The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-26
STREET RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

company is one OF fr1endHneSS. Inc re-
organized company has announced that
it will give Topeka a splendid track,
equipment and service. and has already
done much to carry out it's promises
and IS hard at work in various portions
of the city on construction and recon-
struction. AS a whole. the city feels
most kindly toward the new manage
ment. Grants and favors were easily
secured from a long suffering COM
munity which saw ahead car service
in harmony with the progress and
standing Of Topeka in other respects.
These are some of the reasons why
opposition to the recent blanket fran
chise could not make itself felt.
The company seems to feel that it has
matters In is own control, but it should
not become arrogant; it may over-reach
itself and incur an improbable opposi-
ton which it should not merit.
There are some sins of commission
and omission which demand the prompt
attention of the city authorities.
Beginning with the latter, the alleged
car service which the company is Civ
ing North Topeka is a disgrace. un-
worthy of the company conducting it
and undeserved by the fast growing
and rebuilt community on the north
side of the river. If the matter were
not SO serious, the service might be
called a huge joke. The company
which early made pretensions of doing
everything in its power for the stricken
First ward is retarding the growth of
that part OF the town. and is a menace
to its further advancement.
The principal length of the company's
track north of the river has been ADAM
doned. from Gordon street 10 Garfield
park. A single car on one track fut-
ters back and forth between the bridge
and the fire station. The passenger
must make the long walk across the
bridge and wait the arrival Of the con-
Meeting car. which may or may not
meet him within ten minutes. Passen-
gers to and from the Union Pacifis depot
have reason to berate the condition.
Easy communication between the two
portions of the city was never more i'm
portant for the benefit of both sides. The
conduct of the company is shameful.
The old concern. with all its faults, did
maintain a bus service over the bridge
when other connections were impossible
and it did operate its line for the benefit
of the residents beyond Gordon street.
ent course to tire out the people with a
view TO a permanent occupation OF the
Melan arch bridge they are starting a
move which will never succeed and which
will cost popularity they have gained
and may easily hold with decent treat
ment.
There seems to be no serious opposi
ton between the city and the company
and The vaopIa co1corrad n a toy,o r,or.n w
single track on the Melan bridge, If it is
placed on the surface, or in such way
as to in no manner to weaken the bridge.
The temporary right so granted to be
specifically and in an ironclad manner
so hedRed about that the railway must
remove it's track at the earliest possible
date by which a permanent railway
bridge may be constructed: the COM
pany to show it's good faith by the i'm
mediate preparation for a bridge and
the prosecution of its erection.
The county commissioners show some
tc oppose street railway
facilities for North Topeka, but by an
as suggested above 1t
seems assured that sentiment may be
created which will DISPOSE of any I'M
warranted opposition from this source.
What the city railway company has
sinned in not doing for the north side,
it does equal injustice in doing on the
south side. The broken rock and
gravel which the company is placing
through the middle of Sixth avenue
would be called an outrage if the old
company were doing it. and bad work
by the new people will be no sweeter
by giving it a pleasanter name. The |
action of the company in !
restoring pavement and the removal of !
a gulley on Fifth street is offset by an !
of broken rock and gravel in
viting new gulleys on Sixth.
Tt is a poor excuse to say that the !
old cedar blocks could not be replaced. |
They were at least better than macadam |
and the company destroyed their future |
use by it's own construction. Sixth ave- |
nue. must shortly be paved The per-
mitted use of rock seems to indicate that |
the city has no intention of immediate |
ly preserving this fine boulevard within |
the city although the county and sub
urban residents are extending the pave
ment beyond the limits.
The company is using macadam |
without even the formal action of the |
council. Seven members have signed |
to do certain things for the |
city railway company and annul char
ter provision without even the formal !
ity of law. Are these seven councilmen !
employed to look after the interests of !
the city railway company or are they |
chosen to serve the public and the |
as we'll?
This is said in all kindness and fair
ness to the railway, but for the citys |
equal interests as well.
Lines must be changed. old ones aban-
doned and new ones built. but this |
should be done with view to pleasing !
the people, not provoking them. Profit |
and patronage and support will come by |
fair treatment, not by arbitrary power.