The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-04
THOUSAND
Jonathan Thomas Raises Santa
Fe Shop Donation.
Authorized to Increase State
Journal Subscription.
WHAT TT ALL MEANS.
Importance to Topeka of Pro-
posed Improvements.
Committees Hold a Meeting and
Go to Work.
TEST OF SENTIMENT.
People Given Chance to Vote
to Reimburse Subscribers.
Lists to Be Sent Out at Once
For Signatures.
Committees Hold Meeting and
Go to Work.
TEST OF SENTIMENT.
People Given Chance to Vote
to Reimburse Subscribers.
Lists to Be Sent Out at Once
For Signatures.


To the Editor of the State Journal:
The question of the Santa Fe shop
extension has been we'll argued by the
newspapers and I trust every citizen
realizes the Importance that Topeka Sc
cures the works. What if the railway
should announce they had
decided to locate the new shops and
locomotive works at Newton or la
Junta-would Topeka real estate ad-
vance, hold it's own, decline or could it
be sold at any price? On the other hand
should they give it out they would
spend their $107, 900 this year in Topeka
in erecting such buildings as the appro-
priation already voted would insure and
would follow up the improvements until
the blacksmith shops, locomotive works,
etc, were completed, would people leave
the city because we have the dry rot"
or would the enterprising man, looking
for a location decide on Topeka as his
future home? Twenty-Five per cent de-
cline in your real estate or a market
for it with a wholesome exchange and
value? Eighteen men being removed
to Argentine a few weeks ago upset
many of our merchants; what effect
would an accession of three hundred
skilled mechanics and their families
with at least fifty dollars average
monthly salary produce? The real estate
owner-the merchant surely Injuries
himself and his neighbor if he fails to
decide and act at once in making the
necessary investment to secure these
improvements for Topeka. If they go
elsewhere, and go they will if the money
is not forthcoming, a partial disintegra-
ton of what we have will no doubt fol-
low About $4,000 is needed. I increase
my subscription to $1,000 for the new
shops in the name of the J. Thomas
Lumber company.
have also received the following tele-
gram which explains itself:
washington, D. c., May g.
Jonathan Thomas and E. H. Crosby,
care T. J. Anderson, Secretary Com
mercial Club, Topeka, Kan.
Il regard prompt action by Topeka as
very important and believe legal COM
nittee can assure legislative action to
reimburse through bonds. I will, if
necessary, increase my subscription to
five hundred.
FRANK P. MAC LEHMAN"
Very truly,
The Santa Fe shop finance committee
at its meeting Thursday afternoon
adopted the plan of action as outlined
in the State Journal last evening, that
of securing pledges from a majority
of the voters of Topeka to support a
proposition for a bond issue not to ex-
ceed $4,000 to reimburse those who sub
scribe for the project, after the legis-
lature next winter shall authorize such
a bond issue.
The copy for these pledges is in the
hands of the printer now, and it is
proposed to put Is men at work can
Vassing the city with them tomorrow
morning. 1t is intended that the work
shall be completed in three days, so
that by next Tuesday evening the COM
mittee will be ready to assure sub
scribers to the shop fund that a ma
iority of the people of Topeka will vote
to pay the money advanced back to
them as soon as it can be legally done
This will virtually make the subscrip-
tions loans to the city without interest.
The cost of polling the city will be
between $T5 and $780, and a meeting of
the Commercial club has been called
for tonight to authorize the eXDend1-
ture of this amount from the club treas
nry for this purpose. The call for the
meeting is as follows:
"a special meeting of the CONNER
cial club is called for this, Friday, even
ing, at 8 o'clock sharp. The Santa F'e
shop matter is up to US, and ways and
means will be discussed. No SubScrip-
tions will be taken or money asked for
at this meeting. NJ. c. HOLMAN,
President
The limit of the bonds as named in
the pledges is $40, 900, because it is not
known Just how much salvage there will
be in the houses that are now on the
proposed shop site.
The bonds cannot now be legally
voted. but it is not thought that there
will be any difficulty in getting bill
through the next legislature to author
ize their issuance, provided the people
of Topeka want them.
These pledges will be printed on slips
of paper and the canVassers will see
each voter individually if possible, or
leave a pledge at his residence for sign
ing. and call for it the following day.
Across the top of the slip will be
printed the following address to the
ITO THE VOTERS OF TOPEKA.
sIt is imperative that the city of
ToDeka should raise about $4,000 to
purchase additional ground in order to
secure the Santa Fe shops that the
railway directory has already voted an
appropriation to partially construct
this season, either at Topeka, La Junta
vour pledge to vote for bonds to reim-
burse such citizens as may furnish
funds for the grounds VIII you allow
IL. Junta or Newton to carry off the
price,"
The pledge reads as follows:
ct hereby pledge myself to vote YES
for Topeka city bonds in amount not
TO exceed SIC, 900, to reimburse advances
made by the citizens of Topeka, Kansas,
for the purchase Of ground for the A., T.