The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-26
LIKE REAL PARK.
City Railway Will Spend $780,
900 at VineWOOd.
Scenic Railroad Is One of the
Features.
ELECTRIC FOUNTAIN.
Company Contracted for One ia
Cost So, 200.
Another Thing to Be Seen Will
Be "CarouselI''

F. B. Kelly. manager of the Topeka
City Railway company, stated this
morning that he had been commissions
ed by President L. E. Myers of Chicago.
to announce that $25,00O would be spent
a t Vinewood park at once for the in
stallation of a Figure Eight toboggan.
sometimes called scenic railroad. cost
ing $4,000; a carousell, costing 5000.
and an electric fountain, costing So, ,OOO
The work of construction will be COM
menced within few days, just as soon
as the companies from whom the
amusements are bought are able to pre-
pare the machinery to be shipped to To-
peka. All of the lumber, and it will
probably take in the neighborhood of
sixty or seventy thousand feet, will be
purchased exclusively from Topeka
yards. The directors of the company
ana President Myers were especially in
sistent that this be done
The Figure Eight toboggan is almost
a half mile long. 1t is in the shape of
the figure eight as it's name indicates
The construction is similar to that of
an elevated railroad. The track undu-
lateS to a considerable height. Cars
with four double seats are used and are
so securely fastened to the track by
means of patent rail clutches that al
most any speed can be attained. Elec-
trIclty will be used as the motor power
The location of the toboggan has not
yet been decided upon, but the railway
company is thinking of having it cross
and recross the pretty little stream
which blsectS the park, and which now
is one of its chief beauties. The frame
construction will be of heavy solid tim
bers, firmly buttressed, and riveted, so
as to preclude all chances of danger
The method of building is exactly like
the one used in erecting a ''loop-the-
loop" in which practically the highest
point OF constructive security has been
attained.
The word carousell is probably a new
one in the west. The machine, which
bears the name as it's Official title is
a revolving, circular platform about so
feet in diameter, upon which is built
regular modern 4menagerie. All of
the animals are fitted with saddles
and one can get a ride on anything
from an elephant to a jackrabbit The
scheme is new one, and has only
been out of the factory for a few
years. A number of the eastern parks
have put in carouSellS, and they ara
proving very popular. The machine and
its construction will cost about $500,
The building in which it is to be en-
closed, calls for an expenditure of $4-
900, and will be of a unique architec-
tural design.
The electric fountain, so popular in
eastern parks, will be built with the
latest improvements and accessories
which consists principally of a spec
tacular tableau. Within the heart of
the fountain is a tightly closed iron
elevator, through which the actors in
the tableau are carried to the top of
the fountain, where they are seen
through haze of flying water and
colored electric lights. Five handled
electric arc lamps are used to furnish
the light from an enclosed casing of
black canvas. The shifting lights are
thrown into the water from a stereop-
ticon, also enclosed between covers.
The excavations and water supply for
the fountain will be looked after as
soon as the ground is soft enough TO
begin digging. The basin will be made
of concrete and framed in a solid wall
of granite builders.
After Mr.. Kelly had unfolded the
plans he said: I'VE wish to give To-
peka one of the finest parks in the west
and will commence this year to do 50.
H. B. Auchey, president of the Phil
adelphia Toboggan Construction COM
pany with whom we have negotiated
for d machine from his factory, was
here some time ago and stated to me
that VinewOod park is one of the most
beautiful natural parks in the coun-
try, and one of the finest he has ever
seem He will come here within a few
days with Mr. Myers and will person.
ally look over the park for the location
of the Figure Eight TObOggan and in
terest himself personally in it's con-
strI1ction The same will be true of
the companies from whom we have
bought the carousell and electric foun-
tain. They will send representatives
TO aid us to erect the machines. The
lumber will be bought in Topeka We
also intend to build an addition to the
cafe which we have found too small
for the present demands upon it. We
sn.A spelNl about 5000 in its remodel
ing.
Furthermore" continued Mr.. Kelly,
1--WE will increase our present good IA
cilities in the way of transportation to
the park We shall put five open
double truck trailers on the line as
soon as the park season is open and
keep them there all the time for the
convenience of the public, and put on
more if necessary. No admission will
be charged to gain admission into the
park
we believe that the people of To-
peka will be pleased with our improve
ments at Vinewood, and certainly we
intend to give them nice place TO
which they can go. Mr.. Myers and the
beard OF directors are very much IN,
terested in these new plans and all
have co-operated heartily in making
progress towards their co1summatlon
We intend to have them ready as soon
as the warm weather comes. ana for
that reason will at once commence the
work of construction
Veto on Boxing Matches