The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-19
Better Reason for Higher VAL
ues Here Than There.
TAX LEVY is GREATER
In Wichita Than in Topeka and
Pay on Greater Values.
Property Will Increase 100
Per Cent i'm Ten Years."


to the Magic Mascot of the Plains:"
''They hunt jack rabbits on street cars
in Wichita, the farmers dig potatoes
by electric lights That was in 1887
in the middle of the big boom. The
same humorous Nye said something
similarly sarcastic about Topeka.
Business lots were sold twenty miles
from the Wichita of today. The
speculator from the east alighted from
the train, drove all day, camped at
night and travelled again the next day
to reach thai business block he had
purchased AMI the prairie dogs barked
continuous derisive chorus all the
way. Topeka had the same malady,
the same fever, except Wichita regis
tered 200 degrees Fahrenheit while
Topeka never did, but it left both cities
weak.
Dry weather and common sense
finally prevailed while the graSshop-
pers gnawed a hole in the inflated bag
of Wichita's real estate boom for want
of better forage. Prices settled down
to reasonable figure in Wichita but
the property owners did not allow the
boom fever 20 deaden their sense. of
real values. Topeka real estate owners
lost interest, grew languid and indif-
ferent. Today Wichito property sells
so per cent higher than Topeka prop
erty and their taxes under the same
state government was for 1909 $1.89
on the 800 while the tax in Topeka
is $1.54. Based on tbs high property
valuation the Wichita citizens pay 70
per cent more taxes than do those in
Topeka.
Wichita is low, fiat and uninterest-
ing. Only for a portion of the town
in the north. which is slightly stuck
up" there would not be sufficient low
ering of grade to carry the rainfall to
the Arkansas river. Wichita was
founded about 1870. Topeka became
a town in 1854. In every other COM
parison made with Topeka through
the State Journal, the other city has
been older than Topeka and some
have attributed the difference in prices
to antiquity This will not hold good
laid out sixteen years later than that
of Topeka.
mo, it is lack of appreciation of the
opportunities in Topeka said N. B.
Burge. Topeka has been, and is yet,
too conservative" Residence property
in Wichita eight blocks out from the
business portion of the city is worth
500 a front foot, twelve blocks $50,
and listen, sixteen blocks out, the
same relative distance as Elmhurst is
from the business center of Topeka,
Wichita's values are $40 front foot.
The same prices applied in Topeka
a number instead of $780,
Why does Wichita real estate values
exceed those of Topeka? Not because
of more manufacturing concerns, nor
railroads. There are not as many Ia
boring men in Wichita as in Topeka,
the territory surrounding Wichita will
not raise any greater yield of wheat
or longer ears of corn. The wholesale
business in Topeka has as much if not
more territory from which to draw a
silver stream than does Wichita
A pillow factory. watch factory,
small car works. two packing houses.
=
mills comprise the industries of Wichi-
Ia A firm manufactures a connection
of kerosene, camrhor and turpentine
there which is warranted to relieve and
Danish oreness. Possibly this accounts
for WIchita'S Spe edy recovery when the
boom blister was punctured. However,
when all has been said for Wichita and
her care free citizens. Topeka can show
down all that Wichita boasts and dou
bic the amount of big business insti
tutions.
It's that boo.ter spirit in Wichita
that is responsible for the high values
said T. A. Bor.nan, president Of the
Continental Creamery company. "It is
too much of a good thing in Wichita
{ I'd too much conservatism in Topeka.
Men with money in Topeka are not
fully aware of the better advantages
offered here Ten years from now pro-
err, that's right" and the manufactur-
er of Meadow Cold emphasized his |
remark with still another. its sure to |
come. City property in Topeka is sure |
to act just like farm land has. In the |
past two years farms have increased |
25 per cent.
ct have been in Wichita many times |
and I am convinced that nowhere in |
the corporate limits are there fine |
so much pavement, such splend- |
id dwellings and as beautiful a build |
ing site as Elmhurst. Do you know |
for years and while boy I wondered !
why that tract was not opened out |
for people to build homes. 1t is one |
of the plots Of ground that will soon be |
gone and prices will go 200 per cent |
higher there