The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-13
Wonderful Development i
North Topeka District.
Part of City Entirely Rebuilt
Since Flood.
BOOSTERS BOOM BUSINESS
Great White Way Part OF
Progressive Movement.
Real Estate Has Greatly In
=, creased in Value.

Perhaps there is no otner CITY III
Kansas that has been favored Win
progress than North Topeka in the last
ten years. 1t has grown from practl-
cally nothing-for just ten years dso
it was all but wiped off the map Dy lhe
big 1903 flood.
Now North Topeka property is worth
as much comparatively as that in any
other part of Topeka. Far sighted men
made small fortunes buying sites IN
North Topeka and a few years later
selling it and doubling their money on
the investment. Just after the high
water for about one year the town
practically stood still. Not long until
some of the more progressive men De
gan to boost their business and boost
the town. Since then it has been grow
ing with greater strides every year
Now there are hardly dozen store
fronts and buildings on North Kansas
avenue which did service prior to 1913
A few of the firms and men who have
added to the progress and improve
ments recently are: The Dibble Gro
Gerry Co, who recently remodeled their
store and put in new modern 'front.',
install Hing new fixtures throughout anc
ma king their store one of the largest
and finest retail grocery firms in the
state. The Petro Drug Co and the
Campbell Drug Co. installed new
fronts. The Petro Drug Co. was one
of the first business houses to open for
business after the 1908 disaster.
Success After a Hard FIGHT.
One of the most progressive boosters
for the North side is Otto Kuehne,
owner of the Kuehne preserving works.
He has built his business under great
difficulties. The preserving works Were
started in 1885 in frame building near
the present site of the factory and en-
larged in 1895. The building and con-
tents We're almost a total loss in the
1903 flood and was again rebuilt and to-
tally destroyed by fire in 1909.
We will have no more fires said
Otto Kuehne. and the building was
again rebuilt and this time everything
was strictly fireproof. There is not a
stick of wood in the entire building.
The departments are connected by
large steel doors which when open are
held with soft soldered links that will
melt with the temperature at $50 de-
grees. Should a fire occur in one of
these departments the heat would melt
the links and the heavy doors would
close and confine the fire to that de-
partment. Mr.. Kuehne is now Operat-
ing one of the cleanest and most up-to-
date preserving factories in the west.
Another big improvement which has
taken place in the last two years is
the cutting up of the Taylor tract
There are now over 81 new homes on
lHlS new IuQlllOIl anu are dli
owned by the people who reside in
them. Garfield which is one of the
principal parks of Topeka and draws a
higher patronage than any other park
in near the city is claimed by the
North side, and is in the last few years
being kept in fine condition. 1t is es-
timated that the Taylor tract now
known as Garfield Place added to the
valuation of Soldier township more
than 100000.
New Fire Station.
Among the uncompleted improve
ments for the North side is the new fire
station which is to take the place of
old station No. 1. Construction on the
new building will be begun January 1,
and everything is to be new with the
exception of the firemen and North To-
peka is too proud of them to permit the
change. Owing to their unceasing work
to obtain the new station the North
Topeka Civic club is to a large extent
for it.
Two of the other more important
public improvements are: The, white
way and the new postoffice which is
to be built soon. Work will begin on
the construction of the white way in
a few days. The Tucker Electric COM
pany and the Topeka foundry are the
firms holding the contracts for this
work The postofflce plans are not
Bids were sent in some
time ago but owing to the number of
sites to be selected in the United States
this year the official in charge of the
work has not reached Topeka.
Good Clean Town.
In addition to all of this North To-
peka is a clean district. This has been
more in evidence this year than ever
before. Formerly the hoboes and
rougher elements have been making
the Santa Fe crossing a gathering
place. But this spring a real crusade
was started by the North side police
and as a result there has not been
hobo in North Topeka for months.
The business men and residents of
the North side have always believed in
their part of the city and have COM
bined their efforts in building it up.
New they point with considerable pride
to their slogan, Notice North Topeka
Now H E. c.