The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-07
Topeka IS NOW
CITY OF HOMES
CONTINUED from page l.,

CONTINUED from page IL
interviewer with cowpafhs An enter
prising land man transformed this into
q place Of streets and concrete side
walks and soon through the medium
of newspaper advertising the lots were
selling like hot cakes. And this was
Elmhurst. Today 1t is a district Of
fine residences. This is but a sinsle
example Of the trend towards the out
skirts.
The erection of dwellings is con-
tinuing apace this year. Thus far 126
OF them have been built or are in
sent an expenditure of 1910. And this
Is proving q big year for remodeling
old dwellings and making general re-
pairs. Permits have been issued for
the Improvement of more than one
hundred dwellings at a cost of $34.24O.
No Boom Here.
The natural result of the activity
this season has been the placing on
the market Of half dozen additions.
Two of these are to the west of the
city. BuilCing sites have been selling
along the Gage park street railway
exteision all the way from Topeka to
the park.
Topeka has been having nothing like
a boom. 1t has been q natural and
su bstantial growth. The building OF
1.600 dwellings since 1909 indicates an
influx Of population. Allowing five
persons to a house there must be 5000
persons occupying those 1000 dwell
lings. There are some vacant houses
in Topeka, but they are for the most
part run down and In lack of modern
convenfences. Realty men say there
are no more vacant houses at the
present time than was the case in
1908. In fac. in certain sections of
the cfty-nOtably the district in the
next to IL. possible to rent a good house
at the present time.
Influx of Population.
The records of the Topeka transfer
companies show that many families
have moved to Topeka this year. It
is estimated that the household goods
Of at least three hundred families
have been handled by the local firms
that make hauling speciality. In fact,
two companies have moved tho goods
of nearly two hundred families. At
five to the family, the 500 families
would represent an influx of 1900
Then to this number could be added q
thousand more who came with no
household goods.
census man. completed last week,
shows that there has been a gain in
the number Of children OF school age
in Topeka.
Big Year In 1918.
The year 1913 was a big one in
home building. The following il TAX
en- from an article on "City Is Grove
Ing" published in the State Journal
December 81. 1913, and which is in the
nature of a summary Of the building
activity for 1918:
The last twelve months have con-
stituted great home building period.
OF the $50 permits issued. $50 were
Tor the erection of new dwellings or
the remodeling of old ones at q total
NJ
detail. 1t will be seen that OF the $50
permits, 244 called for the construc-
ton OF new homes at an expenditure
OF $4,000 in round numbers. or an
average cost of $500. The hundred
and sixteen dwellings that have been
semodeled cost the o1ners the sum Of
These figures show that Toneka ia
growing; that the people have faith in
the future of the city; that thew arc
demanding better homes. The dwell
lngs for the most part are not Dreten.
tious, but are substantial and of the
KIND that make a good impression
upon visitors to the city"
Building Record.
Inc big years in permits in Toneka
were 1907 to 1911, inclusive. In those
years permits were issued for seversI
large buildings. which materia1Iv
swelled the figures. They fnciuded
the Santa Fe Office building. Mills
building, New England building. G. A.
K. Memorial building. Y. ". C. a
buildings, and several other strnc-
lures # Importance. The home build
ing ACTIVITY has been going on apace
since that time, bat fewer permits for
large buildings have been issued. The
erection Of TIE New England and the
Mills buildings supplied the demand
for offices for several years. Recenti~
an addition to the New England build.
Ing was erected.
/ Comparison by Years.
Following is an interesting con.
parison Of the permits issued in To-
that the city has enjoyed a steady and
substantial growth: