The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-25
FAVOR THE CONCESSION
North Topeka People Would
Have Tracks on Bridge.

The business men of North Topeka,
in mass meeting called to consider the
proposition to extend the use of the
Kansas avenue Melan arch bridge to the
Topeka Railway company, last night
gave their endorsement to the idea and
appointed a committee to urge the pas
sage of franchise ordinance by the
city council. There was one dissenting
vote upon the question and that was
given by William Meade, a farmer from
north of Topeka.
While it took the North Topekans
fully two hours to get to a vote upon
the question, it was discovered, when
the vote came, that there was no divis
ion of opinion. The whole matter might
have been disposed of in less than half
an hour but for the indulgence of
proclivity for speech-making. A draft
of an ordinance was produced and dis
cussed at length before given the en-
dorsement of the assembly. It's prep
aration had been seen to by the COM
mittee of twelve, headed by NJ. c. Hol-
man. who waited upon the officials of
the Railway company to ascertain
their views upon the construction of the
North Topeka lines.
In presenting his report upon this con-
ference Mr.. Holman stated the position
of the street car people as they had
presented it. 1t was stated that while
every effort was being made to hasten
the building of bridge over the Kaw
it would be impossible to fit one for
use within a year or eighteen months.
With a disconnected service at the
bridge the North Topeka line, formerly
the best paying of the entire system
was profitless. The railway company
does not intend to rebuild the North
Topeka tracks until cars can be placed
upon them to be run regularly. If a
line can be laid across the Kansas ave-
nue. bridge this may be accomplished.
On account of the unWillingness to stir
up a fight to secure a franchise for the
use of the bridge the company has de-
termined to make no such effort at ALL
However. should a franchise be volun-
tarily offered the company will at once
undertake the rebuilding of its ADAM
doned line to Garfield park.
This being the situation, the commit
tee exceeded its authority to the extent
of preparing an ordinance. The meas
ure was presented by Mayor Bergund-
thai and freely discussed by the men
present. AS finally endorsed by the
mass meeting the ordinance says:
Section l. There is hereby granted to
the Topeka Railway company its sue
cessors and assigns, for the period of
one and one-half years from the ac-
ceptance of this ordinance, the right to
lay single track line of railway and
to run cars thereon, across the bridge
over the Kansas river on Kansas ave-
nue., in the city of Topeka. The condi-
ton under which this right is granted
is that said railway company, its sue
cessors and assigns, shall within so days
from the acceptance of the ordinance
complete the laying of a double track
line of railway from the north end OF
said bridge to Garfield park and have
cars running thereon. And if said com
pany shall fail to comply with said con-
ditions within said so days, then this
franchise and all rights granted there
under shall thereby become forfeited
unless said railway company shall be
prevented from complying with said
conditions by unusual and extraordinary
floods. The right to lay and maintain
said track across said bridge and to run
cars thereon shall cease and be at an
end at the expira ton of the two years
here in provided for, and the said rail-
way company shall within so days from
the expiration thereof take up and re-