The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-28
A Large and Enthusiastic Meet
ing Held.
DOWN TO BUSINESS.
Importance Of Prompt and Lib
eraI Action Realized.
Pledges For 81 $50 Secured at
the Meeting.

A-lLlrlErElaA GA4Z Was AgB0tILE4 L@tAc-J
to circulate subscription papers for the
purpose Of raising the necessary funds
TO secure the new Santa Fe shops for
Topeka The amount VIII probably ap-
proximaee $4,000. The committee is as
follows. Jonathan Thomas. J. S. War
ner. Otto Kuehne J. D. Norton, f ?.
MacLenaan, H c. Bowman, Geo. NJ
Noble. w W Webb, W. Y. Hall
The Commercial club at its special
meeting last evening decided that the
only way to secure the shops is by rails
ing the money necessary to compensate
the property owners on the proposed
shop site for the loss Of their improve
ments which viii follow their selling to
the railroad company for the actual
value Of the bare lots without improve
uuents. This action was taken only az
ter a thorough discussion OF the entire
subject. and after IT became evident
that many Of the property owners would
not be able TO move their houses.
The company is understood to be viii
ing to pay S45.0O0 Tor the IS5 lots when
constitute the property desired for the
new shops. The price w hlch the property
owners place on their lots, with the inn
provemenrs included, IS approximately
$40 Geo but since those figures nave
been made some Of the property owners
have volIIn tarily stated that they would
take less If il is necessary to secure the
shops.
While $4,000 seems like large sum,
ID is nothing com pared TO the value
which the new shops VIII be to Topeka
1t means an Investment of S50OOOO IN
Topeka by the railroad company within
the next two years. 1t means an IN
crease Of probably S50,U0D a month IN the
amount paid out for wages in Topeka
after the locomotive shops are buIlt,aud
this alone will reimburse the present ez-
pendirure in a very short time More
than this. 1t means that Topeka VIII
continue TO be the center of the greatest
railway system in America. which
would be by no means certain if the
city allows the company to take its
shops elsewhere
The meeting of the Commercial club
last evening was called at the instance
OF the committee which has in charge
the matter Of securing the shops. The
committee IS composed OF T. l. bone
brake. William Green, W. H. Davis, J.
4. Hudson and Chas. Wolff Mr.. Bone
brake, the chairman Of the committee.
was kept away from the meeting last
evening by illness, but the situation was
Sc well understood by others that the
discussion brought out ali features Of
the matter
Secretary Anderson stated that Cen
eral Manager Nudge stated some time
ago that the question OF the location Of
the shops would not be considered i'm
medtateiy. and as President Holman
had been sick the appointment Of the
special committee to wait on the rail-
road mana cement had not been pushed,
until IL was ascerrained that the shop
matter is likely to come up at any time.
The committee was then appointed by
the board Of directors. but it had not
had an opportunity TO confer with Mr..
Nudge, as he is out Of the city. but il
had been thought best to call the club
together to consider Immediate action.
w. w Webb was called on for a state
uent as to the condition the shop mat
Ter is in, and he said;
The santa E'e has completed listing
rfa his 81 "a r1sTE
shops and at the price which the people
put on H. II amounts to over S1O0, 600. ]
understand that Newton has been
busting for these shops, and it is i'm
perative that We do something quickly
If We are to bring them here L have
no plan to offer. but we must do some
thing. I had hoped that We could issue
bonds. as the easiest way out of the
difficulty, but I ind that this can not be
done.
Mr.. Nichols and myself have can
vassed the matter thoroughly. and I do
not think Ire people generally are IN
reasonable in the price which they ask
for their property. They have worked
hard for their homes. and they should
not be compelled to give them up with
out receiving an equivalent for their
value. The most OF them would be glad
TO move elsewhere. and only few ask
an eX0rbitant price. The Santa F7e viii
not pay for the improvements that are
on the property, and in order to secure
20 raise the difference between them
William Green-The committee has
taken no formal action. in this matter,
because we expected to wait until Mr.
Ripley returns from California and then
confer with him. But it was discovered
that quicker action might be necessary
and we thought III best to call this
meeting I do not know what the rail-
road company wants. and I have no
proposition to make. We want the shops
but we can't expect TO C0nfiscate the
homes OF these people They are en-
titled to a reasonable price for them.
F. p MacLennan-Mr Webb has
stated the situation very clearly.
think Mr.. Green seems to think that
we do not know what the Santa F'e
wants but it was very clearly stated by
AIR Nudge Co Journal reporter that
the company has 200 acres Of land at
Newton. but that the company is will
ing To pay a reasonable price for the To-
peka property. We must do something
Immediately If an outside corporation
should make q proposition to US to put
UP d Factory and give employment to
500 men, and We considered the PROPOSE
non Doua nde we would be talking
about giving a bonus We know what
the santa Fe is and what it has done
Tor Topeka. Where these Immediate
shops 60 the locomotive works may fol-
low If Emporia OF Newton get the one
they may get the other.
Those property owners down there
have homes and are entitled to receive
a reasonable remuneration for them
Lney nave improvements on them which
can not be moved away and they do not
Ike TO give up these for nothing We
must bring the Santa E-a and these peo-
pte eogether IL the individual subscrip-
tloh plan IS the best way [ am willing
to make as liberal a one as I can at
ford, do not know that this viii be
the best way. but I simply suggest it.
We can not wait Tor the return of Mr.
Ripley but we must begin TO act at
once. L understand this matter is large
ly in the hands Of Mr. Barr. and that
she report on the price Of this property
Saturday"
George w. Crane moved that the COM
mitree which has the matter in charge
be authorized to employ sHch persons as I
they deemed best to assist it in it's work
M. Cranes idea was to have men visit