The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-30
Commercial Club Entertained
Rock Island Railway officers.
Visited Gov. HOeh and f. d. CO.
burn at State House.
AN AUTOMOBILE RIDE.
Party Taken Through Business
and Residence Streets.
Railway Men Expressed Friendly
Feeling for Topeka.

President B. L. WincheH Of the
Rock Island railway system and a
dozen other officials of the same rail-
way spent two hours in Topeka today
the guests of the Topeka Commercial
club.
The list Of railway officials in the
party included:
B. L. Winchen. president.
John F. stevens. second vice presi-
dent.
w. B. BiddIe, third vice president.
NJ. A. Low. general attorney.
]. F Holden, freight traffic man
ager.
H H. Embry. general freight agent
lines west of the Missouri river.
Grant Thornberg, division freight
l. NJ Allen. general passenger
agent
ger department.
w. NJ. Hobbs. general superintend-
ent of transportation
J. O. Crockett, general superin-
tendent of the southwestern district.
c. W. Jones, division superintendent
of the Kansas division.
Thomas Roope, superintendent Of
motive power
]. G. Bloom. principal assistant en-
gineer-
The presidents special train, con-
sisting of an engine and five private
cars, reached Topeka a few minutes
after 10 o'clock this morning. The
train was met at the Rock Island sta
ton by members OF the Topeka Com
mercial club with automobiles. and
the party made a trip through the
principal business and residence streets
to the state house.. where the entire
ma RI n q a nd
met Governor Hoch.
President Wincheu talked with
Governor Hoch for a few minutes in
regard to the future prospects of the
state Of Kansas Governor Hoch, like
all true Kansans. holds an extremely
optimistic view of the future of Kan
sas, and briefly outlined some Of the
most important matters which viii go
TO help make the whole of the coming
era of prosperity of the state.
Mr. Wincheu and Mr. BiddIe. who
was formerly traffic manager for the
Santa Fe, and who recently assumed
the position of third vice president of
the ROCK Island in charge of traffic,
were especially anxious to meet r. D.
Coburn, the secretary of the Kansas
state board Of agriculture.
The railway officials have been
watching with considerable interest
the experiments by other railways in
some of the nearby states to Kansas
for the education of the farmers along
the lines in the higher science of farm
ing.
The special trains which have been
sent out from time to time to give in
struction and lectures by we'll known
authorities in the various towns along
the lines have proven very satisfactory
in many states and the Rock Island
people are considering the advisability
of the Introduction of similar trains
in Kansas.
The officials spent considerable time
= Z hot A
in order to become conVersant with
the work of that school. They We're
also anxious to meet Mr.. Coburn.
whose work for the Kansas state
board of agriculture has become so
we'll known In carrying out the
plans for instruction trains for the
Kansas farmers, the Rock Island of
hcials viii hope to secure the CO.
operation of Mr.. Coburn.
Mr. WincheH questioned Mr. Coburn
in regard to the indications for the
crop of wheat this year.
What is your impression in regard
to the quantity of wheat which will
De raised this year2" he asked
I cannot give you my Impressions
on that matter" said Mr. Coburn
but I can give you the figures on the
acreage sown last fall and reported in
December"
Mr. Winchen did not know that Mr.
Coburn never gives out estimates of
the prospects of any crop in advance
ceiVed from every hamlet of the wheat
belt or the corn belt. or any other
belt Mr. COburn'S reports are always
received in advance of any other au-
thentic information, and when givcl
out to the public are absolutely re-
liable and trustworthy giving ac-
curate information of acreage planted
and the actual condition of the crops
in the various localities with the rat
ing as to the amount of wheat each
acre will produce
AS. Mr.. Winchell was leaving Mr..
Coburn's office, the latter asked the
railway man how long he intended to
remain in the city
We'll" said Mr.. Winchel as he
pulled his watch from his pocket.
having caught the pervading spirit
that we are scheduled to leave Topeka
at 11-45 this morning
In one of the corridors of the east
wing. Mr.. Wincheu discovered the open /
door leading to the museum containing
the GOss collection. He saw the lars
or reptiles and the butterflies and
beetles, and at once wanted to explore |
the collection. He headed the party and
a trip of exploration was made through J
the various rooms.
From the museum the entire party /
paid q visit to the home of the board /
of railway commissioners Commission /
the city but Mr.. Walker was there and ]
acted as host The new attorney for /
the railroad commissioners. Carr Taylor I
was in the city and he also met the
railroad men and traffic officials
Inc railway men and the railway /
commissioners of the state spared for a /
mite time in an effort to find safe I
TOPIC Of conversat tiOn. and one which [
would not lead to hostilities. The rail /
way officials sought to create the i'm /
preston that they did not want to be /
Sksgafoed IN the light of enemies. and |
enat rather than oppose the board of /
SON iinissioners in any Of their rulings,