The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-25
NO END OF CHANGE
City Railway to Revamp the
Southwest District.
Nearly All Streets Now Used to
Be Abandoned.
TO EXTEND EIGHTH.
Will Go to Governors House
and Down Buchanan.
Washburn Line to Go Out
Piercy Street.
TO EXTEND EIGHTH.

A street car revolution has been plann-
ed by the citv railway, and it is likely
to start within the next day or two. 1t
will not be accomplished without oppo-
sition.
The revolution consists in complete
Encouragement of the street car lines in
the west part of town. Streets where
the cars have been running for the past
Is years will be abandoned. and new
streets will be occupied. The fight will
come on the part of residents of narrow
streets, some paved and some unpaved,
where the company proposes to build its
lines.
1t is very difficult to obtain definite
statement from the officials of the COM
pany as to their plans. The city engi-
neer is also in the dark, as the company
has SO far filed no maps with him, nor
has it made application for permits to
excavate in the streets which it desires
10 occupy. Some of the plans of the
company, however, have gradually leak
ed out. and it can be stated definitely
that the West Eighth avenue line will
be used as the LOwman Hill line. the
West Tenth line will be extended south
from Clay to Huntoon street and then
to College avenue, the Washburn line
will come out Percy ard Fifteenth, and
back on Sixteenth avenue to WilliSton,
or West street. There is also said to be
a plan for building west from Kansas
avenue on Euclid avenue but the object
of this line is somewhat in the dark
The effect of these changes is to shift
the general trend of the street car traffic
further toward the south. The company
evidently believes that the southwest
part of town is in need of better facill-
ties and is endeavoring to accomplish
this object
Beginning with the College ana GUM
ton Heights line. which now runs out
Twelfth to Clay, the company seems te
have determined to move this entire line,
further south. The plan seems 10 De 10
build double track line out Thirteenth
street Thirteenth is a narrow street,
and c. J. Devlin. M. A. Low and others
who live on it are said to be aware or
what is coming and to be making
preparations to oppose the plan, but the
street railway franchise gives the COM
pany the right to go where it pieases.
The double track line will probably ex-
tend to Clay street. where one branch
will go south on Clay to Qulnton
Heights, and the other west on Plercy
toward Washburn. Piercy is another
name for Fifteenth. The line win run
west on Piercy to College avenue, and
will probably make a loop around the
block bounded by Sixteenth, College,
Boswell and Euclid. returning to town
on Sixteenth street to West, thence
The West Tenth line, which now runs
to Lowman Hill, will be continued
south on Clay to Huntoon. west on
Huntoon to College avenue, and then
by means of a loop around on Mulvane
street back % Huntoon.
| The West Eighth street line will be
extended west a block from its present
dead end terminus to the governors
mansion, thence south on the Buchanan
street pavement to the old Lowman
Hill line. which it will follow in general
direction.
| 1t is likely that the proposed Euclid
avenue line has some connection with
car service for Dennis & Martins
addition. 1t is considered likely that
instead of crossing the Shunganunga
creek, the street cars may make wide
loop around the heart of Dennis G.
Martins addition, returning by way of
Euclid avenue.
/ When the company comes out with
its definite plans there may be a temp
est City Engineer McCabe said today:
II have heard some rumOrs of a line
out Thirteenth, and some other
changes If the company wants to
make any very material changes, l will
refuse to issue excavation permits for
them until the city council has a
chance to meet and discuss the situa-
tioa''
The company's franchise gives it the
right to build just about wherever it
pleases. 1t says the company can con-
struct "in, over, on and through any of
i the streets, alleys, avenues, bridges, via
ducts and other public highways exceed
ing 20 feet in width. its line or lines of
single or double track electric railway"