The Topeka state journal., 1900-02-20
WHY MOVE WAS MADE.
General Manager Nudge Says Trans
fer of Santa Fe Train Crew Is
Exaggerated.

Committees from the Commercial
club and the Grocers' and Butchers
association will call on General Man
ager Nudge of the Santa Fe this week
in reference to the recent transfer of
Santa Fe freight crews from Topeka
to Argentine. The object of the com
mittees will be to have the order trans
ferring the crews rescinded.
The Commercial club committee has
already been appointed and consists of
F. NJ. Newland, W. H. Davis and ]. S
Sproat. President Hanley, of the Gro
GERS and Butchers association has not
yet named a committee, but will do so
today or tomorrow
At the meeting of the Grocers' and
Butchers association last night the
Santa F'e move was discussed, and a
boycott in the matter of shipments was
hinted at. 1t was stated that 200 men
would be affected by the move, and this
number lost to Topeka in favor of Ar
gentine. The number was arrived at
by counting car repairers, car inspect
ors, coal beavers, painters and water
service employees in addition to the en-
gine and train men.
The efforts of the committees to have
the Santa Fe MANAGEMENT reScind the
order will probably be unavailing. as
the move was made as d plain business
proposition. General Manager Nudge
made a statement about the matter to-
day. He said:
1.-THE merchants of Topeka have ap-
parently a much exaggerated idea of
the Importance of the transfer of
freight crews from Topeka to Argen-
tine. Not over 80 men will be taken
away from Topeka, and all of this
number are in the engine and train
service
THE trainmen are responsible for
the transfer of crews. At the re-
cent Chicago conference they stated
that they could not afford to ac-
cept actual mileage from Argentine to
Topeka, declaring at the same time
that they did not care to run through
Topeka from Argentine to Emporia, as
this was their home city. Under the
provisions Of their schedule they were
able to force the company to pay them
for 100 miles for the 62 miles from Ar
gentine to Topeka. OF course the COM
pany had the privilege to change the
runs, and this has simply been taken
advantage of as a business proposition.
'SFhe Santa Fe has never run freight
| through Topeka which could be sent
| over the cut off from Argentine to
Emporia- because the distance is 16
! miles less and the grades better. From
/ this fact. just as many trains will con-
/ t.nue to run through Topeka as here
/ tofore, but the crews will continue on
/ to Emporia instead of stopping off
| here. In this way the company will
| crews have been moved to Argentine,
and seven crews remain in Topeka to
/ take care of the local freights, the st.
| Joe freights and the coal run.
| None of the men in the yards or
! in the shops will be affected by the
move. just as many engines will take
| coal here as heretofore, and the en-
| gines and cars will come to Topeka for
/ repairs as has always been the case.
| ToDeka win lose only the men of the
/ engine and train crews. The Santa Fe
management would rather have the
crews stationed here if the men would
| be willing to accept actual mileage,
but. they say they can't afford to do it,
and I don't believe they can. No mer-
chant of Topeka would think it good
business to pay a clerk a days wages
for working a half day.
THE Topeka merchants are aware of
the transfer of the six freight crews to
Argentine. but they probably do not
know that six passenger crews were
moved to Topeka when the limited
trains were re-estab ablished last fall In
past years the crews of the limited
| trains changed at Kansas City. Now
the change is made at Topeka and the
men make this city their home"