The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-21
Proposition For Kansas City
Topeka Line Opposed.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Position of Club Will Be Placed
Before Commissioners.
Will Be Told Why Topeka Needs
No Electric Line.

ing TO allowing q right O1 way LII Oh
electric line along our public high
ways" said John r. Mulvane at the
meeting of the members of the Com
mercial club last evening. The state
ment so tersely expressed by Mr.. Null
'vane was the keynote of the meeting
Besides being a menace to life and
limb he continued, 1.-The building OF
an electric road through our highways
will usurp portion of our already mar
row enough roads. to the disadvantage
of those who have occasion to use the
highways. Our roads are given by the
farmers along the line of the road; they
are fenced off from each quarter sec
ton, and should be used for no other
purpose than that for which they were
originally intended
IF the proposed electric line between
Kansas City and Topeka is worth
building, the privilege of running cars
between the two points is worth what
it will cost company to purchase their
right of way.
''At any rate, L believe we should
missioners in a manner that they VIII
not under any circumstances grant
right of way along our public high
ways
In substantiation of the position of
Mr. Mulvane the following resolution
was unanimously adopted by the club:
Resolved, That we are opposed TO
the granting of franchise for an cleo
trio line over the public highways Of
our county; and
Resolved. That a committee of five
be appointed to present these resolutions
to the county commissioners at their
next meeting and urge the rejection OF
the proposition for the right of way
now before the board
The members of the Commercial club
realize they must bow to the inevitable.
The inevitable in this case is, in the
opinion of Frank Foster, who spoke on
the subject of the electric railway prop
ositiOn for few minutes last night,
that sooner or later an electric line
such as has been talked of between
Kansas City and Topeka, will be built"
I'VE cannot fly in the face of prog
ress, he said. These electric lines are
being built in the east to a great ex-
tent and it is only a matter of time
when they must come to be large
factor in the travel between the cities
in the west. AS soon as it is demon
strated that such a road will pay it will
be built, all efforts to the contrary not
Withstanding.
But let US not allow such a line to
run over our highways"
The subject Of an electric railway was
discussed from all standpoints- Argu-
ments were made on both sides. The
example of the Leavenworth- Kansas
City line was held up as reason why the
line would work diSaStrOuSly for To-
pel1a merchants. Business is injured
of the electric line" said E. II. Crosby.
And there is always a portion of the
people who as soon as they wanted to
buy a bill of goods of any size would
go to Kansas City were it convenient.
They perhaps would not stop to think,
and at least would not realize they
could do no better in Kansas City than
in Topeka as far fair prices and
quality is concerned. But it is the fact
that they are enabled to say awards
that I bought so and so in Kansas
City that would lead them to go there"
1t was argued that conSidera BILE trade
was taken to Leavenworth by reason.
of the electric line, and that a proper
Tomato increase of outside trade would
result here if such a line were built.
Only an actual test perhaps would de-
eide that point, but the merchants here
are not willing for the trial.
"A good reason why we don't want
an electric line on our highways" said
Councilman Bergundthal, lis that the
cars run at rate from rs to so miles
per hour and serious accidents would
certainly result The country horses
would probably never become entirely
accustomed to the cars and in cases
where women or children were driving
along the roads. accidents in which
lives would be lost might result
The fact that the people who are
asking for the franchise through Shaw
ne county seem to have no money be-
hind them. and that they are appar-
sell and thereby make a handsome
profit was discussed. Major Anderson
expressed the feeling of the entire club
when he said: IT believe that when the
time comes that such franchises are to
be given, they should be given to re-
putable citizens of our own county
whom we know and may rest assured
will do something that will result in a
benefit to the citizens rather than to
an utter stranger who comes here with
. ion To
ing"
SCALE COMPANY PLANT.
The committee on securing the Nc
Leod automatic scale plant for Topeka
made report. Az agreement has been
signed between the committee and the
manufa cturerS of the scale relative to
the basis upon which a company is or
ganized for the erection of a factory
here. Thirty days are given to organ
ize the company and sell the stock,
which will amount to $4,000.
The president of the Commercial club
to further investigate the merits of the
Cloughley automobile and endeavor to
finally locate the factory here.
J. W. Vincent had a working model
of a new and improved windmill of his
invention at the Commercial club rooms
last night and explained its working to
all those interested. He has device
for saving power and getting more
power with a lighter breeze An at
tempt will be made to form a stock
company soon to manufacture the
ket.
In the absence of John E. Frost, pres
ident of the club S. T. Howe was cho-
sen to act temporarily.