The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-10
CELEBRATE IT.
Make the Silver Anniversary of
the Santa Fe Road
A Special Feature of the Fall
Festival.
This Can Be Done by Railroad
Men.
BRING 10000 MEN
From All Along the Line With
Floats and Banners
And Invite President Ripley to
View the Procession.
STRICTLY ORIGINAL.
Celebration of the Biggest Rail-
road in the L. s.
Something Never Thought OF
Before or Attempted.

Topeka is one of the greatest railroad
centers of its size in the west and the
largest in Kansas. 1t is the heart of
the great Santa Fe system, the biggest
railroad in the United States. From
here pulses through its great arteries
the HfebloOd that keeps the vast or
ganization going.
There have been celebrations, glori-
fcatfons, jubnees, reunions of every
kind and description on the occasion
of anniversaries. but has there ever
been the celebration of the anniversary
of a great and magnificent railroad?
Twenty-Five years ago the AtchisOn,
Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, after It
had paused a number of years in the
northeast corner of the state, began
its triumphal march across the CONT
westward In 1923 it reached the
western border of the state. This
year, 1897, is the silver anniversary of
its new life.
With small beginnings at first, it is
now Outrivaled by no line in its i'm
mensity. Extending from the Pacific
coast to the great lakes, with another
arm running down to the Gulf of Mex
leo, it holds in its beneficent embrace
q large section of the richest portion of
the earth. While the inhabitants of
this immense territory have conferred
favors and benefits on this great cor
pOratiOn, it has likewise conferred IA
VOrS and benefits on those who reside
along it's lines. 1t is fitting that the
Santa. Fe and the people of Kansas
should unite in a great celebration of
the building of the mighty road which
has been associated with their early
struggles and has many times extend
ed its helping hand to the pioneers on
the frontier, and has fOstered every en-
terprise for the benefit of Kansas The
policy of the Santa F'e in this regard
has been much more liberal than that
Of any other road in the country. Its
officials have always directly interested
themselves in the prosperity of the
towns along the route, even to the eX-
tent of helping municipalities improve
and beautify their localities
Even at the present time the Santa
Fe company has established an indus
trial bureau the special object of which
is to help towns and cities to help
themselves. 1t is pushing new enter
prises and suggesting and aiding i'm
prOVements every day. Never before
in the history of the road have its pros
poets looked brighter, and the prospects
of Kansas are brighter on account of
the roads activity.
Under President Ripley's wonderful
management, growth and Improvement
is the watchwOrd all along the line
Splendid new depOtS are being built,
new and better rails laid, modern and
expensive bridges being put in. and
everywhere are the signs of life and
Atlantic & Pacific gives the Santa Fe
its own outlet to the Pacific coast and
makes it a homogeneous compact line,
the finest in the world.
All this ought to be celebrated, and be
a part of the great Fall eFstival of 1897.
Topeka being the central point of the
system is the proper place for the cele-
ration. Let the great Santa Fe sys-
tenn declare q two or three days hall
day, as nearly as il can with due con-
sideratiOn for all necessary traffic and
let its thousands of employees from all
along the line come to Topeka in honor
of the event. Let US have delegations
from all the Santa F'e's railroad cen
ters from Chicago to San Francisco.
Argentine, Emporia, Newton, Arkansas
City, Dodge City, La Junta, Las Vegas,
Albuquerque, Los Angeles, Purcell, FIT.
Madison and lesser points should all be
represented. Let one day of the Fall
Festival-Monday perha pS-be set aside
as Santa Fe day. when there shall be
1oOO0 railroad men in the procession
Let the Santa F'e officers and the Santa
Fe shops. be gaily decorated and let us
have President Ripley here to review
the procession, and receive the hOnors
he so We'll deserves for putting the great
road on its feet again after its recent
troubles President Ripley should be
made the honOred guest of the CITY. The
celebration itself Will be great adver-
isement of the road and one we'll worth
the trouble and expense. It viii also be
the first and only celebration of a rail
road anniversary in the history of the
country.
In addition to the other features of
the celebration there should be an ex-
hibition of relics" such as the first en-
gine ever run over the line. if il can be
found, the first charter of the road. por-
traits of its founders and early direc-
tors, and curiOsitieS of all kinds per
tanning to the system This could be
placed in a large hall where the tens of
thousands of visitors who will be in To-
peka on Festival week would view
them. It would be one of the most en-
tertaining exhibitions that could be
imagined.
Another feature of the celebration
should be a float prepared and appear
ing in the procession with each deIega-
ton of railroad men. For instance. the
railroad ner from Arkansas City should
bring float representing some feature
of railroading, while the railroad men
of Dodge City could appear escorting
some other design
These floats would make a splendid
sight and add greatly to the glory and
success OF the celebration.
The above plans can be enlarged in
detail from time to time, and the State