The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-24
SIIKKED Uf.
The People of Topeka Ought to
Appreciate a
Situation in Which They Have
Suddenly Been Placed.
NEW SANTA FE SHOPS
In Danger of Going to Some
Other Location,
Unless Prompt Action Be Taken
by Citizens.
IL
Company Desires to Build the
New Additions Here.
Owners of Property Discourage
the Railroad Company.
Company Desires to Build the
New Additions Here.
Owners of Property Discourage
the Railroad Company.

The following was posted on the bull
ietin window of this Office this morn
ing:
The State Journal in its issue today
sounds the following warning to To-
pel1a: "On March this paper called
the attention of the people to the fact
that the Santa Fe railway company
Is about to erect additional shops, which
will mean employment of 300 more men,
meaning, with their families. over 1000
more people as residents OF the town
where the new shops may be located.
1t was noted that the Santa F'e COM
pany preferred Topeka, but that the
sites desired were marked up to ex-
orbitant figures. This naturally led the
Santa Fe to look to other points.
The Newton people have been doing
an immense amount of work to secure
this valuable plant
Emporia is alive to the situation. OF
tawa is working hard
Topeka has practically done nothing.
Wake up, or it Will be too late
Is the Commercial club asleep?
"A Au6Gtil4S SiiOuIO DG LClQ dL OLCC-
today. The matter is in the balance to-
day. A slight thing may turn the
scale against US.
While Topeka has been resting quiet
" regarding the question of securing
the new shops which the Santa F'e pro-
poses to erect in the near future, other
cities have been active and prof1ted by
Topeka's delay and neglect. CONNER
oial clubs and private citizens have
been a work to secure the shops else
where and already feel they have good
prospects of success, unless Topeka
does something Immediately, with a
capital fI''
The securing of these shops means
the early addition Of a thousand skilled
workmen to the force already at work
in the Topeka shops, within the next
two years, and the investment of a half
million dollars. 1t means the addition
of 5000 people to the present population
of Topeka. It means the additional dis
tribution of from $780, 600 to $50 900 in
wages monthly by the railroad COM
pany, most of which viii go directly
to the merchants of Topeka.
The railroad company is Independent
as to whether the shops are located
at Topeka or Newton. It has 200 acres
of land at Newton on which the shops
can be erected, but it is willing to
come to Topeka providing the site for
the shops can be secured at a reason
able outlay.
The site which the company wishes
to secure is the property lying just east
of the present car sheds and north of
the right of way. It extends from the
.1z
Chandler street. and from the right Of
way north to Seward avenue. There
are 1876 lots in these five blocks, or p
acres.
This tract is at present thickly set
tied, mostly by shop employees. There
are 135 families living in the five blocks,
and there are forty vacant lots. Nearly
every family owns its own home, but
there is little room for yards as very
few of the houses occupy more than
one lot. For this reason the shopmen
themselves are said to be anxious to sell
out so that they may go where each
one will have more room, have a bet
ter view. and not be shut in so closely.
During the past two weeks the rail-
road company has had parties at work
finding out the exact amount each man
wants for his property Few of them
wish to move their houses, and the
price they ask includes houses and all,
and it is said that the aggregate
amounts to about 100000. The com
pany mas no use for the houses, but
wants only the land, and if this can
not be secured some other city is in
q fair way TO get the shops. The houses
could be moved at little expense to
othera and more desirable lots.
The immediate improvements which
are 70 be made are the erection of the
frog and switch shops. An appropria-
ton Of $107 900 has already been made
for these improvements. but the COM
pany cannot pay 100000 for a site, and
ought not to be asked to pay that or
anything like it. The frog and switch
factory will employ about 500 men,
which means an addition of 1.500 people
to Topeka's population.
It is said that the contemplated loco
motive works, which the company has
been looking forward to for three years.
VIII follow the switch and frog factory,
and viii probably be built within two
uonai men to bring the number of new
skilled workmen to be brought to To-
peka up to 1000 and with the families
increase the size Of Topeka one-eighth
II IS said that the report concerning
the unreasonable price asked for the
Iopeka site is made out ready to be
forwarded to Vice President Barr.
ONE CAUSE OF DELAY
FolloWing the first article in the
state Journal the Commercial club
at its meeting on the evening of
S&lng PRESIDENT Holman to appoint a