The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-15
Topeka Must Stand Financially
Behind Industries.
Bank Should Have Equal Con-
r fidence in Manufacturing.
ALL EYES ON AGRICULTURE
livestock and Crops Retain
Loans From the Bankers.
Upbuilding of Topeka Depends
Upon the Line of Credit.

Interest in greater and more varied
commercial activities must be fostered
in Topeka, in the opinion of a number
of business men. The last ten years
has witnessed the location of manu-
featuring plants in the city and has
demonstrated that they can prosper.
From the standpoint of the execu-
tives of industrial plants, according to
c. p. Buck, member of the industrial
committee of the Chamber of Com
merce, Kansas bankers must make an
intensive study of modern industrial
practice, in order that they may be-
come of assistance in the development
of western industries
Cattle, land, crops, and building
property are said to be about the only
things. on which Kansas and Topeka
bankers will loan money. 1t is natural
that this should be true because Kan
sas is a great agricultural state.
Bankers have lived a great part of
their financial lives with no need for
knowledge of banking practice based
on industrial pursuits outside the one
main industry, agriculture. The finan-
cial world has practically revolyed
around that axis in Kansas.
Banks Cripple Industry.
In recent years it has been demon
strated that the il,oustrials can be
built in the West as well as in the
East. George McEntire, chairman of
the industrial committee OF the Cham
Der of Commerce, admits that failure
to secure satisfactory banking ar
rangementS here has resulted in many
plants being taken to other cities
where they are now numbered among
that citg's most prosperous and flour
ishing industries.
Members of the industrial commit
tee recall an instance a number of
years ago, of manufacturer who sold
out in the east. Part of his contract
stipulated that he was not to re-enter
the same business east of the Missis-
sippi river Discussion of the PROPOSE
ton brought out that it was all that
was desirable. The man asked only one
thing. His product was subject to
seasonal sale. He wanted to arrange
for loan to carry him thru the season
until his sales began to materialize
His announcement was all but enthu-
siastically received. He picked up his
things; went to Oklahoma; and is now
one of the largest manufacturers of
that state.
Small investors of the west have not
learned the advantage of investmen t
in industrial securities according to
G. p Buck. There are countless in
dustries, Buck says. investment in
which is just as safe, returns as GER
tain, and results as fully guaranteed
as IN the lines which principally draw
western money.
Not to Be One Sided.
The Industrial man had no desire to
create the impression that he was urg-
ing a monopoly of investment in one
line to the exclusion of the other. He
merely tried to illustrate for the mem
bers Of the Chamber of Commerce in.
dustria1 committee in a recent meet
ing that Topeka must not allow itself
to become too one sided. Advantage
should be taken of all forms of prog
ress and development. if the city of
Topeka is to be made as big and pow
erful as it is possible to make it. He
told of break in the oil boom at
Wichita when more than $4,000, 900
was taken out of Wichita practically
over night. He showed how crop
failures in Kansas had put a crimp in
industry in Kansas. The placing of
money on several different lines of in
dustry insured a greater possibility of
the average profit being larger. With