The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-10
CITY OWNS MUCH
More Than a Million Dollars in
Property Is Listed.
Real, Personal and Mixed Pub
lie Values 81, Jas, 47S.56.
WATERWORKS LEADS.
Municipal Plant Physical Value
Is $634,6S3.S1.
w. H. WATSON, City Auditor,
Prepares Table of Totals.
WATERWORKS LEADS.

The city of Topeka owns more than
s1,OOOOOO worth of real estate, personal
and mixed property. The exact figures
amount to $1,14S, 478.5S.
For the purpose of making a bank
statement of the financial condition
of Topeka w H. WATSON, city auditor,
conceived the idea of collecting the
values of Topeka city property and he
found the above result.
The result comes as a surprise to the
mayor and city commissioners and all
connected with the municipal govern
ment Never before has the city
created a statement OF this kind but it
was not imagined that such a result
would be shown.
The values are corrected to date
april 1, 1910-but very little has been
added since that time. They show that
an immense increase has been made In
assets in the last few years since the
city has taken on such a marvellous
growth. Each department has in
creased it's physical and its working
values in this time-and improvements
amounting to many thousands could
be made to an advantage if the city
commissioners were not insisting on
cutting down all expenses.
The largest property in possession of
equipment. This is an asset purchased
a few years ago at a song-and now its
working value is probably worth al
most a million dollars alone. It's
physical valuation is placed at a con-
sentative estimate of $634,6S3.S1.
This excellent showing will be a blow
to those who have declared for years
that a municipal waterworks system Is
a loss to a city-especially in Topeka.
Another surprise of the statistics
prepared by City Auditor WATSON is
the value of the public parks in To-
peka. Park enthusiasts in this city
who have pushed the outdoor public
propositions will be fattered to learn
that Topeka has in rock bottom value
$219,170 in public parks. And all OF
these values are cut down until they
are almost ridiculous compared with
the value of the property surrounding
them. For instance, Euclid park OF
Az acres is only valued at $4,000,
when city lots around it are selling at
$500 each.
The most valuable park, according
to the WATSON figures, is Central park,
located in the southwestern part of
the city. 1t contains but 3 acres and
is valued at $4,000. And the city
could receive much more for it if it
was placed on sale this evening.
The Topeka public buildings follow
with a value of $115,118. This includes
the Auditorium and all public houses,
but it doesn't include the water plants,
the fire stations, etc.
The fire department comes a close
second to the public buildings, with a
value of $107.731.42.
1t has been mentioned by people in
terested in the commission form of
government that the mayor and four
commissioners elected by the city are
in charge of a $5O,O00,000 corpora
ton when they tackle a job of this
kind. 1t will be seen by the figures
prepared by w. H. WATSON that the
mayor and commissioners not only
have the entire city to care for as
dollar institution of thor own to keep
up and maintain.
The condensed table below will show
how the property mixed and personal
values, are distributed
PUBLIC BUILDING.
City hall, city prison, deten-
ton hospital crematory
and sewer pumping station SHELLS 90
Office furniture, etc.....,.... 2,996.00
ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT.
Personal. machinery. etc. $3.50. Is
ENGINEER;s OFFICE ;j:i 0-'s''' %
Tools, wagons. etc.........,..$ 7T0.85
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Real estate, six stations. 48,740O0
Equipment, six statiOns... 1891 AZ
Alarms, boxes, etc. 49, 64.3S
Cisterns' lines, etc. 5,971 so
GrTotal 49,. ..........$ 1O7, 7s1. AZ
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Personal, tools, etc. ....-.....$ 76S IS
STREET DEPARTMENT.
Personal, tools, etc. S.80S 90