The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-24
Controlled by Whitney and Rice
of New York,
LOCATE IN Topeka.
The Branch Office Here to Be
Enlarged at Once.
Several Men Added to the Force
New Contracts.
Santa Fe Orders so New Cars
Equipped With Their Light.

Topeka is to have second in 1mpOr-
lance to the eastern headquarters
branch Office of the Electric Axle Light
and Power company which has just
been Incorporated by VIM. c. Whitney
and Isaac L. Rice of New York, with
a capital stock of SIS. 900, 900. This com
pany purposes to revolutiOnize the
present system of heating, lighting and
refrigerating the cars Of the different
railroads Of the world.
There is already in practical use on
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
railroad, the New York Central, the
Illinois Central, Southern Pacific and
notably the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
F'e railroad, the new process of cleo
trically lighting passenger coaches, and
it is proving very satisfactory. Besides
the above mentioned railroads, the cars
of the Pullman company, the Wagner
company, and many private cars are
equipped with this system of lighting.
The Topeka branch Of this company
is located at the foot of Sixth street
in what is known as the old Santa Fe
Sixth street round house. This IS as good
location as could be secured as 1t IS
connected with the railroad and besides
being a large well lighted building, is
already equipped with the necessary
tracks, making it possible to work on
several cars at one time, while a. turn
table forms a connection with the main
track of the Santa F'e system. Mr.. G.
K Wheeler, who is general Super1ntend-
I ent of the company, is in direct charge
of the Topeka branch. He has located
here and spends most of his time in
Topeka Mr.. Paul TorringtOn of this
city is electrical engineer. The Topeka
shops will be enlarged at once and sew
eral experienced new men added to
their already large force. These men
will be secured in Topeka so far as
possible and this branch will in every
way be made Topeka concern. Al
ready 100 cars Of the Santa Fe road
have been equipped with the electric
lighting apparatus at the Topeka shops
and the remaining cars will be equipped
as fast as they can be spared long
enough from the daily passenger bust
ness. The Santa f'e gave the new COM
pany an order for fifty more cars to be
equipped Saturday.
The Topeka shops are now equipped
with their own power plant, and have a
capacity of charging 5000 storage bat
terfeS at one time In addition they
wind their own generator armatures
and do work which would otherwise
necessitate sending to Chicago. With
the charging of the Topeka plant it
will become one Of the most complete
and only plant of it's kind in the west
Their new process of refrigerating
cars will, if as successful as antici-
pated, provide a cheap and effective
way Of cooling fruit and perishable
goods while in transit. Ordinarily re-
fr1geratOr cars requiring many tons OF
ice and frequent refilling to properly
preserve the goods, especially when
carried any great distance. BY their
new method each refrigerator car Will
carry what may be called it's own ice
making plant or rather it's own cooling
plant, which will be kept working by
connection with the car axle and will
be in operation continuously while the
car is in motion. After this cooling
plant is esta blished in the cars
the cost of operation will be exceedingly
small in comparison with the old
method of refrigerating cars with ice
In addition to cheapening the cost Of
cooling purposes, it will add to the ca
pacity of the car by doing away with
the ice boxes which take up so much
of the space in each car.