The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-25
ERECT STEEL VIADUCT
Would Cross Santa Fe Tracks
at Tenth Street.
*. w. Wilson Talks About Park
Improvements.

The Topeka and vinewood Railway
company win within few days present
an application to the city council Of
Topeka asking for an extension Of their
franchise and requesting other grants
for the extension of the line to points
nearer the center Of the city than that
now reached by the line on Ninth street.
E ". Wilson, of Peoria. Illinois. is in
the city today looking over the park
grounds TO make an estimate on the
cost OF the required Improvements de
represents his father, J. H Wilson, who
owns several park properties IN various
cities Of the United States
We have had this park property mere
for a great many years. said M WI
son to a State Journal reporter, but
since the panic in 1898 and the suDSe-
Quent break in the boom in Kansas and
Topeka il has not been a paying invest
nent- During the few years following
the panic we could not afford to operate
the line at all
But within the past year or two Kan
sas has been steadily increasing IN pop
ulation and in business prosperity. The
farmers have had good crops. have paid
or their mortgages and altogether things
have been improving wonderfully "
course as Kansas grows Topeka is bound
to grow And as we see that the city IS
growing 1t is plainly evident that the
park VIII be a paying investment and
we propose to now fix ii up II we can
council.
..Of course we could hardly feel justi-
fed in building a steel viaduct and max
ing the other expensive improvements
when our franchise runs out in few
years unless we can get that franchise
EXTENDED"
Mr.. Wilson has canvassed the situation
here quite carefully and has convinced
himself that the city is on the increase
and that the need of a park here is
pressing; that a great deal Of money will
be spent here in the next few years in
permanent improvements, IN the shape
Of public buildings and factories
We have spent a great deal of money
on the Improvement OF the line during
the last year" Mr.. Wilson continued.
and with the exception of two blocks
Of the track it is all in fine shape. We
have reduced the steep grades and have
made several improvements at the park.
This work will be completed at great
cost.
1T has always been a question: he
said, whether this city is large enough
TO support a park of that size and that
has been one of the reasons that the
park has not been fixed up earlier. Dur
Ing the past six months, however, we
have looked into the matter thoroughly
and we find that the residents of Topeka
have not had a place Of amusement Of
this kind which is satisfactory or ade-
quate to their wants.
have told Mr.. Kelly to go ahead
and complete the plans for the steel via
duct over the railroad at Ninth street
and as soon as our request Of the council
is granted we will begin work on the
viaduct. We hope that that viii be soon
so that the passenger traffic may be
properly handled before the close of the
season. We have not been able to ad-
vertise the park or give out much con-
corning our plans because we have not
adequate equipment to handle the
crowds"
When your viaduct is completed"
was asked, what plans have you con-
sidered about getting nearer to the heart
Of the city?"
We'll" he answered, nothing definite
has been done in that respect. We have
had several points under consideration.
1t IS evident that to please the patrons
we must be little nearer to them and
we will endeavor to get up to Kansas
avenue at some point or possibly cross it
and get out two or three blocks on the
west side Of Kansas avenue
In speaking of the equipment for the
road Mr.. Wilson said that in his opinion
the business would not Justify the ex-
penditure of a sum Of money large
enough to put in an electric plant and
string trolley wire out to the park to
run electric cars, but that electricity
would undoubtedly be used in the city
and change to steam at the point where
the round house is now located
MI Wilson viii remain in the city for
several days to perfect the plans for the
improvement of the park and after his
departure the work will be in charge of |
F. g. Kelly, who has been looking after
the park business in connection with the
stone quarry business during the past
winter.