vacant lots in the south
west portion of the city offer the fin
est investment for home builders or in
vestors. That the value of business
property in the business district of To-
peka has not been appreciated until the
past Is months was evidenced by the
fact that three years ago 716 Kansas
avenue was sold for $4,000 and less
than "a months thereafter $4,000 was
refused for it. A lot between Eighth
ago was sold at such a price that the
owner refused, few days ago, an
advance of 20 per cent"
Topeka property, both business and
residence. has increased in value rap
idly during the past year and a half
and judging the future of Topeka pro-
perty by the values in other cities of
the same size where, there is no boom
in progress, Just a steady growth, there
is no doubt but that real estate in To-
peka will go much higher and that
soon.