The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-09-29

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 it's great arteries
the hfeblood that keeps the vast or
ganizatiOn going.
There have been celebrations, glori-
fieations, jubilees, 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
it's triumpha1 march across the CONT
nent. In 1871 it began pushing south
westward. In 1928 it reached the
western border of the state This
year, 1897, is the silver anniversary Of
it's new life.
With small beginnings at first, it is
now outrivaled by no line in it's 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 benificent embrace
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
pOfatlOn, II mas likewise conferred IA
vors and benefits on those who reside
along its lines. 1t is fitting that the
Santa Fe and the people of Kansas
should unite in 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 Fe in this regard
mas 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
F'e 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
prlses and suggesting and aiding i'm
provements every day. Never before
in the history of the road have it's 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 ew depotS are being built
new and better rails laid, modern and
expensive bridges being put in, and
everywhere are the signs of life and
vigor. The purchase last week of the
Atlantic & Pacific gives the Santa Fe
it's own outlet to the Pacific coast and
makes it homogeneous compact line,
the finest in the world.
All tn s ought to be celebrated and be
a part of the great Fall Festival of 1897
Topeka being the central point of the
system is the proper place for the cele-
bration- Let the great Santa Fe sys-
tenn declare two or three days holi-
day, as nearly as it 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 Fe's railroad CEN
tiers 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 perhaps-be set aside
as Santa Fe day. when there shall be
10000 railroad men in the procession.
Let the Santa Re 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 it's recent
troubles. President Ripley should be
made the honored guest of the city The
celebration itself will be great adVer-
tisement of the road and one well worth
the trouble and expense. 1t will also be
the first and only celebration of a rail-
road anniversary in the history of the
country.
the celebration there should be an ex-
hibition of relics" such as the first en-
g.ne ever run over the line, if it 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 large hall where the tens of
thousands of visitors who will be in To-
peka on Festival week would view
them. 1t would be one of the most en-
tertaining exhibitions that could be
ina gined.
Another feature of the celebration
should be a float prepared and appear
ing in the procession with each delega-
ton of railroad men. For instance, the
railroad men from Arkansas City should
bring a 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
Journal offers them to the railroad men
all along the Santa Fe line for their
consideration. The columns of the
Journal will be open to communications
on the subject and the Journal wants
every Santa Fe railroad man to give us
his opinion as early as possible.
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Extra Train Sarvice.