The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-05
NEARLY MILLION
What the Santa Fe Will Really
Spend in Topeka.
Engineer Says Improvements
Have Been Underestimated.
NEW RIYETING TOWER
Will BE SO Feet High and Con-
tain a 5S-Ton Machine.
Some Of the Old Machinery to
Be Moved.

The estimates placed on the cost of
the proposed improvement by the Santa
Fe railroad at this point have heretofore
been placed too low In the course or
the next eighteen months. according to
the present plans. nearly a million dol
lars will be expended in this city
General Manager H. U Nudge was not
in the city today but a State Journal re-
porter found w B. Storey, jr., chief engi-
neer, who confirmed the report that the
estimated cost of the Improvements was
placed too low. 1.-The cost of the build
ings, that is the frames he said, will
run to between four and five hundred
thousand dollars. The cost of eQuipping
the shops and the changes and improve
mentS of the old shops is q matter OF
which have no definite Information
The location of the Santa F'e shops IN
Topeka was purely a business PROPOSE
ton. 1t will prove of benefit to both the
railroad company and to the men who
are employed by the company, for the
reason that the additional work Will
make the demand for labor stronger and
the increased output of the shops VIII
keep the men employed at all times
Heretofore work has been slack in the
Topeka shops for the reason, the officials
say, that the labor question has been in
such an unsettled condition but more
likely because it was necessary TO le-
trench.
AS a matter Of business the railroad
company would much rather do the work
Topeka That Is given O0L by IDA4NA oCN
to eastern manufacturers providing there
is reasonable certainty that the man
agement can depend on its help and be
sure to complete the work at the end OF
a stated period.
Assume that the company can build
its equipment in the Topeka shops for
the same amount of money that 1t can
be bought for in the east 1t IS therefore
to the benefit of the company to build
that equipment here for in so doing II
gives employment to the people OF the
have to be shipped over the railroad,
thereby allowing the railroad to derive
a benefit.
When an order for equipment is placed
the first question for consideration is
How much will the contract for the lot
amount top The work will probably
cost about the same in Topeka as 1t
would cost to buy OF the manufactures
The next question is Can the work be
finished by a certain time and when VIII
the deliveries be made?' The contractors
in the east tell how soon they can COM
plete the work. The operating depart
ment of the Topeka shop is consulted.
The question of whether it may be de-
pended upon that the order viii be turn
ed out at the stated time is considered
If the labor question is settled and there
is no discomfort among the employees
it is reasonably certain that the JoD may
be completed within the required time.
If there are questions in agitation and
the employees are not content there IS not
that certainty that the piece OF work
NAV be completed WlIQ1n L1E IG4l1EEA
time and the contract is consequently
given to an eastern bidder Thls mas
been the experience in Topeka on sew
eral occasions. 1t would be obviated If
the company shows proper regard Tor
the men who do the work
During the past year owing to the inn
proved methods put into use in the
shops in this city the output has been
nearly doubled in the boiler department
and greatly increased in the various
other departments This also without a
reduction in the working force.
Upon the completion of the new shops
all the boiler work will be done in the
new shop. It is the intention to each
year build a certain number of engines.
This work viii be carried on at a late
in proportion to the amount of repair
work in the shops. At seasons when the
repair work tests the capacity of the
shops the work on new engines VIII be
dropped to be taken up as soon as the
work Of repairing is slack
In connection with the new boiler shop
a riveting tower 81 feet high and about
% feet wide will be erected. The ma
chine to be used in it viii weigh So
tons and will cost in the vicinity of $40
per ton or $6,96O-
The machinery that is serviceable in
the old north shop will be moved to the
new shop as part of its equipment This
building will then be used for the foun-
dry and frog and switch shops.
A State Journal reporter called upon |
r. p. c. Sanderson, acting superintend- /
ent of machinery. How soon viii the /
work on the new shops be completed?''
was asked
owing to the delay in learning |
whether we could get the land here" he /
said, 1--WE have been delayed in getting |
into the market for steel 1t viii now |
be several weeks before the factories will 1
get to work on our orders and while the !
shop, for which the steel has I
already arrived, will soon be completed, /
III will be several months before the work l
il gotten under good headway. We trust /
that the work Will be entirely cleared up l
BY the end of this year although it may l
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