The Topeka state journal., 1897-07-10
TWO DOZEN FLOATS
Are Already Planned for the
Santa Fe Parade.
1t Is Expected There Will Be
More Than Fifty.
People From Eastern States Who
Fail to See This Magnificent
Railroad Demonstration Will
Kiss the Sight of
Lifetime.

An executive committee which will
have general charge of the Santa F'e
anniversary celebration in this city
during the Fall Festival has been form
ed. 1t is composed of the following rep
reSentatives from the different depart
ments of railway service in this city.
Santa Fe general offices-VV. J. Healy
and J. f. Mitchell.
Order of Railway Conductors-Harry
Griffin.
brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
james Thomas.
Brotherhood of Locomotive Ffremen-
William Robinson.
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen-
R. c. Scott.
rie.
Car departmental. Manson.
Boiler departmental. NJ. Baird.
Water service department-W.S.L Law
less.
Store department-Andrew Laird.
This committee will carry out the
general plans of the celebration. 1t Will
establish a headquarters in the central
portion of the city for the accommoda-
ton of visiting railroad men during the
Festival week, arrange the parade ana
other exercises of Santa Fe day and
secure the speakers who will address
the railroad men in the afternoon. The
work of the committee will be a general
supervision of the anniversary ce1eDra-
ton.
In all departments of railway service
in this city the work of arranging the
respective portions of the celebration is
underway. The committee on plans
appointed by the general office organi-
zation has decided to make a display of
six floats in the celebration parade. The
nature of these floats has not yet been
decided upon, but they will probably be
on a historical line. The assistance of
Prof. Henry Worrall, who for years was
the road in the work of arranging dis
plays, will be secured in preparing the
floats.
over $500 has been subscribed for the
celebration at the general offices, and
nearly 5000 of this amount has already
been collected. The remainder is pay
able in two fnStallmentS, one in August
and one in September.
At the Santa Fe shops in this city the
men are at present evolving ideas tow
ards the celebration Il want the men
for the celebration" said Mr. George
Hancock, assistant superintendent Of
machinery, and about 80 or 40 days
before the Festival we will get the ideas
together and pick out the best ones.
This will give US plenty of time to ar
range the foats.''
The number of floats to be built for
the celebration parade al the shops will
probably be in the neighborhood of 20
AT least $1,000 in material alone will be
expended in arranging the displays to
say nothing of the time of the men. 1t
seems probable there will be 40 or so
floats altogether.
All the railroad orders Will prOba bly,
be represented in the celebration parade
by displays. On account of the heavy
traffic at the time of the Festival it will
be impossible for any large number of
the members of the railroad orders to
be present in this city, and the best
showing can be made by displays. Cor
respondence has been taken up by the
divisions of the different orders in this
city with the divisions at other points
over the road, and subscriptions will be
collected to defray the cost of prepar-
ing the displays.
The parade on Santa F'e day will be
held in the morning. In the afternoon
appropriate exercises will be arranged,
to consist chiefly of speeches by prom
inent railroad men. Col. C. K. Holiday
of this city, the first president of the
Santa Fe, will talk on the early history
of the great railroad, and President e.
P. Ripley, the present president, will
speak of its present condition. George
r. Peck will also be present and deliver
an address These exercises will prob
ably be held at the fair grounds, as there
is no other place in the city where the