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

set up the company will be independ-
ent for its water supply utilizing
cistern Of a capacity of 5000 barrels.
The pump, however, will be still con-
nected with the service mains of the
city waterworks for use in case of
emergency.
The paint and repair shops occupy
one building, concrete in construction,
IS feet by 155 feet They are sepa-
rated from each other, however, by
steel doors and are practically DIS
tinct. AS soon as the repairs are COM
pleted the car is shunted through the
paint shop. A two story concrete
barn where the horses for the
emergency repair department are
maintained is a lesson in barn con-
struction as regards utility and clean
nneSs- Everything is arranged for q
quick response to a call for repairs
of horses make it possible for the re-
pair wagon to start out on its run to
the scene of trouble within Is sec
onds after the call is given.
Then there is the Office building
which occupies the two story building
at the corner of Twelfth and Jackson
streets It is not all an Office building
either only a part of it. The upstairs
is devoted to the club room of the en-
plOyes. Down stairs are the directors
room, the auditors and cashiers, the
office Of T. G. Kelley, secretary and
treasurer and the office of A. NJ. Patten
the general superintendent. All of the
Offices are neatly fitted up and connect
ed with a private telephone exchange
which is maintained in the building.
In the Club Room.
Up stairs is the club room for the
employees which created so much talk
at the time it was established 1t oc-
cupies the whole upper floor and with
the exception Of the bath and toilet
rooms is one large room. Two tables
uoo1 a nd hfT1f-rTc ho-
tables and magazines furnish entertain
ment to the employees and trainmen
when off duty. The baths have espec-
tally endeared themselves to the men.
TWO shower baths, hygienicaLy built
all parts being of brass with cement
floors and partitions afford a chance to
take a clean refreshing bath for the
small cost of cents with clean towels
and soap furnished in an abundance.
1T scarcely pays for the cost of main
tenance," said superintendent Patten
this morning as he was showing with
pardOnable pride the attractions at the
club room. Lockers are provided for
the men and everything which would
tend to their comfort has been attended
to. Down stairs bath and toilet accom-
modatiOns of similar character have
been provided for the other employees,
the track and shODmen. The only cost
is the bath and the use Of the pool
tables where 20 cents an hour is
Closely allied with this club idea is
the benefit organization which the COM
pany has fOstered and to which the
employees belong. A fund of 5000 is kept
constantly intact to provide for acct
dent and sick benefits for the men
Five dollars per week is paid to each
employe on a sick benefit and 81 for an
accident account. The fund is main
tanned by an assessment Of 80 cents per
month on each member until the
amount is raised by one half when the
railroad management steps in and sub
scribes a sum equal to that raised by
the employees. By this method the fund
is kept intact.
This club idea and the benefit sys-
TEN has wonderfully aided US in keep
ing up our personnel, said SuDerin-
tendent Patten. We have uniformly
a nice appearing gentlemanly set of
men and with these attractions it is not
hard to keep them. OF course all of
the men are on probation all of the
time. We have to keep them on pro-
baton to keep the service where it
should belong. But we have a Clearly
lot of men, above the average of the
other cities. And this club idea is one
of the things which has brought this
condition materially about"
Cleanliness and Order.
One of the most noticeable things
ABOUT the entire grounds is the cleanli-
ness which is everywhere apparent. The
entire yards are bricked, all trash is re-
moved and out Of sight and there is a
prevalence of nicely as to detail. An
other feature are the precautions which
nave been established for fire protection
IN every building are small standpipes
with nose reels close at hand and in
juXtaposition are fire extinguishers. The
hose are all of the three inch type and
with the additional pressure furnished
by the extra pump installed can aeie-
quately TAKE care OF any blaze which
might arise. In addition to this the
buildings are Of all fire proof constrIc-
ton with steel girders and I beams
In line with its metropolitan ideas The
management introduced the service
stripe for its employees. For every ysaT
of service the trainmen is given q sfrine
and for every 1--WE years a star. c. IS.