Other noteworthy edifices are the Public Library (containing 24,000 volumes), the United States Government Building, the county court-house, and the city hall and auditorium. The Melan Arch Bridge, which cost $150,000, possesses considerable architectural merit. Topeka is the seat of Washburn College (Congregational), opened in 1865; of the College of the Sisters of Bethany (Protestant Episcopal), opened in 1861; and of the Kansas Medical College. The State Insane Asylum and the State Reform School are also here. The prominent local charitable institutions include the Santa Fe Railway Hospital, the Jane C. Stormont Hospital and Training School for Nurses, Christ Hospital, Bedwell's Private Insane Asylum, Detention Hospital, and Ingleside, a home for aged women.
The industrial interests are centred chiefly in the extensive shops of the Santa Fe Railroad, and in the manufacture of flour. Of the smaller establishments, the most important are foundries and machine shops, lumber mills, and manufactories of boilers, trusses, woolen goods, etc. In the census year 1900 the total capital invested in all industries was $3,891,530; the value of their output amounted to $9,977,605. Considerable wholesale and jobbing business is carried on in Topeka. The government is vested in a mayor, chosen biennially, and a unicameral council. Subordinate officials, with the exception of the board of education, which is elected by popular vote, are appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation of the council. The electric light plant and the water-works are owned by the municipality. The city spends annually for maintenance and operation about $323,000, the chief items being: schools, $102,000; interest on debt, $52,000; streets, $33,000; fire department, $28,000; and police department, $25,000. Population, in 1890, 31,007; in 1900, 33,608.
Topeka, laid out in 1854, was one of the ‘Free State’ towns founded by Eastern anti-slavery men immediately after the passage of the ‘Kansas-Nebraska Bill.’ In 1856 an anti-slavery convention adopted here the ‘Topeka Constitution,’ in pursuance of which the ‘Topeka Government’ was established, to be soon broken up by the United States troops. During this year Topeka became notorious for the raids made by its citizens on pro-slavery settlements. In 1857 Topeka was chartered as a city, becoming a city of the first class in 1881. It was made the capital of the State in 1861. Consult Giles, Thirty Years in Topeka, a Historical Sketch (Topeka, 1886).
TOPELIUS, tō̇-pā′lē̇-ụs, Zachris (1818-98). A Swedish-Finnish poet and novelist, born at Kuddnäs, near Ny Karleby, and educated at the University of Helsingfors. In 1863 he became professor of the history of Finland and the North at the university. He resigned his professorship in 1878. As a lyric poet he was second only to Runeberg, and his children's stories have been translated into many languages. His publications include: Ljungblommor (“Flowers of the Heath,” 3 parts, 1845-50); Efter femtio ar (play: “After Fifty Years,” 1851); Fältskärns Berättelser (“Tales of an Army Surgeon,” 1853-67); Läsning för Burn (“Children's Stories,” 7 parts, 1865-91); and En resa i Finland (“A Journey in Finland,” 2d ed. 1885).
TOPETE Y CARBALLO, tō̇-pā′tā̇ ē̇ kär-bä′lyō̇, Juan Bautista (1821-85). A Spanish admiral and politician, born at San Andrés de Tuztla, Mexico. He entered the navy at the age of seventeen and became midshipman in 1843 and lieutenant two years later. From 1846 to 1849 he served in Cuban waters and subsequently was on duty in the Mediterranean. He was promoted to the captaincy of a frigate in 1857 and during the war with Morocco in 1859 was chief of staff to the fleet. About this time he formed political affiliations with the Union Liberal Party under O'Donnell and in 1862 was elected to the Cortes from Cadiz. He was on the Pacific station during the conflict with Peru and Chile in 1865-66 and was severely wounded in the bombardment of Callao in May of the latter year. Made brigadier on his return and placed in command of the port of Cadiz he took an active part in the political conspiracies of the times and by his pronunciamiento of September 17, 1868, gave the signal for the outbreak of the Revolution which drove Isabella II. from the throne. He sent a ship to bring back the generals who had been deported to the Canaries (see Spain) and after he had been joined by Prim and Sagasta won over the city of Cadiz to the Revolution. In the provisional government Topete assumed the portfolio of Marine. He favored the election of the Duke of Montpensier to the throne and laid down his post when the choice fell upon Amadeus of Savoy. In 1872, however, he resumed office under Serrano and during the latter's absence from the capital presided over the Ministerial Council. In the Revolution of 1873 he was imprisoned for a short time but regained influence under the presidency of Serrano who placed him once more at the head of the navy. With Serrano he fought against the Carlists in the north. On the accession of Alfonso XII. Topete retired from active participation in politics. In 1879 he was made a life Senator and in 1881 became vice-admiral. He died at Madrid, October 29, 1885.
TÖPFFER, tẽpf′ẽr, Rodolphe (1799-1846). A Swiss novelist and draughtsman, born in Geneva, son of the landscape and genre painter Adam Töpffer (1766-1847), under whose instruction he devoted himself to art. His eyesight failing, be took up teaching, in 1825, established a boarding school, and in 1832 became professor of æsthetics at the Academy of Geneva. His novel Le presbytère (1839) attracted universal attention. The Nouvelles genevoises (1838), Nouvelles et mélanges (1840), La bibliothèque de mon oncle (1843), and Rose et Gertrude (1845) are hardly less delightful than the humorous sketches of travel Voyages en zigzag (1848) and Nouveaux voyages en zigzag (1853), illustrated by himself. A little archaic in style, his work is simple, artistic, sound, and witty, with a childlike fancy and sentiment. Among his best productions are the seven little novels in pictures: Mr. Jabot, Mr. Crepin, Mr. Pencil, Le docteur Festus, Histoire d'Albert, Les amours de Mr. Vieux Bois, and Mr. Cryptogame, published together in Collection des histoires en estampes (Geneva, 1846-47). For his biography consult Relave (Paris, 1886); Blondel and Mirabaud (ib., 1887); and Glöckner (Zerbst, 1891).
TOPHET, tō′fĕt (Heb. tōpheth). A place in the Valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, associated with the Worship of Molech (II. Kings xxiii. 10; Is. xxx. 33; Jer. vii. 31-32; xix. 6, 12-14). The origin and meaning of the name
