The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-10
A LOOK AHEAD.
How Topeka Will Develop in
Near Future.
The Indications for Growth
Which Are Apparent.
OUTLOOK is BRIGHT
There Are Many Reasons Why
City Should Grow.
Building Permits This Week
Aggregated $4,000.
OUTLOOK is BRIGHT

Topeka is growing and there is no
denying of it. The fact is eVinced by
the large number of persons who ac-
cording to the transfer men are
moving into the city, the increase in
the business at the post office. the ac-
tiVity in respect to the erection of
hundreds of new homes this year, and
in various other ways. 1t is safe to
predict that within very few years
Topeka will have population of
$4,000 inhabitants.
one of the officials of the Santa Fe
said today that in the natural course
of things in the next four or five years
increased a third which would mean
that the total number of persons en-
ployed would be increased from 5000
to moro than 1000, which would
swell the aggregate number Of persons
on the payroll of the great system in
Topeka to 5000 in round numbers.
Santa Fe to Expand.
This same official stated that it
would be safe to say that by that time,
also, another three stories will have
been added to the new ten story gem
eraI office building, and it is a fact that
officials of the Santa Fe have regret
ted that the new shops Office building
was not run UP five instead of three
stories. 1t is probable that the other
two stories will be added within two
or three years.
This increase in the payroll of the
Santa Fe will mean great deal to To-
peka.
AS to the business houses in Topeka
there are many of them which in the
next few years will find 1t either neces-
sary to put additions on their present
places of business or build new struc-
lures to accommodate their ever in
creasing demands.
The Crosby Brothers Dry Goods
company for some time has been talk
ing of the necessity of expanding, and
It is probable that sooner or later this
firm will add the store formerly occu-
pied by the Mills Dry Goods company
to their present business house making
one commodious store.
Paxton and Paxton will probably
make definite announcement in a
month or two that they will add an
other two stories to the one-story
building they are at present occupy
ing on the corner of Quincy and Sixth
streets.
The old Copeland site which has
been an eye sore for many moons is
now the scene of activity and now a
four-story modern fire-proof business
building is being put up by ]. c. Cor
don.
The fine new three-story Kirkpat-
rick building corner of Seventh and
Quincy streets has been completed,
and the Penwe1l building which will
add much to the appearance of the
500 block on Quincy street
Growth of Business Section.
AS was mentioned in a special article
in this column some mouths ago, To-
peIka is getting away from the one
street idea viewed from a business
standpoint and in the next few years a
marked transformation may be expect
ed in the general aspect of the business
district of the city. 1t is the opinion
To1
build up solid with business houses,
retail as well as wholesale. and that
the side streets from Jackson TO Quincy
street, especially on Fifth. Sixth and
Seventh, and Eighth streets will build
up soHdly with a better class of struc-
lures than are at present found on
these blocks
IT is probable that there will be no
demand for another largo office build
ing for a year or two as it Is considered
that the new Mills building. the New
England building and other smaller
structures will supply the immediate
demand, but it is likely that there will
be a number of new store buildings in
the next few years.
There is a general demand on the
part of Topekans for more and larger
parks, and indications point to the ad-
dition of one or two parks in the very
near future. It is the opinion of some
ofthe land men that within five years
time the term "city beautifuP' will be
applied to Topeka not merely by those
living in cities adjacent to ours, but by
the people of the far eastern states
who will have heard of the fame of
Topeka parks and possibly boulevards.
Expansion Is Westward.
1t Is believed by realty men that the
land between the western edge of the
residential district of the city will in
crease in value to remarkable extent
within the next three or four years.
The trend of the expansion in Topeka
is towards the west, and the city is
growing rapidly in that direction.
1t seems that it is only a matter of
time before a street railway line is
built to Gage park, and there are those
who are of the opinion that within
the next twelve months cars will be
running out to this recreation spot
which is growing more and more pop