The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-27
New City Railway Makes Some
Excellent Suggestions.
Proposes to Use Brick Pave
ment on West Sixth.
PACKET TO OAKLAND.
Semi Freight Line Is to Be
Established.
Effort Made to Fix Up MeIan
Bridge Right of Way.

One Of the first things which the city
railway win do toward the reconstruc-
ton of its lines viii be to repave its
entire right Of way on West Sixth ave-
nue. with brick The right of way win
be repaved as the new ties and rails
are laid.
This statement was made last night
to the ways and means committee of
the city council by L. E. Myers, vice
president of the Topeka Railway com
pany. It will be welcome news, and
will probably serve as the entering
wedge for the repaving of that entire
street from Harrison to West, a total
of eleven blocks. This street is now
paved with cedar blocks. and is in ter
rible condition. It is only a question of
a short time until the city or the prop
erty owners there viii have to repave
the street with brick.
Mr.. Myers also stated to the council
that in the reconstruction of the lines on
paved streets. an improved method of
construction viii be used which will
prevent the beautiful corduroy" effect
which exists along all the track laid by
the Ninewood company in the city. The
corduroy is due to the sand upon
which the brick is laid fltering down
through the crushed stone, and thus
allowing the brick to sag between the
ties.
Under the proposed plan, a layer of
stone screenings and cement will be
put on top of the crushed stone, max
ing a sort of senli-concrete base upon
which the sand cushion will be spread
Instead of using 5 inch rails, the rails
to be used on reconstruction will be S
inches tall, thus allowing for a three
inch sand cushion instead of inch
PACKET LINE TO OAKLAND.
One Of the things which Mr.. Myers
stated was contemplated by the company
if the new franchise is granted is sort
of packet freight train to Oakland.
This train viii make trips at intervals
for the purpose OF bringing in to To-
peka the garden produce of Oakland,
and taking back whatever merchandise
the merchants of Topeka may want TO
send out into that locality
The franchise also permits the COM
panv to haul coal for its own use in its
cars between the hours of midnight and
; a. m.
quite an important concession was
made last night by Mr.. Myers to the
house movers of the city. The house
movers have objected to that provision
Of the ordinance which makes it neces-
sary for them to pay the costs OF cut
ting or lowering the trolley wire to
Myers made an absolute concession or
this point and house movers viii be
only required, under the proposed ord1-
nance to give notice to the company OF
where they want to cross the track. and
the company will do all the work of cut
ting the wire
As a concession to the company, 1t
was agreed that the 80 minute limit on
transfers shall be cut down to 10 min
utes. or the first connection which it is
possible for the passenger to make with
the car which he desires Mr.. Myers
stated that the transfer system is
source of immense loss in revenue to
the company, through the fraudulent
use of them by passengers to secure
round trip ride, or to enable themselves
to stop over in the city for an hour or
10 minute limit is understood to be
merely an approximate time.
NAIL CARRIERS REPRESENTED.
The mail carriers had representatives
al the meeting to plead for concessions
in the carrying of postmen on the cars.
At present the carriers are given tick
cts to use in going to and from their
route. The government pays 1-lO cents
apiece for the tickets. The carriers
want their uniform to be good FOR Tree
passage when they are on duty, and
have the company accept in lump sum
a compensation the amount which the
government allows for street car IareS.
tsPresident Baker has informed the
postmaster" said Albert Watkins. who
represents the carriers, that after July
/, the fare will be 5 cents fat"
Il repudiate any such statement" said
Mr.. Myers. "and if such an order has
been issued, I viii rescind it tomorrow
morning
It seems that there is still some frie-
ton between the Baker and Wilson
factions in the new railway company
Mr. Myers agreed to take up the re-
quest of the mail carriers with MI.
Wilson and Mr.. Sunny when they come
to Topeka Monday
STREETS TO BE EXEMPTED.
Nothing definitely was decided last
night as to what streets shall be ex-
empted from street car service. Some
of those which were suggested were
Quincy south of Seventh Harrison
Topeka avenue north of Seventeenth
Tyler, Fillmore and Clay north or
Tenth but there are a number of 9TH
ers to be placed on the list
1t may be that instead of specifying
the streets which shall not be occupied
the street car company will consent il
q general way to specify the streets
which it desires to use. Mr.. Myers had
a list of such streets in his possession
last night but did not present it to the
committee
There is likely to be a general rush Of
petitions to the council to have certain
streets exempted. and the committee js
trying to tx things so it viii not have
to bother with such communications
but can get the matter adjusted a.
quickly as POSSIBLE.
THE MELAN BRIDGE QUESTION.
Much time was spent last night in
discussing the use of the Melan briGgs
for car tracks
Mr.. Myers said that the company has