The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-22

whether the car would get down town
head front or sideways. 1t did not
appear to make much difference with
the track, for the car skated ahead
with as much appearance Of speed
whether asl1eW to the track or upon
at. The system had a schedule pigeon
hoIed sOmeWh ere in a desk but it did
not appear except in a very casual
manner and it was not uncommon for
q fifteen minute car to run upon a
half hour schedule.
A Matter Of Pride.
But that is all ancient history now
and Topeka is enjoying the privileges
of an up to date system Of which she
IS not ashamed. The Topeka Railway
company under its present manage
ment in the purchase and improve
unent of the property of the old COM
pany has expended in the neighbor-
hood Of $3.50, 600
1t has relafd almost completely the
entire system with new rails OF IS
pound and 80 pound weight where
hitherto rails of 40 pounds Sumced-
1t has almost the entire stretch of 81
miles in operation relaid in this man
ner the only exception being a half
mile of double track from the end of
the Melan bridge in North Topeka to
Gordon street and the Kansas avenue
loop on the South Topeka line The
aggregate represents about a mile and
q quarter. This is now being rapidly
replaced with the same uniform rails
which are in evidence in the remain
der of the mileage Before the mid
die Of the summer the entire mileage
will be equipped with heavy standard
rails The so pound rail is placed on
the paved streets in the downtown
business districts and the lighter rail
on the lines outside.
To man this street car system the
company employees a force of 2O5 men
and pays out in wages from $4,000 to
$1,000 monthly. This force OF men
As divided thus; Ninety trainmen,
motorneers and conductors; 80 shop
men, who keep the equipment and
rolling stock in condition; Z 5 track
men, who are constantly employed in
the reDair Of the roadbed and an Of
fee force, consisting of officials resi-
dent here and clerical employees of 10.
Back TO yellow Cars.
The management is at present en-
gagged in repainting its street cars a
uniform color of yellow The color
which is being employed is of a
lighter color than the yellow which
distinguished the old cars Of six years
ago. At first the present management
introduced cars painted a dark green,
but it is said the color does not wear
we'll and does not appear so well after
Weathering as the light yellow does,
hence. the change.
The rolling stock at present con-
gists of so cars. motor and trailers IN
train motor and II fiat cars. Twelve
of the passenger cars are OF the Vine
wood type. regular suburban types,
equipped with air brakes and capable
of carrying easily so people. Five Of
these cars are motors and the re-
mainder trailers.
No addition to the rolling stock is
contemplated this year.
To properly house this rolling stock
and keep 1t in repair the company Il
year ago completed the construction
Of a number of concrete stone car
barns, repair and machine shops on
Its grounds at the corner of Twelfth
and Jackson streets where it occupies
nearly half a block. The largest
building on the premises is the car
barn PAP feet by 102 where the cars
are housed after they come off their
run. The barns, for it is a double
barn, are complete in every detail.
Each has a capacity Of thirty cars or
the four tracks. Four of the tracks
are equipped with concrete pits from
which repairs upon the trucks can be
directed from underneath and where
in case of extensive repairs the trucks
or motors can be removed by a travel
ing derrick and transferred to the ma
chine shop. Each night as the cars
come off the days run they are trans