The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-27
HAVE MORE LIGHT
Topeka Business District to Be
Brilliant Blaze.
Many Costly Electric Signs Are
Being Installed.
ELECTRIC MOTORS, TOO
Manufacturers Are Substituting
Them for Gasoline Engines.
Other Improvements Which Are
Being Made in Topeka.

The number of new electric signs
now being installed in Topeka and
those in contemplation, together with
a probable continuation Of the
white way system, will make the
business section of Topeka blaze of
dazzling light.
white Way Webb has the repu-
tation of doing things and the pro
ject that the lighting committee of
the Commercial club of which he is
| chairman is furthering will un-
doubleday be pushed to a success. This
is the installation of large Topeka
electric signs at the Santa F'e and
Rock Island stations.
The suggestion that Scott Hopkins
made relative to the cancellation of
| the $66, 900 debt which the state owes
| the city of Topeka provided the state
state house grounds and light up the
capitol dome is gaining favor and it
| is not unlikely that a bill towards this
/ end will be introduced while the leg
| islature is in progress a year from
next fall-if the city is willing.
Improvements in Topeka.
| But to speak of improvements that
| are now actually being made or which
| will be made in the next few months:
| Next week a pretentious electric sign
| will be installed in front of the new
home of the Santa Fe Watch COM
| pany, S21 Kansas avenue. There will
| be 21 letters in the sign with about i
half dozen Tungsten globes to the let
ter. The sign will be installed by the
| Machinists Electric company of To-
peka.
Neale & Frick will install a horizon
tai sign for the Shawnee Building and
Loan association, lis West Sixth ave-
nue. that will be one of the most elab-
crate signs in the city. 1t will be 16
feet in length and feet wide. It
will have a double face and will in
| clude in all 40 Tungsten individual
lights Shawnee" will be spelled out
in electric lights, while in gold letter
ing on a blue background on a panel
above will be the words, organized
1885,; on a lower panel Building
and Loan Association The electric
letters will be two feet in size.
An all-steeI sign AXIS feet in size
will be installed for the Scotch Wool
en- Mills concern at 532 Kansas ave-
nue. by the same sign men.
A sign is now being installed in
front of the White House Meat mar
ket at 423 Kansas avenue.
It is understood that the Mills Co.
will have put in place by spring an
immense sign on top of their new
building. This sign was contemplat-
ed when the plans for the building
were made. The letters will be six
feet in height.
H. B. Howard is remodeling his
sign. When completed it will COM
prise $50 Mazda-Tungsten lights. 1t
viii be in operation the first of the
month.
1--WE expect to put in a large cleo
trio sign within a month"; said
George S Badders of the Marshall
Clothing company.
It has been stated that the Glas-
gov Wooden Mills, in the 700 block,
Kansas avenue, will also put up a
sign.
Help Advertise City.
| E. L. Overton, who is aiding the
| cial club in the move towards in
stalling Topeka" signs at two of the
} railroad stations said today: This
; is a cheap way of boosting the city.
1t is effective advertising. Signs along
| the street help the city,
The Chesterfield Drug store will in
stall an electric sign. Frank Curry
| will have one put in at his pool hall
There will be one installed also in
front of the new Tromp billiard hall.
All over the country the electric sign
is growing in popularity.
THE electric sign has reached a
stage where we may look for much
more study along the line of adapta-
ton for the purpose used,' says the
| Electrical Review. 1.-THE design of
. which are put upon the market in
large quantities, is too likely to de-
generate into a practice of following
the path of least resistance and utiliz-
, elsewhere, and is perhaps, more par
J ticularly suited to some other purpose
Whether sign should be continu-
Gus or flashing; whether the bulbs
used should be clear or frosted or col
ored; whether different colors should
be flashed on and off; whether the
different colors should present the
same or different messages; and
/ whether the flashing sign should depict
some motion or mechanical operation,
are all matters which must be studied
: with reference to the subject and to
the most appropriate impression
which can be made upon the observer
should Select Attractive Design.
mot only is it necessary to first de-
sign a sign which is suitable for the
use to which it is put, but it is highly
necessary that maintenance should be
? properly looked after, if a good i'm
preston is to be continuously created
For instance, renewals of burnt-oui
lamps should be carefully attended to
Y as the appearance of a sign with brok-
! en- letters or similar defects is usually
[ an advertisement of the carelessnesS
/ or incompetency of the owner and Is
1 not of a nature to attract business. The
= l1Ise of deficiency lamps is usually
to be recommended, but il sign Is
e in such a position that 1t is not pos
sible to make frequent renewals it may
/ he more advanta geous TO use lamps OF