The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-06
Their Developing Our Great State,
George II. Hodges, Olathe.

Chicago is now in cold storage j
Kansas City. and the association viii
the same products on exhibit at thu
! show in Kansas City which will b'
held a little later i'll the season.
Neiswanger Gives Hints.
Local real estate men have request
! ed that the State Journal publish fur
Z Their extracts from the paper read by
/ W. \. Neiswanger this week before the
bers of the Topeka Real Estate
/ Dealers association on What Is the
Matter With Topeka Pr They follow:
AT the last meeting Of this asso-
citation, Congressman d. r. Anthony of
the First district, who was a guest
/ learning that this subject had been
assigned for our December meeting
stated that in his opinion There was
absolutely nothing the matter with
Topeka. and of course had he said
anything else or even minated that
there was som ething wrong with us
the wrath of every true son and
daughter of Topeka would have de-
scended upon him
Mans best friend is. however,
sometimes the one who will tell him
Of his faults. and should 1 say any
thing in this paper in criticism of our
fair city or its citizens or it's ways and
methods of doing things, 1 trust that
it will be viewed in the light of
friend speaking in behalf of that
which he loves I asked one of To-
peka's successful business men who
had amassed a fortune here during the
past twenty years what was the mat
ter with Topeka? And he replied,
Nothing. who says that there is p .
Then tn speaker went on to enumer-
ate Topeka's many advantages.
Taxes Not Too High.
In comparative statement sent out
by the Kansas tax commission it was
shown t, the state taxes have in
creased about IA per cent in ten years.
ne continued The state taxes. of
course: are merely nominal as compar-
ed with the local taxes, but the increase
in local taxes has amounted to more
than 80 per cent for municipalities and
more than 30 per cent for the counties
within that time My object in speak
ing OF this is to show that Kansas neO-
pie are not afraid of taxes The city
government, which is closest to the
people shows with good reason the
greatest increase our city's taxes have
increased to pay for her paved streets
and create and maintain beautiful
parks, to build sewers and erect mod
arn high class school houses 1 know
and you members of this association
Know that it is all of these modern
-OnNenlences that are attracting the
wealthy farmer, the ranchman and
The retired business man and high |
Lass citizens, nor only from over the !
state of Kansas. but from many sec
ions OF the United States coming here |
or these modern improvements and the /
beauty of the city and above all that |
he advantage OF our high-class cot |
eyes and clean citizenship. 1 Will not |
onsent to the proposition that the |
mount we are now paying in the |
hape OF taxes is in any way injuring /
Topeka.
Concerning Parks
All that section of our city known
s the West side has built up rapidly |
With beautiful homes the past few years
nd has been beautified with many
a
treets. While it is true it was done
y the vote mainly of the people in
ne benefit district, who were willing
o pay for the expensive improvements, /
till our city should long ago have ia
en- up the matter of providing for the
hops district, parks and Fairgrounds
no athletic grounds, making them big
nough for thousand men, women
oys and girls to use at one time. The
wv as J. understand it, covering the
reation of parks is to the effect that
ne city can as a whole, levy such a
am as in the judgment Of appraisers
ne general public viii receive benefit
lerefron. and steps should be taken
l once to secure such natural groves
S Kliens, Burton's and Jones' and
ne Santa Fe will donate for park pur
oses the beautiful grove on the Farms
orth farm, and stands ready to as
st in this great work. These natural
arks are all within close walking dis
tnce of the great shops. and where the
Other could take the dinner to the
tther or the wage Garner. With mod
n conVenierces in connection with pa
lions and park houses men could if |
icy preferred, eat the meal under the
lade of the trees in the park with as
ucn or more enjoyment as at home |
The athletic features could be pro-
ded ana the failure Of the city to T
Iteration and helping to make a place
beauty and utility. conducive to /
salth and morals is one of the things (
lat is the matter with us. {
Local Opportunities.
There are good opportunities locally for
e Investment of money. A short time {
80 four lots We're offered at the corner
one Of Dug extreme southwest city c
ocks for SLIGO cash A purchaser was
und for the lots and 80 days later they
ere sold at net profit OF , per cent
-.Nteen acres five years ago in the \
nta Fee shop district We're taken up by
syndicate for $4,000 and 80 days after
rchase an offer of $500 profit was re-
sed- 1t became the foundation of Il Fl
lSnlflcent business, houses having been G
lit there and every one sold at a profit II
over and above tie 10 per cent profit a
The lots
lot at 16 Kansas avenue was sold at !,
ZOO, and eighteen months after an offer u
$4,000 was refused. Other notable ex- g
lples. Elmlurst Lakewood. PinehurSt h
4 Central Park additions. on all sides G
q in every section of our city are on Il
rtunities and investments waiting for
pel1a people and Topeka money to take d
en- up. e
\ Growing Addition W W
IN the series OF Kriteups which have
peared in this column in the last few
'nths on the sections of the city or
ditions which have shown remarkable ! {.
owth. Garfield Place addition has nos .
en- included. However. in the year, this
operty formerly known as the Taylor
ct. has been transformed in a manner ~
ich borders on the miraculous. o
everyone who attended the aviation
ct q year ago last June remembers the r.
ylor tract as being an alfalfa field Sc
od TO look upon Today there are %
mes in Garfield Place addition which b.
owned by the North Topeka Building