The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-27
ODD GAME OF WATCHING.
Santa Fe and Rio Grande Seek to
Prevent Encroachment by
Opposition.

Denver, Sept. 27-An week night and
day, two big locomotives with cabooses
attached have been on guard at the
Petersburg crossing to prevent new
competitor of the steam roads from build
A little street car system that has but
one car and one horse as its motive power
is worrying two powerful corporations
the Denver and Rio Grande and the Santa
Fe railroads. to such an extent that they
are losing sleep for fear that during the
silent hours of the night the Loretto
Heights and Fort Logan railroad may
steal their crossing. Petersburg has been
in the throes of Excitement ali the week
over the contest that is threatened, and
crowds of people hang around the hotel
might happen if there should be a clash.
Up to date. however, the contest mas been
a one-sided affair, the railroads only ap-
pearing in battle array.
Some sort of aggressive movement on
the part of the street car company is ex-
the reason the railroads are on deck en-
tirely prepared for most any kind of trou-
BILE
The road is a one-track horse car line
that is to run when completed from Or
through Petersburg, Sheridan and Lor-
Now the road is practically all finished
except for a space of about 100 yards be-
tween the main tracks of the D. & R.; G;
bOb-tail car was put in operation on Tues
day morning last, between Orchard Place
and the Santa Fe track. The road is con-
structed up to within six inches of the
Santa Fe rails, while on the other side it
is built up to within the same distance of
the Rio Grande's roadbed. If these tracks
were crossed the cars would be running
AS soon as the Santa Fe authorities
heard that the bOb-tail car was running
they sent an engine, caboose and train
crew of five men out with orders that if
any person or persons attempted to put
crossing in, to run the train back and
nesday, the Rio Grande concluded that
its property must be protected also, and
were dispatched to the scene with orders
like the Santa F'e men received. The Rio
Grande considered the case of such seri-
Gus consequence that ROadmaSter Walker
was instructed to see that the orders are
carried out. Mr.. Walker is on duty day
With all this aggressive action on the
part of the railroad companies the horse
car line has not given the least intimation
made move of any kind to jump the
crossing. Father T. NJ. Malone is presi-
dent of the company, but he is out Of
It is said, though. that the tramway is
back of the enterprise and will eventually
Germ is keeping out of the trouble, in the
hopes that the dispute over the crossing
will be adjusted quicker without tramway
interference. The trainmen say that the
car lines franchise is about to expire and
that if the road is not entirely finished
within the next week or 50 the franchise
will be lost 1t is also claimed that the
street car company has failed to secure
right of way across the Denver and Rio
it is sta ted that no overtures of that kind
have been made to the railroads.
ROadmaSter Walker of the Rio Crand6
said last night, in discussing the fight:
IAN I know about this affair is that we
building a crossing over our tracks. We
have a right to protect our property, you
know, and to stop respassing, the kind
that we look for from the street car COM
pany. I have seen nothing of these peo-
pie yet. L understand, though, that they
have never asked for right of way, and