The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-06
HOW LONG, OH, HOW LONG?
Citizen of Oakland Writes of Street
Railway Service
Topeka, Kan, Feb s, 1sUz.

Topeka Kan, Feb. 6, 1902.
To the Editor of the State Journal
I would like to ask the Topeka Street
Railway company through the columns
of your paper, what the purpose OF thde
company is? Is the Street Railway COM
pany here to operate its cars for the &C
commOdation of its patrons. tow1t: The
public, or is it not for that purpose.
What is patron who pays his or her
fare entitled to? 1t is very evident that
the patron is not even entltled 10
strap to hang onto, judging from pas
call attention especially to the accom-
modations on the Oakland line
During the AIidwinter fair there We're
crowds from Oakland almost every night
and on one or two nights an extra car
was added to the service Other than
these nights it was catch as catcu
cam" on returning after the perform
snces. the cars were damned, women
were compelled to stand upon the plat
FORM and yet the Street Railway com
pany could not afford to attach trailer
to accommodate the public-one or two
opening nights excepted when a trailer
was added. on one occasion when the
up car was crowded. the moterman re
fused to stop for party, ana reaIiy
there was no need to stop as no one
could get on. However, this party was
compelled to get that car to town for
work so he fell in behind the car and
pulled the trolley off until he got on II
IS nothing uncommon for car to get
out of repair and leave oakland without
q car for an hour.
1 will especially call your attention 10
the Oakland service Tuesday evening al
ter the band concert. Cars were waiting
on East Eighth street for all parts oil
the city, and most of them with trailers
attached. The Oakland car, as usual,
was damned to the guards-SeatS for
about one-Quarter of the crowd, straps
for another quarter to hang to, a warm
stove for three or four more to cling TO
the balance could claw the air and
their neighbors when the car struck
curves, and the Oakland line is all
curves. Women were damned in the
rear platform, not able to gain entrance
to the car. There were at one time, by
actual count, two women and five men
in the rear vestibule, and one person
who could get no nearer the car than
the lower step. And with all this crowd
the railway company could not run an
other car or attach a trailer.
One evening during the Midwinter
fair car No. IS was run, to my knOwl-
edge, from $3.50 p m until its last trip,
IL or II o'clock, with a defective brake,
and the only means of stopping was by
reversing the current. That car going
out was damned, and at each stop that
car was reversed, and the poor, defense
less public inside was thrown violently
from side to side and from end to end
of the car, and some of them had alb
SoluteIy' nothing whatever to hang to.
In making a stop at Emmett street two
men were thrown against the stove and
the pipe was knocked out of place.
Would it not be fair if the patrons
who cannot have seats would refuse
to pay fare until provided with a. seat?
When there is anything special going
on, cars are waiting for all parts of the
city, even if it be after IL o'clock but
the Oakland car leaves sharp at IL,
public public
Why such a discrimination? Is not
the fare on this line as good as other
lines? Or is the Oakland 5 cent piece
below par?
trust you will give this letter space
in the columns of your paper. The
service is very bad. and many who are
within 30 to As minutes walk of the
postoffice prefer walking in when in
hurry rather than risk waiting for
car
Trusting the Topeka Street Railway
com pany may in the near future see
fit to return value received to its pa
irons for the nickel rendered as fare,
I am. Yours very respectfully,
/. NJ. WALKIN.