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

1855 feet to the total length, making
it 765 feet 10 inches long. The cen
trail span is the longest, being 1873 feet
in length, four spans are each 119
feet and the last two spans are IS
feet. The bridge rests upon tubular
steel piers six feet in diameter and
filed with concrete.
The structural iron work is of a
substantial character and one which
will Withstand the attacks of high
water and the vibration strain of serv-
ice for many years to come. The
company has had a great deal of trou-
BILE with its pile bridges across the
Kansas in times past. The succeeding
high waters of each year have
wrought havoc with the piling and
swept at times three and four spans
away, Gripping the service to North
Topeka for months following. With
the completion of the new bridge
which will be about the middle of
May uninterrupted traffic to North
Topeka during the high water period
will be assured.
The Leavenworth Bridge company
secured the contract for the cree Ion
of the structure. w. L. Seedlings was
the consulting engineer in charge for
the greater part of the work, though
c. H. Baumgartner is at present the
consulting engineer on the ground. 1t
viii soon be open for traffic.
New Theatre at Vinewood.
One of the things which the aver
age citizen always feels grateful for
in the summer time is the presence of
VineWood park.
The formal opening of Vinewood Park
will take place the first week in May and
the street railway company Will arrange
for a special bill of attractions for that
week In anticipation of the opening
number of improvements and changes will
be made at the grounds A new building
viii be erected of ornamental design to
house all the varied amusements of a
crr IN
leries, which have hitehrtO been left un-
provided for except in a very meager way.
A number OF new pergolas or reIreshrnent
STANDS viii probably be erected also one
of the larger schemes which is under con-
temptation is the erection Of new sum-
mer theater to cost s., 600.
The management has been seriously con-
templating this plan for some time as
the present method of handling plays from
the bandstand is not satisfactory. Archi-
tect Wood is at present drawing up the
plans and specifications for the new the
alter which will cost about S2000. The the
alter will be erected on the west side of
the grounds on the slope of the hill which
marks the western boundary of the park.
The natural sloDe will be taken advan-
tage of in the placing Of the seats.
There will be no material changes in the
lagoon, though steam launch will prob
ably be added to the fleet of row boats
which are now in use.
The park at the present time represents
an investment of $4,000 and consists of 40
acres OF ground, though the company
owns and controls the entire 400 acres, all
of which may in time be added to the
park acreage.
According to statements made by ifs
cal agency in a recent issue of the Chi
cago Record Herald, the railway company
is making about 31s per cent on its cap
ital stock, authorized, amounting to ST.
100000. in addition to paying 8 per cent on
a bonded Indebtedness of 81, 090, 900. From
this It is evident that the system is max
ing money for its investors.
The city of Topeka is glad that the sys-
tenn is making money, and if it could
reap still larger returns without any de-
probation in the character of service it
would make the citizens all feel better
as it would evince, as it does, that the
city is a profitable field for the Investor