The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-14
1t Is: "ThrOw Away Your Ham,
mer and Buy a Horn"
This Years Experience Has Re-
moved Fear of High Water.
EVIDENCE SEEN ON ALL SIDES
Houses, Hitherto Vacant, Are
Filling Up Rapidly.
Many improvements on Busi-
ness and Residence Property.

A North Topeka business man re-
Gently came across the following quo
tation Throw away your hammer and
buy a horn" The quotation was rap
idly passed on and has been adopted
by North Topekans in their work and
speech as their motto.
Six successive freshets within as
many weeks have failed to rob North
Topeka of a single whit of its vitality.
Today almost as unit, business men
on the north side of the Kaw declare
that the condition of business in their
part of the city has never been better
at this time of the year and that if
! conditions continue to improve in the
next few weeks as they have in the
past three their volume of business
for the months of July and august will
/ be greater than it has been during the
same period in the past five years
| Not only has North Topeka lost none
| of it's vitality but confidence in that
section of the city has never been
greater. An evidence of this conf
dence is pointed out by residents of the
North side in the extensive improve
ments that have been started on prl-
vate and public property since the
high water sCareS; the return of prac-
! tically all the families who Ieft during
the first scare; and the fact that en-
courGged by the protection afforded by
he bikes an exodus following the last
three following freshets was practical
ly absent
A slight depression in business was
felt Immediately after the Kaw went
to the danger mark for the first time
since 1905. Quiet was restored, how
ever. in a few days and While trade
conditions were not so good until three
weeks ago as they were at the same
time last year the difference in the
two periods was slight So slight was
the difference that it took but a fair
squirt three weeks ago to catch up with
last years mark.
Little Damage Done.
Actual damage to property in North
Topeka by water amounted to little.
Outside the city limits extensive dam
age was done to crops and other prop
erty. The same amount of water
within the city limits might have
worked hardships on the sufferers
from which they would not easily be
able to recover. However prosperity
in the Kaw Valley which is one of the
most fertile spots in the state has been
ing to North Topeka business men,
and while farmers in the district feel
keenly the damage that was done to
their property. they are easily able in
most cases to stand it.
Real estate men in North Topeka
declare that in the past few weeks
the best availa BILE property has been
rented that long lists of property for
rent have practically been wiped out;
that trades and sales of north side
property have been as numerous as
they have been in years during this
month, and that persons on the north
side are paying their mortgages and
other debts they may owe with
little or no delay. One real estate
dealer this week reported the payment
of three $500 mortgages within three
days by his clients.
North Topekans are taking consid-
cradle pride in the confidence ex-
hibited by persons living north of the
Kaw. In the last week two. families
Gov tod
the north side have bought homes |
One family not only bought a new
home but purchased a complete new
outfit of furniture. North siders cite |
told whether or not confidence in |
their part of the city appears to have
taken flight
Many improvements Under Way.
Since the Kaw has settled down to
it's customary stride, Senator Charles |
Curtis, who owns considerable prop |
erty IN North Topeka has reprinted |
and otherwise improved six of his |
houses. Along Kansas avenue i'm |
prOvementS in store fronts and in |
terror alterations in business prop |
erty have been being made in the past |
few weeks while a number of prop |
erty owners intend starting improve
mentS soon.
Precautions taken by the city in the |
past few years were instrumental in
preventing a good deal of damage. |
A pump installed at the foot or Fa1r-
child street was able, when the river |
and creeks were at their highest point /
to relieve the sewers of North To-
peka of their contents. Without the |
pumping station the sewage system of
the north side would have been put |
out of commission after the river had
reached the 22-foot stage. bikes along |
the river and creeks were also i'm
portant factors in saving property.
Now while the wave of confidence
in North Topeka is at it's height |
residents of that district are demand |
ing further improvements that will |
guarantee without question even
greater safety. Another pump is
wanted to relieve the present pump
on Fairchild street and to take up its
work if at any time the present pump |
is put out of commission. Extension
of the sewage system and improve I
ments in sewers already laid are asked !
and the city commissioners are being |
urged to provide North Topeka with |
any other means that may serve to |
protect them when the Kaw and the
creeks decide 10 go out.
The installation of the duplicate |
pumping station at the foot of Fair /
child street has been assured by MEM |
bers of the city commission; neces- |
sary improvements in the sewage sys- /
of the North Topeka Drainage board |
a typographical survey of Soldier and /
Indian creeks will soon be made and |
will be followed by extensive improve /
ments looking to the conservation OF |
farm property when the creeks over |
flow.