The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-29

venience for the purpose Of forcing the
people of North Topeka to agree to the
Inconvenience of the tracks on the
bridge"
H. M. Cline is opposed to having the
street car tracks on the bridge. He
thinks the bridge would be damaged
and the tracks would be a great incon-
venience.
W. NJ. Cline said: 1--WE need a street
car service and the street car company
is trying to force the issue by the mis-
cradle service. Even a bus transfer
across the bridge would help matters
greatly"
Ed Arnold said: I'VE want a street
car service IN North Topeka from the
south side and 1 favor allowing the
street car company to cross the bridge
after heavy bond is given that the
company will move the tracks to their
own bridge, say in IS months. We want
good service. and we need it,
Peter Smith, of the Citizens bank,
said: I'VE have been practically
against the proposition to lay tracks
on the bridge and against the PROPOSE
ton offered by the company. While we
want street car connection with the
south eide, North Topeka does not want
It at the cost of detriment to the
Melan bridge. The bridge now has not
sufficient capacity to carry the traffic
properly. 1t was built for wagons and
pedestrians, and we do not want the
street car company to take it, If the
equivalent to the cost of a bridge for
the street cars, say $4,000 or SAC. 600 /
would say give the company about a
years use of the bridge if it can he
uone Wlthout INJURY to the bridge and
can be carried out with safety. I
would favor this if the street cars will
NOT jar or wreck the bridge, but we are
not civil engineers and can not tell
what VIII be the effect The majority
OF the farmers and townspeople on the
North side are against the proposition
to allow the street car Company to use
the BRIDGE - 80
F. Elmore. of the Shawnee State
bank, said: Il think it would he
proper to allow the street car comnanv
to put tracks on the bridge and use
1t for year and a half but / would
not favor giving the company unlinit--
ed time. The company should give a
good pond TO protect the city and the
bridge and to assure the removal of the
tracks"
Thomas Page is anxious for a street
car line to North Topeka and favors
the street car company the
use of the Melan bridge for a suitable
length of time.
]. B. Billiard said: "I very reluctant
~ consent to the street car company
using the bridge. 1t is not a matter
of choice but a matter of necessity. The
street car company has North Topeka
at its mercy and we are now doing
practically without a car line. If the
would build the line to Gar
field park and run two cars in North
Topeka we could get along very well
with walking across the bridge The
promised to rebuild the line
to the park first. The officers made me
a promise that the North Topeka line
would he the first line to be rebuilt.
Now the company has abandoned that
line and is doing nothing. 1t is an
the way the company has
treated North Topeka. Unless COM
PEELED to grant the company something's
I would feel like granting nothing and
would rather see the company kicked
out Of town. The company feels that
it has North Topeka under it's control.
The compar really says, We have got
you and if you want anything work
for it,
oscar Krauss said: 1--WE don't want
the street car tracks on the bridge and
I don't believe the bridge would stand
the traffic. Any other company would
have n bridge of their own built in
few months. The company wants this
town to give them everything for moth
ing. The farmers are opposed to hav-
ing the tracks on the bridge I don't
want to see the bridge ruined"