The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-31
City Called on to Vote on Rail-
way Yiaduct
February 13th-Reglstration to
Close February 2.
1T INVOLVES 5000.
About One-Third Cost Bridg-
ing Branner Street.
A Street Railway Proposition
for Voters to Decide.

There will be a special city election
held on Monday, February 70 Tor
the submission of a proposition Tor
the city to issue certain viaduct bends'
The books for registration Tor TINS
election will close February and all
Who have not vet registered this year
should do so promptly. The reglstra-
ton books are open at the Audi
torium, but will close Thursday night
of this week at 10 o'clock.
Little attention has as yet been
given to the matter by the public at
large.
The proposition is one that was
asked for by the Topeka City railway
which requested the mayor and coun-
ell to submit the question to a vote
of the people; the election expenses
to be borne by the company.
The proposition is this: Shall the
city of Topeka issue SIS, 900 in bonds
to aid in the construction of a viaduct
over the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
F'e railway tracks at Branner street?
The Santa Fe company has agreed to
pay as its proportion of the cost
$4,000. The Topeka City Railway
company has agreed to pay the same
dIllOulls anu lIlG NOlG OAl Il GIL AeAA Lo
will decide whether the city will pay
a like amount equal to one-third of
the cost of the construction; the
whole to cost S45,0OO.
At present the street railway line is
operated to the northeastern part of
the city only by a line running along
the KaW river and under the Santa
Fe bridge around to Seward avenue.
The operation of this line has fire.
quently been put out of service and
residents of that portion of town de-
prived of car facilities by a rise in the
river
The original plan was to connect
the northeastern line with the track
running over the Sixth street viaduct
running the extension down Branner
street and straight across the Santa
Fe railway tracks and beyond
There was so much opposition by
the property owners on Branner street
in the vicinity of the proposed viaduct
that the street railway company
changed it's plan and decided to go
north on Chandler street and start the
viaduct on its own lots in the block
south of the railroad and extend the
viaduct over this ground, instead of
in the street, diagOnally toward the
west and I'D to Branner street; then
cross the railroad tracks squarely on
Branner~ street, making a. curve on the
north side of the railroad right of way
on its own lots and swing around into
Chandler street. This would avoid a.
grade, except on the cOmpany'S own
property. Options for the ground or
ownership have been arranged for to
this end.
The opposition to the bonds is from
two sources. First from those who are
opposed to the appropriation of $4,000
on the part of the city for this purpose.
Second, there is the opposition which
takes the position that a. f*U" shaped
viaduct, like the one proposed, would be
very unsatisfactory for the traffic of
teams and foot passengers, as those go
ing across the tracks would be obliged
to traverse about three times the dis
tance that would be covered if the
bridge were straight. That is to say,
street would turn to the west block,
then cross the tarcks and turn east
block back to Chandler.
The Street Railway company claims
that this is the only practical way they
have out of the situation. The com
pany takes the position that it has
spent over a million dollars in Topeka,
has given the city a model system, to
be still further improved and that it
has in numerous instances waived GER
tain rights, followed the sentiment of
the citizens and been generous in the
expenditures of moneys for substantial
and permanent Improvements. Espec-
tally does it set forth the fact that it
is constructing permanent and ex-
pensive bridge across the Kansas river
entirely at it's own expense, waiving
any deSlie " cross the Melan areh
bridge, or put up with any dangerous
or temporary bridge over the river.
The whole matter turns on the de-
cision of the voters on February 13.
The people must understand that the
street railway company pushes its en-
terprises and will naturally make all
efforts to carry this proposition and
give its friends a chance to vote in
favor of the bonds If the matter
is fairly decided there must be a large
and general vote on the question, and
no one can vote on this proposition
unless he or she has registered since
January l. The time for registration
will expire Thursday EIght of this
week.