The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-21
Santa Fe Gets Additional Land
at San BernardinO.
May Plan to Build Homes fOl
Strike Breakers.
MOVEHOUSEHOLD GOODS
Santa Fe Offers to Relocate
Machinists' Families.
Give Them New Homes in the
Far West.

San Bernardino, Cal, June 21.-A
move developed yesterday by which the
Santa Fe, or the Southern California
arm of it, leased about 300 feet of
ground lying Immediately north of the
machine shop, and fronting on the
south side of Kingman avenue, the pro-
perty belonging to John We'll. A part
of it is improved, Well having owned
six cottages which he rented to shop
men, while a part of the ground is va
cant.
But for the fact that the company is
officially on record as saying that it had
leased the property. with option to
buy, it would be understood that this
is a part of the plan announced as long
ago as last year, by which the Santa
FTe was to purchase everything between
the present shop tract and Kingman
avenue.
Very soon after the Improvements
were completed, following the closing
of Fourth street and the enlarging of
railroad people that they should have
gone $50 feet further north, or all the
way to Rlngman avenue, with their
extension and when the board of di-
rectors of the big corporation met last
December, a part of the estimated out
lay for the year 1904 included the mon
ey to buy that ground and make fur
Their shop improvements. But the d.
ly to throw out a hint in the way Of
retrenchment, and the San Bernardino
appropriation was ditched NeVerthe-
less, a month later, the company closed
deal with J. J. Hanford, by which it
bought 300 feet of frontage from him,
facing Kingman avenue. and adjoining
that owned by We'll. This has since
been held unoccupied-
In some quartersi it is maintained that
this is move on the part OF the com
pany to force out other tenants, to make
F4rlx for 1aE1y mol 20
bring their families out from the east,
and that other houses are to be built for
them. But in reply it is stated that some
not now on strike, and to compel them
to move for the sake of of furnishing
quarters to new men would be an lncon-
sistency hardly to be expected, even IN
The best information obtainable seems
to be to the effect that the deal is a part
of a plan to get possession or all OF the
south side of kinBman avenue, Wnlcn
will be included within the shop area,
and the big fence thrown north 10 the
line of the avenue. That there is need Tor
fore this strike was even in the air, the
two assigned reasons at the time being
that it was necessary to extend the ma
chine shop still further north, and that A
site for a new power house was a con-
sideratiOn, the company having inquired
upon the ACCESSIBILITY of erecting larEe
steam plant to develop It's own electric
power. to be transmitted to all parts of
the yard for use.
It is stated that the Santa Fe officials
have offered to bring to San Bernardlno
free of charge all the household goods
and families of the men who are now
working in the machine shops. such a
move would go a long ways toward pul.
ting a final end to the strike IN ina
section It indicates that the Santa f'e
has no intention of taking back into its
employ the striking maehinists