The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-27
BRING 1T TO TOPEKA.
W. L. Taylor's Plan for Improving
Missouri Pacific Facilities.

". L. Taylor. chairman Of the trans
portation committee of the Commercial
club, says:
IF the Missouri Pacific would make
track arrangements and operate through
trains from their northwest lines in
Kansas, over the new Union Pacific
track now being built between Frank
fort and Topeka, it would open rich
agricultural territory tributary to To-
peza. 1t would include all the stations
on the Missouri Pacific lines west of
Frankfort which will pass through
Marshall, Washington, Clay, Cloud.
Republic, Mitchell. Jewell, Smith, Os-
borne, Rocks, Phillips and Norton
counties in Kansas, and Nuckolls. Clay
and Adams in Nebraska, which are ira
Versed by over 425 miles of the Missouri
Pacific railroad.
IF the Missouri Pacific would make
such arrangements to operate over the
new Union Pacific track, all of the ship
ments originating on these lines west of
Frankfort, could be brought to Topeka.
The grain could be brought into Topeka
and handled by the Topeka mills, and
what would not be handled by the To-
peka millers could be handled straight
on through. Tt would shorten the Mis-
souri, PacifiC's haul on shipments from
the northwest lines to the Gulf at least
two hundred miles and under the
transit rules they would be entitled to
haul all of the tonnage out that they
brought in. Such is not the case when
they haul it to Kansas City.
There are a great many lines in kan
sas City such as the NJ. K. & T. Kan
sas City Southern and other lines that
60 not extend into Kansas, that are al
ways after the business; in fact they
must get business that originates on
some other line. While if the Missouri
Pacific VIII handle that business through
Topeka instead of Kansas City, they
will be sure to keep all of their own
business and it looks as though it could
be done with less operating expense
than to haul it through Kansas City.
Mr.. c. K. Holiday. president of the
Commercial club, and myself have
prepared maps and outlines and have
submitted these to the Missouri Pa
cific officials. If Topeka could get the
Missouri Pacific to put this arrange
ment into effect, it would mean prac-
ticaly another railroad for our city.
1t would mean that the Missouri Pa
Cifc would build new depot and 9TH
er terminal facilities here"
Mr.. Taylor said that he believed it
would be the greatest railroad i'm
prOVement Topeka could get now. but
the majority of the people do not APP
preciate the rich territory that the
Missouri Paci6c's northwest lines
cover. While it would be impossible
for the mills and grain men of To-
peka to handle all of the grain raised
in that country, it would give US a
chance to enlarge our capacity and at
the same time give US another direct
line to the Gulf.
If Topeka expects to get anything
like this" continued Mr. Taylor, sit
has got 70 wake up and hustle. 1t
seems like many of the people here
are contented and satisfied with what
they have got and prefer to have our
city a nice quiet residence town, with
high taxes. in preference to a hustling.
wide awake manufacturing and rail
road city. 1t is the railroads that
make the town and you cannot have
factories unless you have railroad
facilities and when you get plenty of
railroad facilities. you will get the
manufacturing institutions.
Look at Indianapolis, which is also a
capital city with nearly 209.o00 population.
What has made it2 Nothing but It's four
teen railroads. Then compare the natural
resources of Indiana and those of our
state. We have everything Indiana has
got and a great deal more of it: also q
great many things they have not. Take
Des MolneS- capital of Iowa. with 5000
population ana the railroads made that
town
The Missouri Pacific is not going to
force Itself upon Topeka. That has been
1uny demonstrated. Nearly every rail-
ROAD company stands ready to make Ger
tam improvements and concessions when
consistent with good business if they
can see where they will be benefited AS
a general rule they do not do things to
1eleHt city unless it benefits them also.
w mar we must do is to get after the Mis-