The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-15
Half a Dozen Important Ones
Are Set Forth.
At the Annual Meeting OF the
Commercial Club.
OFFICERS MAKE REPORTS
Number of Workers and Their
Pay Have Increased.
CITY Has Entertained 80 Con-
ventiOns in Past Year.

A Convention Hall. ~,
Good Roads fror-. All Trade Terri
tory. e,.o..;o.,
a civic Center Building With Per
.tnanent Headquarters for the Com
NC completion o of the White Way sys-
A Better Clearing House Plan To
Be Adopted by Topeka Banks.
These are a few projects mentioned
by Charles S. Elliott, president and j.
VIII Kelley, secretary of the CONNER
cial club, at its annual meeting last
evening, which, if realized, viii make
a bigger and better Topeka. The meet
ing was well attended and was
marked success, officers declared
sting to Report.
r. PERTH. chairman of the indus
trial committee, was the only one who
in his annual report said things with
a sting connected. Mr.. Pettlt declareu
that during the past year the com1lt-
tee investigated a series of worthy en-
terprises, which with sfnah Ioans'
could have been induced to locate IN
Topeka but on account OF the JedI-
ousv with which the money IN the IN
dustrial promotion tund ha a., p ,'5ftH
guarded by its trustees the commit ,,
tee had been unable to get results
such as were possible
other committee reports, all bring
cheer
oP the last year, were read by Clyde
q 'rresner. welfare committee; DIR. Il.
s. Pettyjohn. schools and education;
George Godfrey Moore, conventions;
r. D. Blaine, immigration; w. O. rig
nv Dublicity; c. B. Burge, CIVIC I'M
movements: James Nelson, trade eX-
tension: E. L. Brookins. telephones
II s Putney, roads and bridges; W.
c. Carswell, state and national legts-
lation: W. w. Webb, street lighting;
a a6
Urge Better Hall.
A bigger and better convention hall
appeared to be the Improvement m
sisted upon the most. Half OF the
committee chairmen urged this i'm
provement.
Were gas or oil discovered in the
vicinity of Topeka said President
Elliott, "every citizen would rush to
the development of the industries, be-
cause they would be presumed to be
natural resources. Conventions are
Just as much a natural resource, as
either of the above industries would
be, and we are missing our duty to
ourselves and to the city, If we do not
at once avail ourselves of this oppor-
tunity with the result that Topeka, as
the best retail center in the state, may
continue to grow and expand with
leaps and bounds. For the suit case
brigade is one of the most profitable
that comes to the city. and a place to
entertain it is essential
In speaking of the falling off in
bank clearings Of approximately So
900, entirely out of proportion to
the other prosperous conditions of the
city in the last year, Mr. Kelley said:
Need IA Better Plan.
Unfortunately for Topeka not a
very satisfactory clearing house plan
is in operation here. and a great
amount of the business that should be
reported is not and it is difficult to
determine just what the true clearings
are. A better clearing house system
is sorely needed"
Continuing, Mr.. Kelley pointed out
many phases of Topeka industrial life
that had been improved. Topeka has
entertained fifty conventions and 1OO,-
900 strangers in the last year, s777,916
in building permits have been issued
one-half greater than last year. Good
roads have been builded into the city
a White Way placed around the state
house. and several new industries OBJ
tanned
More Dinner Pals.
ut is interesting to note" said Mr..
Kelley, that while there has been a
reduction from 2O2 to 159 plants in
the five years between 1909 and 1914
yet our dinner pail brigade has in
creased by $50 people, or per cent;
salaries have increased. $3,50O,00O or
&c per cent; wages have increased
$22S.00O, or per cent; value of ma
Ierlal mas increased S1,9l9,OOO, or 10. Z
per cent, and the value of products has
increased $1,921,000, or a gain of 10. 8
per cent"
The club ratified the election of the
board of directors, which meets early
next week to elect officers for the com
ing year. The members of the new
board, which officially took office last
night, are: w. W. Webb. S. E. Cobb,
w. L. Porter. w. G. Tandy, E. L. Over
ton, +. E. Nipps. Charles S. Elliott, w
Il Davis. Charles H. Trap. ]. S. Dean,
George Godfrey Moore, George p. Nc
Entire, c. B. Merriam, DIR. c. B. Reed
w. G. Carswell, DR.. E. l.. LoveIand, G..
r Harries, H. 3. Wright. b. B. Eitel-
man, and George w. Stansfield.