The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-05
RAILROAD NEWS.
E. A. Gould, of the Missouri Pa
ciflc, Visits Topeka.
Here to Attend Important Case
Before r. X. Commissioners.
INVOLVE PENALTY LAW
Grain Shipper Claims Company
Failed to Deliver Cars.
Knows Nothing Of Northwest
ern Extension from Topeka.
INVOLVE PENALTY Law

Z. A Gould, general superintendent
of the Missouri Pacific. with head
quarters in Kansas City, was in Topeka
Monday for a few hours to attend a
meeting before the state board of rail-
road commissioners. Mr. Gould came
in over the Santa F'e on west bound
train No. g. and IN company with w. G.
Watrous. superintendent Of transpor-
tation for the same road. spent the
greater part Of the day in his private
car. Magnolia" at the Santa Fe depot
When seen in his car and asked if his
visit here was significant of any i'm
portant change in the operating de-
partment of his road, Mr.. Gould said:
mo; my visit here has nothing to do
with any matters of that kind. just
came up today to attend a meeting OF
the board of railroad commissioners.
and expect to return to Kansas City on
No. this evening. 1 will probably be
here for a few hours on Tuesday
''Is there any probability that the
service on the Missouri Pacific between
Topeka and Fort Scott viii be I'M
proVad 2" was asked.
Il hardly think So" was Mr. Gould's
answer. I'VE are now operating two
passenger trains daily between those
points. These trains are sufficient to
handle az OF the business that We get
at these points, and that being the case
/ do not think it probable that the COM
pany will make any imp OvementS.
THE trains that we have in operation
now between these points are even
more than we need"
rs it true that the Fort Scott branch
will be extended to JoDlin?"
THAT matter has been mentioned in
the newspapers, think. May be that
there is something in it. We now have
a through line to Joplin and 1t is prob
able that the train service on this
branch will be extended that far
rs there any probability that a line
will be run from Topeka to some point
northwest of here to connect with the
Central Branch of the Missouri Pa
cif1c2"
7 understand that the Topeka Com
mercial club is interested in such a line
and has taken some action in the mat
ter. But that is about the extent Of
my knowledge of it I understand, how
ever, that a company has been incOrpor-
ated here in Topeka and it is their pur-
pose to run a line similar to that"
What condition is the operating de-
partment Of the Missouri Pacific in at
PRESENT."
I'VE are now in about as good condi-
ton as any other road in this vicinity,
but that is not saying much. The flood
left US in very bad shape, especially
around Kansas City, and for a time the
operating department of the Missouri
that amounted almost to a blockade
Most of our terminal facilities were
washed away and this left US with
scarcely any means for handling our
cars. In time, however, we will be in
fine shape at Kansas City. 1t is our
intention to build new yards at that
point. In fact they had all been laid
out and the work was almost ready to
begin when the flood came on and the
building of the yards had to be post
poned Since then we have been paying
more attention to the rebuilding of our
main lines than to our yards at Kansas
City, but in time we will get around to
them. When these yards are completed
we will have about 40 miles of track at
Kansas City. 1 think that that much
track will do away with any possibility
of a blockade at that point hereafter
Mr.. GOULD denied emDhatically that
he was expecting to resign his position
with the Missouri Pacific. This is a
runor which was started in Kansas
City a few days ago.
The case ir which Mr. Gould is inter-
ested in Topeka is the claim of grain
man at Otis who failed to get cars
which he ordered. The law 0rovides a
penalty of s. a day for each car which
the shipper orders and which the rail-
way company fails to deliver The Otis
man ordered 25 cars a day for several
months, and only got on an average of
two or three cars a week. He is now
seeking from the board of railway COM
mtsSioners an order for the amount of
penalty provided by law He will then
bring suit in the state courts on this
order to get judgment against the
Missouri Pacific. This is the first test
made of the new law.