davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
SUES THE CAR COMPANY.
Old LawraLcs Horse Car Line Track
Upsets a Farmers Wagon on
TOP of Him.

Lawrence, Dec. 3O-The old horse
car line company here has been sued
for SO, OOO damages
George Hutchinson, who lives in the
southern edge Of LeavenwOrth county
Is not a strong man physically, but was
plenty strong enough to drive load of
corn to market last October. He hasn't
done anything since.
Just after crossing the bridge over
the Kaw river, Mr.. Hutchinson's wag-
on wheels caught in the street car
tracks, the hind wheels slid around so
that the wagon load of corn tumbled
over on to the driver, injured his head
and broke his shoulder, leaving him in
a generally battered condition He has
been in bed at the home of his aunt
in WilliamStOWn, Jefferson county. ev-
er since until last week. when he filed
a bill for $1,000 damages and $S5 doc
tor bill with the Lawrence city coun-
ell and one for 50, 900 damages with the
street car company.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
IS A WHITE ELEPHANT.
Santa Fe and .. P. Will Tear Up Track
of L T. & s. w. and Sell
Rolling Stock.

The unprofitableness of the small
railroad branch lines Of Kansas, built
during the boom of railroad cOnstruc-
tion in this state. may be demonstrated
in a very practical way by the track Of
the LeaVenWOrth Topeka and South
western road being shortly torn up and
sold. This is the only way lett the
owners of the road of realizing any
thing on the money invested.
Mr.. w. Littlefield, of the Santa Fe
legal department, left yesterday after
noon for Chicago to take evidence in a
proceeding which will probably prove
the first step in the legaI process that
Will end with the abandonment of the
road and the sale OF the material and
rolling stock. It is the matter of the
claim of the Union Pacific receivers for
about $4,000 to supply the deficit occur
ring in the operation of the road from
the time they took charge of the Union
acific system lines up to the time of
its abandonment by them, several
months later
The Leavenworth, Topeka and South
western railway is owned jointly by the
bondhOiGerS of the Union Pacific and
santa Re roads, and up TO the time of
its abandonment by the Union Pacific
receivers was operated as a part of the
Union Pacific system. It has never
I'stla operating expenses and as soon
as the Union Pacific receiver realized
the unprOfitableness of the property
they ceased operating it, at the same
time bringing action to make the
q prior lien to the mortgage. 1t was
to take evidence in this action that Mr.
Littlefield was called to Chicago, and it
is probable that the matter viii be ad-
justed between the mortgages and the
receivers, and the forecl lOsure proceed
ings go on without delay.
As soon as the road was abandoned
by the Union Pacific receivers. the
bcndholders caused p receiver to be aD-
pointed in the person of Mr.. c. T Nc
Lellan, division superintendent of the
Santa Fe, and since that time the line
has been operated under his supervis-
ion. Although Mr. Mcclellan has used
the greatest economy in handling the
road, it is being operated at a daily
loss, and the amount Of deficit repre-
sented by receivers certificates is
mounting up.
Neither the Santa Fe or Union Pa
c-flc roads want the branch line and
neither company has any intention of
buying it in at the foreclosure sale 1t
viii simply so into the hands of the
bondholders. and to avoid litigation
and realize whatever is possible from
the material and rolling stock, the road
VIII undoubtedly be abandoned and
the track torn up
The sale of the road will probab
occur early in the next year.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30

Brookville. Fla. and Frank Herringtoa
also of that place.
Last August Carter conducted a mer-
chandise business at Brentwood. near
the southern border of this state. The
store was very large for so small a sta
ton. and as it was the only business Of
Importance there, the railroad had only
a disused freight car to serve the pur-
pose of depot. In the latter part OF
the month Carter ordered an unusually
large consignment of goods from houses
in Atlanta and Macon, aggregating
about SO, 300. according to Carter. They
arrived at Brentwood, and were depOSi-
ted in the little depot. On the 2Sth the
car was burned. and Immediately Car
ter put in a claim for damages against
the road
J. ". Connolly. the same detective.
employed on the BOhannOn case, went
to work on this mystery. He announced
to the officials that he saw undOubted
evidence that the goods had been first
hauled from the car and the latter then
burned.
Vile. Fla. with Carter posing as a pros
pective partner. He assisted Carter in
the erection of a large store and it was
not long before the goods which Carter
claimed had been destroyed began to
be placed in the store from some mys-
terious source. The detective checked
up about s.. 600 worth of the goods
which were on the invoice receipted for
by Carter, and then arrested him and
Frank Harrington, who is supposed to
have hand in the game. The men de-
ny their guilt. but the railroad company
expects to prove the charges.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30

started again and there was an old vet
eran poking around as if locking for
something.
Have you lost anything?" asked
I'ribble.
Yes. my ticket to Winfield said the
old man.
Sure you lost it in the train?"
Yes, 1 was in this car and lost it
out of my pocket" said the old man as
he continued to search.
pribble and the old man hunted high
and low but no ticket could they find.
Guess you have lost it for good and
all" said Pribble who was getting Of
hunting
Lets lock under the cushions" and
the old man commenced to turn over
every seat cushion. PribbIe started
again and made a thorough search OF
the car floor.
The old man lit a match and looked
under the seat. He got a small stick
and pOked in the corners and in the
dust.
NO use hunting any more" said
Pribble- We might as well give up
the search"
Wait till I put on my glasses and
look under this seat again." said the
old man.
Pribble turned around and Just as he
did so the old man gave a gasp and
threw up his hands Pribble thought
perhaps he had heart failure and
reached to catch him as he fell. He
did not fail but took the missing ticket
out Of his vest pocket where he kept
his glasses and showed it to Pribble.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
LOCOMOTIVE OF THE FUTURE.
President Ingalls, of the Big Four on
American Railways.

Cincinnati, Dec. 30-President ingalls, of
the Big Four. in speaking of the loco
motives of the future, said:
Probably locomotives propelled by cleo
tricity will come in the future. If not
something else may, and We cannot tell
what the next years have in store in the
way of improving our railway facilities.
Higher speed, possibly cheaper trains; but
it is necessary to this country of ours that
the railways should be encouraged so that
branch lines be built to every county
seat in the country. Instead of stopping
a $4,000 miles of railway, we should build
at least 800 miles a year in short and in
expensive lines as feeders to the main
systems, so that the days of the stage
coach and the heavy wagons should be un-
known. This country will soon have 100,-
100000 people 1t will require at least ESQ.,
600 miles of railways to serve them prop
erly-an increase of 40 per cent over the
present mileage.
They cannot be built, they cannot be
improved and increased with the present
system of legislation and with the present
prejudice against them. The develop
Inent of the country demands that this
must be changed. It is through such in
stitutions as this. it is through such stu
dents these, that the change must
come. IN the centuries that have gone
the ambitious youth of the various cOun-
tries sought fame and preferment in war
and its accomplishments. We live in bet>
ter days and in a higher civilization. but
the service of our railways offers d wider
field for achievement ana for fame than
anything of old. The road to success in
this line is not through carnage and suf-
fering but it is none the less sure and it
requires equally moral courage and in
telligence. A new evangel must be preach
ed in reference TO railways: they must be
placed upon a higher order, and instead
OF being pariahs in business they must
be the benefactors and the friends of ALL
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
NORTH TOPEKA.

items intended for this column should
De left at the Kimban Ptg. Co.. herore u
o'clock in the morning.
Bread. lb. five cents. Gem Bakery
George L. Miller is spending a few
days in Mcpherson.
ID. f. Hoover was down from Silver
Lake yesterday.
20 per cent discount on miscellaneous
books this week. Cromwell & Jeffers-
Mr.. Chapman has returned from a
visit to Kansas City friends.
Wanted-Every body to know that the
Gem Meat Market is now open for
business at No. 9O2 North Kansas Ave,
just one door north of Green & Sons s
store. Amos. n. Goodman.
% per cent on Photo Albums for this
week. Cromwell & Jeffers.
Misses Bertie and Grace NIileham of
Kansas City are visiting friends on this
side.
Postmaster Charles Kuntz of Silver
Lake was transacting business on this
side yesterday.
Choice dressed turkeys 10 cents per
pound, Sabine's meat market, 81
North Kansas avenue.
Miss Grace L. Rattan of Leaven-
worth is the guest of her aunt, Mrs
J. A. Fuller of 1928 Quincy street.
Mrs. Robert Morris will leave the 5th
of January for Greeley, Colo. where
she will visit her daughter, Mrs. Gale.
Mrs. s. L. Courtney arrived home
yesterday from council Grove. WneFe
she visited her mother, Mrs. Phillips,
over Christmas.
Misses Ella and Lille Nellen of Scan
dia who have been guests of J. H
FOUGHT and daughter. Mabel, for the
past month, returned to their home to-
day.
Miss Della Decker of Holton has
heen spending several days the guest
of Mrs. A. F. Eby.
Mr.. and Mrs. A. f. Hodge and chill
dren of 1912 Madison street will arrive
home Saturday from Guthrie, Okla.
where they have been visiting for the
past week.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ed. Griest, who have
been the guests of Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. T.
Campbell, returned to their home in
Cheyenne Wells, Colo, the first of tEe
week.
Misses Nettie and Mollie PolIum of
Indian Greek, have been attending the
Teachers association and visiting their
sister. Mrs. Israel Day of Quincy street.
Miss I. I. Horsley and Mr.. o. S.
Johnson, both of Shorey, were married
last evening, the ceremony being per-
formed by Rev. G. NJ. GottreIl.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
SwENSSONS FALL OUT.
Lindsborg Republicans Quarrel Be-
cause Silver Champion
Enoke There.

Lindsborg, Kan, Dec. 30.-There is
war among the Republicans at Linds-
borg, and all on account of Rev. DR.. c.
A SWenssOn, president of Bethany col
lege, extending an invitation to William
J. Bryan to make an address in the
college auditorium. Bryan accepted
the invitation, and arrived in Linds-
borg preparatory to fulfill his part of
the contract. John A. Swensson, not a
relative of DR.. c. A. Swensson, strong
ly objected to Bryan appearing. and
forbade his son playing in the Bethany
band, which was ordered out to receive
the silver champion.
Mr.. SwenssOn and Rev. DR.. Swensson
of the college have always been very
fast friends, exchanging Christmas
q eetings and presents. Notwithstand-
ing a little friction, Dr. Swensson pre-
pared his presents as customary and
sent them to his former friend Christ
mas evening, who rejected them. in
structing the expressman who deliver
ed them to return them to Dr.. .SwenssOn
and if he did not receive them in return
to throw them out in the street.
Friends of the two men have taken
sides in the dispute, and as a cOnse-
quence the party in Lindsborg is di-
vided into factions for perhaps the first
time.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
RAILROAD NEWS.
Santa Fe Tries to Get Rid of
Old Litigation.
Legal Department Holds That
the Old Company
is NOT A CORPORATION
And Therefore Damages Cannot
be Recovered Against 1t.
A Test Case to Come Up in the
Lyon County Court.

The ruling of Judge Foster of the
United States court in regard to litiga-
ton against the old Santa Fe Railroad
company. is to be tested at the next
term of the district court in Lyon cOun-
ty- Judge Foster held that the old
company could be recovered against
for damages. but not for interest on
any amount.
Some time ago personal damages
against the old company 10 the amount
Of 81. 900 was recovered in Lyon county
and the plaintiff at the next term
of court will endeaVCr to collect be-
tween 500 and $500 interest. The Santa
Fe attorneys expect il TO GO against
the company in the district court, and
viii at once appeal it to the supreme
court of the state. Should il there be
held that interest can be recovered. the
case viii be taken to the United States
supreme court
IF the case reaches the supreme court
of the United States the Santa Fe at
torneys Will there attack the order of
the federal court making it pOssib BILE for
damages to be recovered against the
Old company after it passed out of ex-
1SIence as a corporation. NO protest
has been made against the order so far
because the Santa Fe people have been
able TO satisfactorily compromise the
majority of the cases against the old
company, but the opportunity offered
by case going to the United States
supreme court of attacking il would be
Ia ken advantage Of The Santa F7e at
torneys hold that the supreme court
would IN all probability declare the or
der void.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30

James White, sr., is on the sick list.
The smokestacks on the sand house
are being painted.
c. M Higginson's private car left
on No. 6 today.
Harry Brill of the paint shop has re-
turned from a visit to England.
Several engineers have small pictures
of Edna Whitney in their watch cases.
Pat Sherman now has new time
board on which to eXemplify his art in
the Spencerian line.
President Max Schmidt of the Ma
tionaI Car Lighting company, will ar
rive in the city today.
Mrs. Stone. the wife of Switchman
George L. Stone, is not as well as when
she left the hospital.
President Murlin of Baker university
Baldwin. Kan, addressed the men at
the Santa Fe coach shops this noon.
Frank Stevens leaves the employ of
the Santa Fe tonight. The shop men
are intending to give him a parting
send off,
The following notice is posted on the
board, Any brakeman on regular cars
desiring assignment to service in Law
renee yards. apply to H A Tice." The
eldest man applying will get the place.
President Ripley's private car Ne.
219 viii be fitted with the new axle
electric light before it leaves the To-
peka shops. Mr.. F. NJ. Gilbert, who is
experimenting the work of fitting the
cars with electricity, says that it will
be fitted with the best of electrical
eouiDmpnt
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
INSURANCE COMBINE
Is About to be Organized by the
Commissioner of Western
States.

Denver, Dec. 30.-The idea of making
an examination of the accounts of the
big eastern insurance companies by the
state authorities is again being agitat-
ed. The newest plan of procedure is
to form a combine of all the insurance
commissioners of western and south
ern states and compel the companies
to submit to having their finances aud
tied and the result made public
Insurance Commissioner Vivian to-
day received a communication from J.
II. Kipp. commissioner of South Dal1o-
ta giving the details of the plan and
urging upon him the advisability of CO.
operating in the movement. Mr. k1pp
says that the commissioners of Ar
kansas, Washington, Minnesota, North
Dakota Texas. Oregon, California,
Nebraska and Kansas have been asked
and a majority of them have already
agreed to join.
The laws here do not permit the in
surance commissioner to call for an eX-
animation or provide for one unless by
consent of the executive. Commission
er Vivian will therefore reply to the
South Dakota commissioner that he
viii have to bring the matter before the
epONPrnOr
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
FROM NEWTON

a new force pump has arrived here
and will be put in the rOundhOuse. 1t
will be used in connection with the hot
water ciStern.
The steamftting gang is putting in
an airline around the shops. The line
is of four-inch pipe. Every 20 feet inch
pipes are connected and put near the
machines or worktables. When the air
compressor arrives and is placed in pO
sition, a great deal of the work now
done by hand will be done by com
pressed air tools.
The boiler shop is being filed with
new cinder floor. A thick coat of Gin
ders was put down and then rolled with
a large, heavy flywheel. This packed
the cinders nicely and makes 4 floor
that will be durable and lasting. as
we'll as quite clean. The boiler force is
very busy, as work is heavy All the
men are working extra time.
The steamline leading into the round
house has been connected up with the
boilers in the back shop. Before this
the roundhouse has been heated by
steam from the So which was connected
with the pipeline.
The pockets of the coal chute are be-
ing refined with sheet iron. The lining
on the pockets was worn out and the
boards were being broken by the heavy
chunks of coal,
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
TO USE STEEL TRUCKS.
Santa Fe Engine Tanks to be More
Thoroughly Equipped

Hereafter the Santa Fe engine tanks
are to be fitted with trucks that will be
made throughout of steel.
For some time the road has used
trucks that were partly constructed of
steel and lately it has been decided to
use them on all the heavier engines
and also decided that the truck beam
should also be of steel. This W II make
the trucks of the tanks essentially all
steel. The cid paper wheels have been
given up and now the steel wheels with
SpOkeS are in use. These steel trucks
viii be used only on the larger tanks
and the trucks of the old style will be
used on the smaller tanks. Tanks with
a capacity of 5000 gallons Of water and
seven or eight tons of coal will be fitted
with the new trucks as fast as they are
in the shop for repairs. The OLD trucks
taken from under the heavier tanks
VII be used on the smaller tanks.
The change is made to strengthen the
trucks of the heavy tanks. So far the
old style of trucks have carried the
tanks but to avoid any danger of break
downs in the future the stronger trucks
VIII be substituted.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
"SAN BERDOO" AFIRE.
San BernardinO, California, ,Sus-
tains Heavy Losses.

San Bernardino, Cal, Dec. 30.-The
overturning of a lamp for heating glue
in Whitney's planning mill late yester-
day afternoon, started a fire which de-
stroyed property valued at 100000 and
threatened to wipe out the city. Four
teen residences, an Episcopal church,
skating rink, and a hardware store
were burned and the fire was only got
under control when needed help arriV-
ed from the adjacent towns. A pecu-
liarity of the fire was the fact that it
sometimes jumped an entire block in
its devastating path.
One Of the greatest personal losses
suffered by an individual was that of
w G. Wright. who has devoted his
life to natural history collections. which
were in some features rare and known
to scientists throughout the world.
This collection had a market value of
Is or 20 thousand dollars.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
CHOPPED TO DEATH.
A Kansas City Negro Murders
His Wife With a Hatchet.

Kansas City, Mo, Dec. 3O.-Nellie
Johnson, a young negress, was chopped
to death with d hatchet last night. in
an alley near Tenth and Wyandotte
streets, in the business district of the
city. Her husband was the murderer
He called her from their house into the
alley and attacked her with the hatch
ct. The woman threw up her hands to
protect her head. When men who heard
ner cries ran to the scene they found
her dying.
Each of eight blows upon her head
had split the skull. and her hands had
been literally chopped to pieces one
finger was missing. Near by stood a
horse and an express wagon, in which
were ropes tied to a heavy stone It
had evidently been the intention of the
murderer to throw his victim into the
river but the woman's outcry had pre-
vented this being done. Johnson is still
a large
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
SAM SPROAT FOUND.
He is Now in Juneau and Means &c
Get 100000.

Samuel Sproat, who founder of the
Model Supply store. is now in Juneau.
Alaska, digging Cor getting) gold
The following letter from him was writ
ten to his brother, James Sproat, of the
Star grocery, on the margins of leaves
of a paper called ''The Alaska Search
light:
do not believe all you read in regard
to gold, but believe all about cold weather
and snow. We now have about six feet
of snow. I am making some money. and
deserve to make it. VIII leave this coun-
try when I have in my pocket 100000, and
will say that cannot tell when that will
be, as it costs about SO per day to live
that is, to eat plenty of beans and sal
mon to keep your stomach in order
Whisky costs 50 cents a drink beer 25
cents, wine $40 a bottle. Love to all.
"SAM"
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
AMONG RAILROAD MEN.

Engineer John Page will move with
his family to Wichita from E2l Dorado
about the first of the year.
The Santa Fe has just unloaded a
car of lumber at Kingman which Will
be used in repairing the coal chute
The NJ. A. & B. as a feeder for the
Santa Fe during the past two months
shipped All cars of stock over the line,
not counting freight.
Construction work on the Hutchinson
Southern will be finished between Med
ford and Blackwell by January 10 and
the rails will be laid between March
l and the 18th.
Fred Hildrup, the night operator at
the Union Pacific depot at Manhattan
for the past two years, has been re-
warded with a good position at Kansas
City at $50 per month.
All the towns along the Central
Branch were threatened with a coal
famine the past week. Osborne deal
ers disposed of their last pound of soft
coal last Saturday. An the coal mer-
chants have plenty of coal on the road
The Santa Fe has Is car loads of 75-
pound steel rails in the yards at En-
pOria, to be used in the construction of
the double track to be laid through the
yards of that city. Work Will be COM
menced in a few days.
The Brotherhood of Railway Train
men of Emporia recently elected the
following officers for the new year. Joe
Lightner, master; W II. Hall, secre-
tary; c. d. Schaffner, journal agent;
James Martindale, dnancier.
The California train No. II which has
been stopping at Burton will do so no
longer. The train only stopped before
because there was no mail crane there
but one has been erected and the new
train will make no stops between New
ton and Hutchinson.
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
FROM LAS VEGAS.

Conductor Ross Uptegove, took Mol,
yesterday for a short visit to Silver
City
Conductor Charles Watson, who has
been sick has recovered and gone out
on his run.
Engineer Jean L Scudder has recov-
cred from his recent illness and re-
sumed work on the extra board.
J. U. Ralston, agent for the Atchison
at Cherryvale, Kan, returned home
yesterday morning, with his brother,
who is in extremely poor health
W. H. Withrow has been promoted
from the depot platform to the super
intendency of the Las Vegas stock
yards, Capt. T. w. Carrard going to the
country to look after his sheep inter
eStS
The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-30
ROUTE To THE GRAND CANON.
Prominent Investors Say the Line
VIII be Built From Flagstaff

The Las Vegas Optic says: There
seems little doubt now that a railroad
Will be built to the Grand Canon of the
Colorado river at an early date. This
great scenic attraction is readily ac-
cessi Bile from Flagstaff and Williams,
Arizona on the line of the Santa F'e
Pacific railroad. A survey has recent
" been completed between the two
towns and the canon. A few days ago
there passed through Las Vegas three
gentlemen, very prominently identified
with the enterprise, Gwyne Dennis
Buckley O'Neill and Charles z. Potter
of the Lombard Investment company
of Chicago. They, in private CORES
pondence. admitted that all arrange
ments had been made for the construc-
ton of the road.