The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-11
CHANGE TO STEAM
Latest Proposal For Council
Grove Interurban Line.
F. v. Crouch of lola Here to
See About 1t.
HE HAS BUILT ONE.
Will Investigate Possibilities of
Proposed Trolley.
Company to Incorporate Under
Railroad Laws.

The general terms of a charter for the
Topeka. Eskridge & Council Grove IN
terurban railroad were drawn up at
meeting of the provisional directors at
the Commercial club rooms this morn
ing. The company is to be capitalized
at $4,000 and will be incorporated under
the general railroad act in order that
all the advantages accruing to railroad
corporations may behad in the conStruc-
ton of the proposed road The discus
sion of the project was prolonged for
two hours this morning and was con-
tinued this afternoon. There was a full
attendance of the twenty-one provision
al directors and F. V. Crouch. president
and builder of the lola electric road,
was present to secure an idea of the
plans and possibilities for the operation
of the line as well as to furnish advice.
Mr.. Crouch is looked upon as a possible
builder of the Council Grove railroad.
In speaking of his position he said:
If this proves to be desirable field
Tor electric railroad traffic 1 shall be
able to undertake its construction. l
am totally unfamiliar with the situa-
ton Before venturing an opinion upon
the undertaking 1 should examine the
entire route, estimate its proba BILE pas
senger and freight traffic and prospec-
tive development 1 am interested in
electric railroad development and should
like to become familiar with the Topeka
and Council Grove situation
It is possible that the projectors of
the road may have to relinquiSh the
Idea of electric motive power in favor
of steam. There appears to be a very
strong doubt that an electric road
could be supported while one OPP
Grated by steam, costing considerably
less to construct, might find ready
profits. This question was advanced by
Vice President l.. E. Myers of the To-
peka Railway company, who assured
the directors that as far as the interests
of his company were concerned an cleo
trio railway was far the more desirable.
The approximate cost of an electric
railway would be 81 900, 900 while that of
q steam road might not be over $500, 600.
The population of the terminal cities
and the townships through which the
projected line will pass is about sc, 900
people, insufficient to support purely
passenger business on that investment.
The freight traffic of the territory to be
entered would be much more important
and would, in reality, be very consider
able For a purely freight business a
Eteam line would serve. That was the
situation substantially as Mr.. Myers
stated it.
The statement of Mr. Crouch corrob-
GRATED that of Mr.. Myers as far as the
relative cost of construction was con-
cerned. An electric line has been the
idea of the people living along the route
from the beginning and it was objected
that a steam road would receive no sub
sidy from some of the townships through
which it was proposed to pass County
Attorney Fred Seaman of Wabaunsee
county argued strongly that the projec-
tors of the electric road wanted it not as
an investment enterprise but for the OBJ
5ect of developing their localities with
the view of making the railroad ulti-
mately a paying proposition.
The intention now is to file the char
ter drawn up today and take out the
articles of Incorporation under which
stock in the new company may be sub
scribed. A survey of the route will be
secured and complete information about
the cost of a right of way and data
upon the probable tonnage of freight
and the amount of passenger business to
be relied upon will be obtained as the
first business of the company.
Fred B. Bennett, of lola, who is in
terested in real estate and oil develop
ment there. is in Topeka with Mr..
Crouch, and attended the meeting at
the Commercial club. The directors in
attendance at today's meeting were:
From Morris County-W. F. Shamel-
fer, Arson Miller, w. H. White, Ed G.
Williams. H. E. Richter, Eugene Hey
Drank, and Horace Paul.
From Wabaunsee County-A. F.
Wade, Arthur Cate, W. W. Ramey. F.
"A Leaman. A. J. Skeene, John Barlow,
and John Cousin.
From Shawnee County-E. B. Mer-
riam John e. Frost. W. H. Mills. Rob
ert Stone, Peter Hell, John Tomson,
and r. NJ. Stahl.