The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-14
MUST ACT NOW.
Santa Fe Shop Extension Hangs
in the Balance.
Only Nine Days Left in Which
to Register.
WANT NO SET BACK.
progress" Must Be the Watch
word on Election Day.
". W. Webb Shows How It viii
Pay.
TAXES TO BE PAID.
VIII More Than Equal Amount
of Proposed Bonds.
A. M. Baird Tells Why He
FavOrs Proposition.
Defeat Would Be Serious Blow
For Topeka.
VIII More Than Equal Amount
of Proposed Bonds.
A. NJ. Baird Tells Why He
FavOrs Proposition.
Defeat Would Be Serious Blow
For Topeka.

~..I am heart and soul in favor of the
Santa Fe shop extension proposition"
said Archie NJ. Baird at the meeting of
the Commercial club last night, and will
exert my every effort to carry it
through. We must retain these new
shops here. 1t is to the interest of every
laboring man in Topeka that these bonds
be voted. and intend to do everything
in my power to aid their passage
At the meeting of the Commercial club
last night the fact that there was a pos
sibiity of the Santa Fe shop extension
proposition being lost at the coming
election was not disguised. This con-
tingency is possible from the fact that
the friends of the proposition may rest.
easy and remain at home, thinking that
it will not be necessary for them to vote.
The Santa Fe shop committee have
pledges enough to practically assure the
passage Of the proposition, but arrange
ments will have to be made to make
sure that every friend of the proposition
in the city registers before March %,
and that the complete vote IS polled for
it on April 9.
The attendance at the meeting last
night was large, and all felt the neces-
enthusiastic in making suggestions and
volunteering to help the work in one way
or another.
L. D. Eversole has been working for
the proposition energetically during the
past two months. He reports a feeling
against the proposition among the Santa
Fe shop men. One reason assigned for
this opposition is the fact that it is be-
ieved that when the Santa Fe builds on
the proposed site Klein street win be
closed and the residents of this portion
Of the city will be closed from an east
ern outlet to Oakland and the country
beyond
TO close the street the railroad com
pany would have to secure permission
to do so from the city council and as
surances have been given that the city
council will not order the street closed
unless provisions are made for another
outlet.
Chandler street would be the street
that in all probability the council would
open for travel across the Santa Fe rail-
way tracks, which would give the resi-
dents of Seward avenue and those east
of this point just as good a route to the
city as they at present have on Klein
street.
1T must be remembered" said Colonel
Norton. that this project is not a Santa
F'e undertaking, but is for the benefit of
the city. There are many cities willing
and anxious to give a whole quarter
the shops, and any one voting against
the bonds cannot spite the Santa Fe
company for the reason that it is really
inna aterial to the railroad whether they
build in Topeka or not. But it is to the
interest of ALL both old and young, great
and small, rich and poor alike. to secure
the shops for this city.
1T will not be necessary here to- go
over in detail the advantages of the
acquisition Of the shops to this city but
it viii be readily apparent that the
working man as well as the merchant
and the professional man will be bene-
flied in having increased demand for his
services.
~The argument is raised that in issu-
ing the bonds the taxpayer is Saddling
himself with more taxes and his posteri-
ty with bonds to settle in TIE course of
twenty years While at the first glance
this is apparently the Situa tion it only
remains to show what the taxes on the
improvements Of the Santa F'e will
mean"
W w Webb. of the Commercial club
shop committee. prepared a table of fig
ures showing the amount of taxes the
Santa F'e would pay in the course of
twenty years He said:
Assuming that the $4,000 bonds
which we propose to vote Will bear AZ
per cent interest the amount each year
will be $3.50. Assuming the real value
of the shops, when all are completed,
viii be $3.50, 600, the assessed valuation
would be placed at about $50 000
Assuming that the tax rate which
is at present 46 mills, remained the same,
the taxes on the new improvements
would each year amount to $4,000, thus
paying the interest on the bonds and
leaving surplus of $3 $50. This in the
course Of twenty years viii amount to
$4,000 or 5000 more than the amount of
the bonds.
TT also begins to look as though not
all the $4,000 win be required to pur-
chase the land needed. The committee
whose duty it has been to secure esei-
mates from the owners of the land of
the valuation they placed upon their
properties find that it will require but
SIS GOO to make the purchases"
". n. Hall. chairman Of the shop COM
mittee, in making his report stated that
the men who had taken tie estimates
Of valuation on the property in the dis
trict of the proposed site reported that
all the land owners whose property
would be bought are heartily in favor of
the bond proposition.
The club appointed Chas. Elliott chair
man Of the election committee in the abb
sence of D. W. Mulvane from the city
On the committee with Mr.. Elliott are
John Dudley, J. NJ Padgett, John !
Schmidt and A. NJ. Baird.
The committee was enpoHe cred to act