The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-19
Think IT over.
Maj. 4. j. Anderson Discusses
Santa Fe Shop Extension.
Importance to Topeka Cannot
Be 0verestimated.
SHOPMEN ARE AROUSED
Enthusiastic Meeting Held and
Earnest Speeches Made.
Resolutions FavOring the Prop
Osition Are Adopted.

Major t. J. Anderson. in speaking of
the shop extension proposition this
morning, said:
The Santa Fe shop extension is by all
odds the most important proposition pre-
sented to the people of Topeka in a
decade. It is we'll known that the
prompt action Of the Commercial club
saved the location of these extension i'm
provements to this city. The skeptical
can soon convince themselves Of this
rooms and reading the official corre-
spondence on the subject.
'-The improvements contemplate the
erection of a blacksmith shop, 75x100
feet; foundry, 75x350 feet: pattern shop,
40x120 feet; power house. 50x100 feet; tin
shoo and grinder shop, 40x120 feet; ten
der shop, 75x250 feet, and machine shop,
boiler shop and erecting shop, 155xSO0
feet
In fact. it means the entire recon
struction of the Santa. F'e plant, with ia
cilities for the manufacture on the most
approved modern plans of everything
used by the road, from a locomotive to
a split rail and frog. 1t means a COM
plete plant for the manufacture of new
machinery and cars by the second larg-
est system of railroads in the United
States. The business men of Topeka
know the worth of such plant to the
city ana nave Dle4S6tl their SuppOTI VI
the plan by contributing $25,0O0 for the
purchase of the ground already ac-
quired.
mo man in his right mind can gain
say the Importance Of the measure from
a business standpoint. If the Rock ISL
and, Union Pacific or Missouri Pacific
would ask a donation of three times $70.-
600 to locate plant of similar magni-
tude in the city, the aid would be voted
by an overwhelming majority.
Then why oppose a proposition he
cause it is the extension of 4 plant al
ready established2 The bonds are not
solicited by the Santa Fe road. The Off
GERS were looking elsewhere, where they
had land of their own, when the Com
mercial club stepped in and asked them
to consider a proposition from Topeka.
*eThey did so, and we will get the i'm
provements if the bonds are voted, and
we will not get them if they are not
voted. It is plain. cold-blooded busi,
ness proposition, and those who regard
it in any other light are mistaken.
ANY other city on the line of the
Santa Fe would jump at the chance to
Topeka to secure the extension to the
shops.
..An official of the road said yesterday
that the machinery required 20 equip the |
new shops would cost more than $780, |
900. The road is not expending this
amount of money for fun; they mean I
business, and if the bonds should be de-
feated in the coming spring election. it |
49, SHOP MEN IN EARNEST
Last night an enthusiastic meeting Of /
Santa Fe shopnen, boilermakers, blac-<-
smiths and machinists was held in Me
ropOlitan hall on Kansas avenue to rally /
support to the Santa F'e shop extens OF
proposition.
Despite the fact that the inclemens
weather kept many away the meetil 6
was largely attended. Judge FOote, WHO /
had been invited to speak reviewed the
situation from beginning to end He "
plained in detail the manner OF securing
the bonds, their issuance, the cost in in
terest to the city and the income the
city would derive from the taxes f1on /
the improvements which the road vii.
locate here.
It is now becoming thoroughly under
stood by the majority of the people Of I
the city that the voting of the bonds y Ill
not increase their taxation owing to the
amount that will be yearly paid into The
treasury by the railroad company.
James Mullen spoke after Judge FOO-e
finished He said: 1T seems to me as
it does to everyone who looks at she
matter squarely that there is only one
side to the proposition and that is .le
business side. The gain or loss to a city
of from 1000 to 2,000 families is not
matter to be passed over lightly. One
must know that the increased demand
for labor will be of benefit to the wore-
men as we'll as to the merchant and the
professional man.
Property owners will also be benefited
by the fact that as the city grows the
value of the property is enhanced IL
proportion to the growth of the city
The increase in taxable property will no.
stop with the item Of the Santa Fe iac.-
AS more people are brought
to the city more residences will have - /
be erected to accommodate them which
viii of course. be added to the list of
taxable properties
Above all we must not forget that
the sum of $4,000 is not a very large
sum for a large road like the Santa Fe
and that if it had been the sole desire /
of the road to locate the shops in To-
peka, the road would have purchased
the property On the contrary it WAS
the intention of the officers Of the road
to build elsewhere and to. induce them
to come here it was necessary. to give
the requisite land, the same as was Of
fered by a number OF other cities. So in
opposing the bonds no one can be spit;n;s
the read. L believe that the city is able
to make the outlay in view of the profit
that viii accrue to the city.
Among the other speakers were J. B
Price, formerly foreman of the machine
shop, and Labor Commissioner w J..
A. johnson who presided Mr.. Johnson
was formerly employed in the Santan Fa
shops and is well known among lie
shoDmen-
A. NJ Baird said: Il have been ccz-
opposed to bonds till about
three weeks ago when I made a caIcule-
addition of these shops Will be to our
city and my conclusion is that the best
thing we can do is to increase the indus
tries Of Topeka as much as possible 7
am now doing my best for the voting
Of the shop bonds and I believe that
they will be carried
The following set of resolutions was
unanimously adopted expressing the sen
tinnents Of those present:
Whereas, There IS pending q PROPOSE