The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-25
WAS NOT THE PLACE.
North Topekan Protests Against
Mass Meetings. Action.

The meeting of North Topeka citizens
last night. advertised to be meeting
Of the Business Mems league resolved
itself into mass meeting and then
nearly unanimously voted in favor OF
the city council passing an old ordln-
ance giving the Topeka Railway com
pany the right to cross the Melan
bridge: 1t was so modified as to limit
the time of such privilege. The meet
ing was a large one and falrly
represented the business interests of the
First ward There seemed to be gen
eral desire that a track be EXTENDED
across the bridge. Its temporary neces-
| sity under present conditions is recoS-
nized. But the action taken L DeIieve
to be i'll advised and premature. Inc
! matter came up on the presentation OF
the case by III. c. Holman, very clearly
put and the laying before the meeting
the old ordinance as stated Th1S Orulh-
ance was proposed under conditions very
| different from those now existing InSre
was then supposed to be no question as
i to the fitness of the bridge for railway
purposes. 1t was presumed that the pro-
posed bridge would be able to accommo-
date the entire railroad traInc- Inc
bridge is now too narrow for any such
purpose, and especially for that promlS-
/ ed by the new company.
There is undoubtedly much need OF
some railway service across the river
| limitations. Early in the meeting res
! olution was offered in favor Oh giving
| the railway company temporary right
| of way under certain restrictions Wnich
| were suggested to the following e1ect'
| towit:
First-The use of said bridge to be
limited to one year and for single track
only.
Second-The rails to be laid upon the
| surface of the bridge and in such man
| ner as not to injure or weaken the same
Third-The speed of all cars to be Inn
tied and subject to the control Oh the
city council and the use OF heaVy cars
absolutely prohibited.
Fourth-An traffic during the day 10
be confined to passenger service only
except by special permit.
F'ifth-The carrying of light freight
material presumably for the building OF
the company's railway extension to be
done at night only.
Sixth-The City Railway company TO
bear all expenses of building approach
es, including the widening OF the present
temporary north addition to the bridge,
to pay all damages that may result
from the use of said bridge as aforesalu.
incidental or otherwise, and to give Sooo
and sufficient bonds to construct WITHIN
one year new bridge for their own use
of such style and manner as not TO en-
danger the present Melan bridge IN any
way, and in every way to secure the
faithful enforcement of the contract
with the city.
| Some such regulations as these are
deemed necessary for the protection OF
the city. The ordinance submitted con-
tanned little or nothing OF TINS kiho:
Under that ordinance as 1t was read, II
passed and accepted by the railway
company the bridge may be torn up,
the present heavy rails put down, the
new heavy cars put on, the speed mn
tied only by the desire of the company
or whim of the motOrneer, while nc
provision is made for what the city
shall do or the company, in order &c
prepare the bridge for such service.
1t would she difficult to conceive
business proposition more crude than
this as now s8ffered. The simple fact IS
, that a mass meeting is no fit place fol
details OF matters of this kind. This
work must be done in committee upon
consultation with experts in such mat
r ters and consummated in careful con-
Z sideration in the council chamber. The
idea of advising the city council to pass
this ordinance as it was voted is alb
, surd in the extreme. 1t will if pre-.
e scented need many amendments, anc
I this will simply be carrying out the
suggestion named above, and thereby
. nullify the ridiculous action Oh th'
: 1t is claimed that if the company i.
n once permitted the use of the bridge i
4 will never leave it. This is not prob
S able The bridge is in no way fitted
: for the permanent use of the company
It's plans are large and comprehensive
r much more. doubtless. than is general
g ly understood. These electric lines al
over the country are extending t
?. neighboring towns and cities. In man.
places they are absorbing much of thu
e traffic done by the steam roads. Thu
T Topeka line will reach Kansas Cit!
e and other points, north, west, ant
south, and it must have bridges Of it
own.
d Again it is absurd to. claim tina
eighteen months or two years may b