The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-22
Expenditures Announced Today
by General Manager.
Addition Costing $115,0OO VIII
Be Started in July.
NEW EQUIPMENT IN PLANT
Will Give Topeka One of Best
Exchanges in West.
General Offices VIII Remain on
Kansas Avenue.

expenditures OF 9o0pJUUU 10 S1,UUU,-
600 in Topeka by the Southwestern
Bell Telephone company were an
nounced today by r. ]. Benzel. gen
eral manager for Kansas. The first
move in the program from a practical
ly new phone service for Topeka will
be construction of a $115,O00 addition
to the plant building on jackson
street. Then will come entire new
plant equipment. Work on the new
building will begin early in July.
The new plant building will be
75x110 feet. 1t will adjoin the pres
ent building on Jackson street be-
tween Eighth and Ninth streets. When
the annex is completed the company
will have frontage of 125 feet on
jackson street The new structure
will be fireproof and two stories above
basement, the same height as the pres
ent three story plant and local office
building. Foundations will permit ad-
dition of three floors to the new struc-
ture.
General offices of the company will
be continued in the Central National
building for at least two or three years.
These offices employ $50 to 200 peo-
pie and occupy three floors of the
building at Seventh and Kansas ave-
For Local Plant
Benzel stated today that the new
building would be completed in less
than a year. The new building is
needed to care for the increased bust
ness of the wire company and to pro-
vide space for new equipment. Quar-
ters of the plant employees are con-
gested in the present three story
structure and the additional floor
space will care for new business and
meet demands for several years A
basement the entire length and width
of the new offices will be provided.
This will throw the first floor above
will be the same height as the present
structure.
Fire proof construction will be used
entirely including exterior windows
equipped with metal frames and wire
glass. All of the inside trim will be
of fire proof materials. Ample pro-
vision will be made for elevators and
for future enlargement of the build
| ing. The heating system will be of
steam vacuum type. The new build
ing will also carry provisions for en-
larged rest rooms and cafeteria
Exterior of the new building will be
faced with a combination of several
shades of matt brick. The main en-
trance and trimmings. including the
cornice, will be of colored terra Gotta.
( The design of the exterior will be an
/ adaptation of the Italian Renaissance
style.
Garden for Employees.
A space of 25 feet facing jackson
street and south of the south line of
the new building is also owned by the
| telephone company. This space is to
! be beautified into a lawn and flower
garden for the plant employees.
I'VE have decided" said Manager
| Benzel, ito erect a new exchange
building which will give adequate
room to install the new equipment
necessary both at this time and to
| care for the growth of the service dur
ing the next several years. The pres
ent exchange building will not carry
additional stories. For that reason as
we'll as the fact that all of its capacity
! is exhausted, it is necessary to con-
struct a new building and install new
equipment.
One of Best in Country.
when the new building is com
pleted and facilities installed we shall
be able to answer all of Topeka's de-
mands for telephone service. This
! city will have one of the most up-to-
plants in the country. Lack of labor
and materials during the war pre-
vented carrying out these plans soon
! er. That was a condition which could
not be overcome"
| Installation of new plant equipment
will not begin until the new building
| is completed. A large appropriation
= for cable extensions and general out
side improvements. tho. will be used
| before the first of next year. Expense
| of betterments and new equipment
| 600 to be used in the next fiscal year.