The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-15
MAKE A BIC DAY
Of the Silver Anniversary Of
the Santa Fe.
Charles S. Gleed Believes the
Idea Excellent.
1T SUITS OFFICIALS.
Almost Unanimous in Their
Endorsement
Of the Plan to Celebrate the
Great Roads improvement.

The State Journals suggestion to
have n silver celebration of the Santa
Fe railway during the Fall Festival
next fall is stirring up a great deal
of interest among the officials and en-
plOyes of the Santa Fe in the west and
particularly in Kansas. The senti-
ments of the employees of the offices
and shops in this city appear to be the
same, all favoring the scheme, while
but few officials in Topeka have any
thing to offer in opposition to it.
In a canvass of the officials at the
general office building in this city but
one was found who made any serious
objection to the celebration scheme
''It is a question in my mind" said he,
whether the road could afford to lose
the time of the men and whether the
men themselves could afford it It
would be costly to both the company
and the employees, and for this reason
am not in favor of it." These Objec-
tiOnS can be easily answered by call
ing attention to the fact that one day
each year Labor day, the Santa F'e
and all other railroad lines throughout
the country suspend business and
give their employees a holiday, and in
stead of Cele brating on the first Monday
in September, the holiday could be
postponed until the day settled upon
during the Festival week. Last fall
the celebration OF Labor day IN Topeka
was postponed three weeks on account
of the Fall Festival and the best me
chanical display ever made in the west
was made by the Santa F'e shop en-
ployes of this city.
A prominent TOpekan who is con-
nected with the Santa F'e railway and
who heartily favOrs the scheme of
celebrating the silver anniversary of
the great railway, is Charles S. Gleed
OF this city. Mr.. Gleed is a member
of the board of directors of the Santa
Fe, and has probably more historical
data in his possession concerning the
growth of the Santa F'e in its various
departments in the west than any other
man in Kansas. Mr.. GIeed can fur
nish valuable information in arrang-
ing the celebration. and viii be glad to
give all the assistance possible If the
officials Of the road decide to lend their
cooperation in carrying out the
scheme.
I have been in the east and have not
yet seen the article in the Journal
said Mr.. Gleed last night, but from
what 1 understand about the matter 1
think it an excellent idea 1 think
Santa Fe celebration would be par
ticularly fitting in Kansas, and believe
1t would be of benefit in different ways
to both the state and Topeka.
1t would be asking too much to call
on labor for two days celebration.
and for this reason the Santa Fe cele-
bration would probably have to be
held on the day dedicated to labor 1
think there would be no objection to
this. for the railroad display could be
made a distinctive section Of the pa
rade.
1t would be my idea to make the dis
play characteristic of the growth of the
Santa F'e- Secure photographs and in
formation of the earlier equipment,
rolling stock and buildings, and then
prepare models I think a decidedly in
teresting display could be arranged in
this manner"
There is some question among the Of
ficials who favor the scheme as to
whether the celebration could be sue
cessfully carried outside of Kansas.
From all points along the lines of the
Santa Fe in this state train service
could be 50 arranged that the employees
Of the road could arrive in Topeka on
the morning of the anniversary dav
and leave for their homes that night
thereby losing but one day from their
work To bring employees from points
as far away as Las Vegas and Fort
Madison would necessarily mean q loss
OF more than one day to the men But
even to confine the celebration princi-
pally to Kansas. there are thousands of |
employees from Santa Fe points outside
of the state who could easily make ar
rangements to get away and would |
come to see it.
Mr.. Avery Turner, assistant general |
superintendent of the Santa Fe thinks |
the plan proposed is a splendid idea. |
By all means carry it out said Mr..
Turner. 1t would be a good thing for |
the state and for Topeka, and would be /
an occasion that thousands of Santa |
Fe employees over the state yvOuId en-
JOY I don't think there would be any
trouble about securing equipment to !
bring the men here on excursions. and |
let them come to Topeka and take part |
in the fall festivities and see the town
MT = l. Copeland, cashier of the |
Santa he treaSurer'S Office suggested |
that such a celebration would he tbe |
means OF bringing q large number of |
friends of the Santa Fe emDIOveS +O /
this city. This would furnish bnsiness |
for the road probably sufficient to offset |
the expense of running the emDlOves' |
excursions to this city
Mr.. c. s Sutton, auditor of freight re-
Ceipts of the Santa Fe. is in favor of |
any scheme that will tend to beneft |
Topeka, and is consequently heartily in |
favor of the Santa F7e anniversary eel |
ebration.
The Santa Fe is the pioneer railroad !
of Kansas" said Mr.. Sutton. 'and To-
peka is the pioneer town of the road.
and I think it would be very fitting to |
celebrate the anniversary of its con
struction through the state. I see no
reason, if Mr.. Ripley should decide to
lend his cooperation, why the plan
could not be carried into a great sue
cess. at least locally to Kansas"
A man prominent among the employ
es at the shops, who doesn't care to
have his name used. said last night:
The idea of a Santa F'e celebration
could be worked up splendidly. You
saw the display the shop men made
here last fall? Well, just work up
scheme like that, and the display we
made last year won't be in it with the
display that viii be made next fall If
the officials will go into the scheme and
cooperate with the men, every divis-
ion point in Kansas will be represented
by an exhibit in the parade Why
shouldn't the men be in favor of ito