The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-20
IN WAR PAINT.
City Council Is Real Mad at
Railroads.
Won't Use Their Old Passes
Any More.
THEY NEGLECT TOPEKA
Won't Keep Their Crossings in
Repair.
Refuses Permission to Build
THEY NEGLECT TOPEKA
Refuses Permission to Build
Two New Spurs.

No more right of way concessions to
the railroads. No more passes for the
members of the city council. War has
been declared by the city officials of
Topeka on the railway companies, and
both the Rock Island and Santa Fe
nave been refused the right to build
spur tracks to points which thew de-
sire to reach. The Missouri Pacific is
also under the ban. and could not even
get a pleasant look from the city coun-
Gil if It wanted it.
All the trouble arises from the long
standing neglect by the railway COM
panies of the condition of their eros
sings within the city limits. The roads
have allowed the crossings to become
almost impossible at various places.
AT Fourth street. the main Santa Fe
crossing is in very bad condition. At
Jackson street. the Rock Island has al
lowed things to go to pieces badly. At
the foot of Quincy there is a joint
track owned by the Santa F'e. Rock
Island and Missouri Pacific which is
perhaps worst of all. Repea ted at
temDtS have been made to get the rail-
way companies to fix up these bad
places, and put in new pIanks. Again
and again the city engineer has served
notice on the railway officials to repair
their crossings. and they have always
solemnly promised to Immediately do
as requested. But the work has not
been done. and the CROSSINGS have con-
tnuad to get worse and worse It is
possible that there is so much red tape
about putting in new plank at a rail-
way street crossing that the knotty
problem has not yet succeeded in get
ting past the assistant chief clerk to
the third assistant of the fourth vice
president.
A few weeks ago the Rock island
asked for permission to build a spur
across Topeka avenue at First street
IL has been customary for the council
10 grant such requests without any
question But this time the council
hesltated while City Engineer McCabe
tod now the railway officials. like
put done nothing toward fixing up their
tracks The council then passed the
ordnance, but Instructed Mayor Ber-
gundthal not to sign it until the re-
still unsigned
Monday night there was another coun-
Gil meeting, and the Santa Fe railway
attorneys had the following ordinance
/ introduced:
BE it enacted, etc, that permission
is hereby given to the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe railway to construct
operate and maintain an extension of
its track No. rs over and across Fourth
street in the city of Topeka from the
/ - - SSA 81 AtliL t44Ci COAs CS4Sl u
Holiday place.
When this was introduced, Council
man Joseph Griley said that one of the
officials had told him that the Santa F'e
has a gang of men already TO begin
work and would appreciate it very
much if the franchise could be granted
at once, without waiting for the reg
ular course under the rules.
Therefore. I move said NE. Griley.
chat rule IS be suspended, and we
DrOCRP6 to the immediate nf
this ordinance"
MIR. Mayor" said Councilman Weber,
1--WE turned down a Rock Island or
dinance like this a few weeks ago. and
I think we should treat all the roads
alike. The Santa Fe ought to put its
crossings in good shape before it comes
/ here asking favors of the city,
That's right, said Mayor Bergund-
thai. IT think it takes considerable
nerve for these people to come up here
with this franchise for us to pass
Everybody seemed to think the Santa
Fe should be disciplined. They all for
got about their passes, and Councilman
Griley was almost greeted with ap-
p1ause when he arose and said:
well, if that's the case, Mr.. Mayor,
will withdraw my motion"
1t is a lucky thing for the members
of the council that this is the time of
year when there are no Junkets', ike
ly to be proposed, for junkets without
passes do not suit the ordinary official
The Rock Island and Santa Fe or
dinanees are both sleeping, and it will
require the attention of the section boss
and his gang to restore them to life.
FIXING THE MEI4AN BRIDGE.
/ Bids were opened last night for re-
pairing the Me1an bridge; also foi
scraping and painting the iron work
The repairs consist of replacing certain
broken pilasters and patching the ee-
ment and pavement. but does not lit
clude the construction of the proposed
additional span. City Engineer McCabe
estimated this work to be worth $435
but the only bid received was for $485
with relaying pavement so cents 9
square yard additional. This bid being
/ so high above the estimate it was re-
| jected. The bid was submitted by tbs
Morse Contracting company.
Numerous bids on the work of paint
| ing were received. They were ar re-
/ ferred to the ways and means commit
tee, with power to act. The bids wert
as follows:
One coat. Two coats