The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-20
WILL BEGIN NOW.
Survey OF Frankfort Line Won't Be
DELAYED.

The Topeka, Frankfort and North
western railroad is now absolutely as
sured- The executive committee met
this morning in the office of w A. s.
Bird and instructed Chief Engineer P.
l. Wise to BEGIN tomorrow to survey
the permanent route After that is
completed steps viii be taken at once
to secure the right OF way. The road
viii cost one and one quarter million
dollars.
There is plenty of capital on hand
to go ahead with the construction It
Will probably require two weeks to de-
termine the route and a little time
longer to secure possession of the
ground over which the road will be
built. 1t may be a matter of some
months to float the bonds due to the
oncoming presidential election An
other delay may be occasioned by the
dlrrlculty 70 get steel on the market.
For the rails and bridge material six
months may elaDse subsequent to its
being ordered.
At the meeting this morning were
Major T. J. Anderson president of the
company; W. A. s Bird. general at
tOrney; p. l. Wise chief engineer
and Theodore Saxon. treasurer
In speaking of the work of the com
m1ttee this morning. Mr.. Bird said:
we shall proceed at once to establish
u permanent route The road is as
sured. Then we Will get the right of
way The road viii be of standard
gauge, an so or IS pound rail. There
will be two heavy bridges. and just
a rev small ones. The route through
out is of an excellent natural grade
with little curvature. The company
is not in the dark financially there
viii be plenty of money to float the
bonds The road IS assured, we can
say that much. That fact was def
initely determined at our meeting this
morning"
Mr. Bird would make no announce
ment as to what financial concerns
are back of the project. That matter
ne desired held silent for the present
Leaving Topeka the route goes
through Shawnee county and enters
jackson county eight miles east of the
southwest corner of that county. then
northwest through Jackson into Pot
tawatomie and Marshall counties, in
which latter territory is Frankfort the
terminus of the road.
Practically the entire route is de-
cided upon, with the exception of
about II miles in the northern part
/ of POttaWatomie county. That will be
definitely settled within the next few
days.
Considerable work has already been
done with reference to settling upon
the route. but the final preliminary
survey viii commence tomorrow. The
/ directors thoroughly canvassed the
situation this morning and finding
! themselves prepared to begin con-
struction, ordered their engineers to
I commence work.
Little trouble. in fact none, is an
ticipated in securing the right of way
/ The farmers living through the ada
cent territory are anxious to have the
| road, both for the sake of personal
| a accommodation and commercial pur-
/ poses. They are enthusiastic over the
scheme. as was shown in voting bonds
\ in favor of the PROPOSITION a week
ago They feel that the road viii be
of especial strength to them. inasmuch
as it is a steam affair and not electric,
able therefore to carry quantities OF
| freight and handle transportation as
| the big railroads are doing through
out the. country.
Topeka will doubtlessly in the end
get the big share of the profit. The
4 road Will incite trade into and through
! Topeka in great quantities, say those
who have studied the situation care
! fully.
The directors expect to run the first
train over the tracks within a year
Their progress in this respect will de-
| pend entirely upon the success they
| have in getting the route and the right
/ of way firmly establishe ed and in get
ting their material for the construc-
ton.