The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-15
RAILROAD NEWS.
General Passenger Agent Black
of the Santa Fe
Talks Interestingly OF Recent
and Future Festivals.
MISTAKES WERE MADE
Suggestions as to the Pro-
gramme For the Next One.
Place 1t On a Sound Basis and
Begin Early.
MISTAKES WERE MADE

Mr.. Jerry Black, general passenger
agent of the Santa Fe road, is citizen
of Topeka who is interested in the sue
cess OF the Fall Festival as well as 9TH
er public enterprises and makes some
valuable suggestions.
Mr.. Black recognizes in common with
many other citizens of Topeka that ow-
ing to the war excitement and prevail
ing closeness of money matters the fes-
tlval Of this year was not up to the
standard Of former years and thinks
that on these grounds this should be
this time overlooked.
But we should be ready for next
year" said Mr.. Black today, land be-
gin with the new year. We must make
1t more OF success in the future than
this season for the reason that Topeka
cannot afford to make promises and
then not keep them with the public.
And I say this in no spirit of criticism
OF fault finding.
ITO begin with let us form q large as
ISOLATION including every business man
In Topeka from the highest down to the
peanut vender. Call them Karnival
knights or whatever the association
deems best; there is little in the name
so the organization has the hustling
qualities
My idea is to begin making arrange
mentS for the festival January LIST, by
completing the organization with the
selection of a firSt-claSS man at the
head. One whom every man in Topeka
has confidence in and one whom we can
feel assured will devote much of his
energy to the good of the cause. Then
aet there be selected for treasurer of the
association a cashier of some bank. if
we can get him, who will check out all
expenditures to the proper persons only
and give receipts for all money depOsi-
ted. This viii place the organization on
a sound business foundation at the
start and the public will have conf
dence
Begin early to secure a nest egg for
expenses so that the merchants will not
be required to put up too much cash
from their own pockets. A number Of
different and interesting entertainments
might be given that would bring in
sums along for the needed expenses
when it came time to build floats and
the hundred and one other things that
money is required for in an affair of
this kind.
There should be plenty of attractions
and something going on all the time to
amuse the visitors. Time hangs heavy
on their hands when there isn't any
thing to see and is much more nOticea-
bic to them than to residents of Topeka
who have work to sandwich in with
their play. Let me give a case in
point:
Passing down Kansas avenue on
Wednesday of festival week met three
men from out of the city whom I hap
pened to know wandering along up the
street with their hands in their pockets
and a tired appearance on their faces.
As soon as they saw me they exclaimed;
What on earth do you mean by work
ing such a shell game on US. Here we
have come over one hundred miles to
see the Fall Festival, the Battle OF Ma
Mia and other attractions and we don't
find a thing
Hold on gentlemen I said, ''wait
until tomorrow and Friday and we will
give you a show that will do your
hearts good. Why don't you go over to
the park, the Grand Army encampment
is going on there and it is worth see
ing?'
/" We have been there they said and
as we were not in the army one day of
that is all we care for; we want some
fireworks or flower parades or some
thing like that
Their story speaks volumes and IL
illustrates the point.
MAKE the reunion Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday and the festival Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday of the week,
Six days of festival is too long a strain
on the public. Then plainly advertise
this plan. Don't let US advertise at
fractions that we will not have or can
not fulfill. This hurts Topeka and the
people of Kansas lose faith in every
thing in connection with the event.
Let US have lots of red fire and hur-
rah in connection with the night pa
rades-fOr fireworks pleases everyone.
more satisfaction two years ago than
the splendid display of rockets and rO-
man candles.
''Then the flower parade should be
made a special feature again. Offer big
prizes if nothing else viii induce the
ladies to become interested. Nothing
could be more attractive than this dis
play.
But do not care to enter into this
matter too extensively. In connection
with the festival let there be a NAM
moth industrial parade. On this basis
am sure the railroad s entering To-
pel1a would take an interest and lend a |
helping hand. This is the view of |
many Of the railroad men besides my |
SELF