The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-25
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chise into the city of Topeka and over
certain of our streets and for the priv
ilege of operating by electricity, will
come before the committee of the
council meeting in the city hall build
ing tomorrow afternoon, and will come
before the council itself tomorrow even
ing. The excuse for this third article
on the subject on the part of this paper
is the Importance of the action.
The other two articles on this subject
may be found in this paper of March
"a and March 16, and the views therein
expressed are still advocated. The
State Journal believes that the request
for this franchise is made for ute
rior purposes; that it is a scheme to
secure for practically nothing a fran
chise which will be valuable to sell or
trade upon. or to be used as an enter
ing wedge to a Kansas City electric
line, to which our merchants say they
are at present opposed.
A petition which two weeks ago was
circulated among our business men, it
is understood, will be presented with its
signatures to the committee or to the
council tomorrow. This paper believes
that many who signed this petition and
that many members of the Commercial
club who favored the project did so
without fully understanding the real
import.
This committee of the council which
will meet tomorrow afternoon and
which has had the matter under con-
sideration for some time, consists of
Messrs. CLANCY. Troutman and Snet-
finger. 1t is reported that this COM
mittee has in view the making of one or
two of three reports, substantially as
follows:
To grant the Railway company
franchise into the city of Topeka with
the privilege of operating by electricity
and a right of way over our streets, as
follows: Over Twelfth street, north
on Madison to Ninth, west on Ninth to
Kansas avenue. south on Kansas ave-
nue. to Tenth, east on Tenth to Madison,
south on Madison to Twelfth. east on
Twelfth toward viaduct possibly to be
built and possibly on Twelfth street ex-
tended.
Another proposed route considered to
be Incorporated in a report from this
committee is a franchise over the
streets from Twelfth, north on Quincy
by the Auditorium to Seventh, west on
Seventh to Kansas avenue, south on
Kansas avenue to Tenth, east on Tenth
to Quincy, south on Quincy to Twelfth.
etc; or. from Twelfth, north on Quincy
in front of the Auditorium to Seventh,
west on Seventh to Jackson, south on
Jackson to Tenth, east on Tenth to
Quincy. south on Quincy to Twelfth, etc.
Another route which has been consider
ed proposes to extend the line on Ninth
street west in front of the Santa Fe
offices to Jackson, south on Jackson,
etc.
of course, some of these lines will bad
" cut up many of our streets. There has
been some pride in keeping any railway
line from off Quincy street and having a
clear roadway in front of the Auditorium
and the fire department. There has been
a pronounced feeling upon the part of our
people that We did not wish three or four
railway tracks down Kansas avenue There
is also feeling that even three tracks on
jackson street, in front of Crosby Bros
and Baird's store and the state house
would be detriment and a useless provis-
ion for that street.
1t is claimed. without authority of law
we believe. that the Street Railway COM
pany may be compelled by the city to
grant right of way over it's tracks on
Kansas avenue to another company and
thereby save more than two tracks on the
avenue. We believe there is no such war
rant and that if the city grant any right
of way over our streets that it Will mean
from one to two additional tracks on those
streets whether there may be any two
already there or not.
So far as these different rights of way
are concerned. they have no influence
on the general position taken by this
paper. We simply think that one right
of way would give more trouble and
cause for sorrow to our people than an
other.
We do not consider the adjustment of
a right of way the important point in
the case.
We think the whole scheme is one of
deceit and that the city should not
grant any franchise to this company ut
this time. We believe that the vinewood
company would be glad to take any
thing it can get. If it can get even
privileges up to Kansas avenue without
being permitted to get upon or cross
our main street the company will still
have accomplished it's evil designs. We
think the whole thing should be post
poned. We don't know how many peo-
pie agree with US on this proposition.
We simply believe we are right.
The State Journal regrets to take a
position that may cause temporary
grief to the people of Highland Park
and that part of the suburbs. To mako
1t apparent that the position of this pa
per is disinterested and intended to be
for the welfare of the whole people. 1t
may be stated that the writer owns pro-
perty in Highland Park. in Pierce's ad-
clifton. in Mulvane & Chase's addition
and eighty acres near Vinewood. but he |
believes that transportation facilities
into that region will be of greater bene- !
fit without injury in the clty's affairs (
and prospects If coming in some other +
than the proposed way.
In dealing with Mr.. Myers. who is
promoting the interest of the I
owner of the Vinewood properties, the !
city has a shrewd, experienced man to /
Mr. Myers is an expert at Sc I
curing franchises. This is not his first
experience. IT is said that he has been /