The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-09
THE FACTORY FUND.

4 A1AAL EAAlOANI fund.
| Decidedly unusual but nonetheless
encouraging are the conditions that
exist in the Commercial clubs pur-
suit for that $25O,O0O credit fund
which is to be used in the develop
ment of Topeka as an Industrial CEN
ter. There is little if any reluctance
on the part of Topekans of means to
subscribe to the fund. The trouble
is that the Commercial club is having
| difficulty in getting a sufficient num-
] Der of solicitors in the field to make
the rounds among prospective sub
scribers and thereby raise the desired
| amount in short order. Such a situa-
ton has never existed before in this
city when a fund of any size has been
raised for any purpose. The reverse
has generally been the case. There has
been an oYerabundance of solicitors
and a scarcity of willing subscribers.
| This is the most active season of
| the year in almost every line of trade
and business and also among the pro-
| fessionaI men. And this fact alone
explains why more of the prominent
Topeka boosters have not answered
the call of the Commercial club to act
as solicitors in the praiseworthy cam
paign that is now being waged. A
rally at the club rooms has been call
ed for Wednesday evening, when an eff
fort will be made to increase the num-
Der of solicitors to such proportions
that the fund will be raised in its en-
tirety before another week has passed.
And that this is possible has been
demonstrated by the cordial and gem
erous way in which the Topekans so
far approached have treated the few
solicitors who have been in the field.
Already nearly one-half of the fund,
or s125,000, is in sight. This is, in
deed, a rather remarkable showing lin
view of the fact that only a handful
of men have been at work for only
parts of the days of one week in pre-
senting the scheme in detail to men
able to participate in it. It shows that
Topekans are loyal to the interests of
their town and are of mind to as |
sist it to larger things. when a work |
able and substantial plan to such an
end is promulgated.
That is just what this factory fund /
plan is. 1t has been tried with success |
by a number of the cities that are riv- |
ais of Topeka in the development of |
home industries and the acquisition of /
new ones that have a mind to change
their base of operations, or are looking
for desirable locations. Many more
cities are about to put the plan in OPP
Grafton. 1t is safe and sane in all of
it's details. If a loss should be sus-
tanned under it, the pro rata share
that would have to be shouldered by
each individual subscriber would be
so small that it could scarcely be con-
sidered burdensome.
1t must be gratifying to all Tope-
kans to know that there are so many
live wires in the city who are disposed
to do their share, and perhaps little
bit more, to place the capital city of
Kansas at least on equal footing with
the other cities in the central west in
the friendly but vigorous contest that
IS being waged by them for industrial
Topeka, in fact, is be-
to come into no more than her
own. This factory fund will help her ]
IN the way in a most material fashion.
II will be a big advertisement for
he city in other parts. All that is
needed to raise the fund and make ,
sure of its operation are more canvas {
;ers in the field. And surely there will s
De no trouble in getting a sufficient
lnmber