The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-13
HAS THE BACKING.
Electric Line to AtchisOn May
Become q Reality.
Commercial Club Hears an En-
cOuraging Report.
HAVE MONEY READY.
st. Louis Trust Company Offers
to Back Project.
Would 60 BY the Way OF Law
renee.
HAVE MONEY READY


renee.
An electric railroad between Topeka
and Atchison is being projected and
already has the requisite financial
backing II the cities and towns along
the proposed line viii do their share
IN the way of providing terminal facli-
tiles and furnishing a right of way.
Information to this effect was
brought out at the regular monthly
meeting Of the Commercial Club,
which was held last night. 1T came
IN the form of a letter from G. 3. Har-
man, Of Oskaloosa, the editor of JEFF
Iersou County Tribune. Mr.. Hartman
IS the promoter of the proposed line
Mr.. Harman addressed a letter to
the club in which he stated that he
had just returned from St. Louis where
he secured the promise of the St.
Louis Trust company to capitalize
company TO construct an electric rail-
way connecting Topeka, Lawrence.
Oskal oosa, Winchester, Ef1ngham and
Atchison-
Such a line would practically pro-
vide direct northeast route to Atch-
tscn and would cut through a terri
tory which IS now accessible by branch
lines on railroads only in a round bout
way. The territory It would tap has
all sorts Of possibilities for develop
fnent, and is now rich with prosper
GUS farms.
The promise Of the st Louis Trust
company to capitalize the project, Mr..
6arman wrote, was conditioned on the
towns along the route helping out in
every way possible and Topeka would
be asked to furnish the necessary fran
cnises, terminal facilities and right Of
way half way to Lawrence. and
and do something in the way Of
taking stock Cash bonuses will
also be encouraged Mr. Hartman
stated that the st. Louis Trust com
pany's officials had told him that the
city OF Hutchinson was willing to do
the things asked Of Topeka for a pro-
posed electric line from Hutchinson
to Wichita.
There is no doubt that such a sub
urban. or interurban line as Mr. Har-
man is projecting. would be Of i'm
lnense value to Topeka and at the sl1R-i
gestion of President Holiday. Of the
elub. the matter was referred to fhA-l
lea des Extension committee for inves-
tigation-
w W. Gavitt expressed strong opposi-
llon 70 resolution which was intro
uueed from the committee on state and
ha tlonai legislation condemning the par
Gel post measures now pending in con
gfess as being inimical to the business
interests OF the smaller cities Of the
country. Mr.. Gavitt said that the on
sos-eioh 10 these measures came from !
tHOse VINO wished to boost IN the ax-
press companies. He said that marcel /
post facilities similar to those proDosed /
In the legislation before congress were |
operated with success in other countries |
and there was no reason whv the rao
pie Of this country should not have
slIlliar advantages. He thought it was /
an exceedingly good scheme but said
mat the express companies were on
posed to it because they did net want
n -ef1-
with equitable rates which might he /
established by the pOstoffi6e department !
under a parcel post system. He also |
took occasion to say that one of the /
olggest frauds" ever perforated on |
the people was the esta blishment of free /
postal delivery through the country dis /
tricts, and that a good many congress-
men thought it a great burden on he /
government and one from which no |
adequate return was received.
Mayor W. II. Davis disagreed with /
MT Gayitt on the parcel post proposi-
ton He said that because It prevailed I
in foreign countries was no reason vvhv
It should be adopted here. as the United +
states was the most progressive coun- !
try on the globe. He believed that the /
establishment Of a parcel post here |
would seriously affect the business of |
the country stores and even the stores /
in good sized cities, because the large /
stores in the big cities Of the c0unf1.x |
would have a decided ADVANTAGE over
them through a mail order business. As /
regards to the rates of express com
panies, Mr.. Davis said that he believed /
that they would be reduced before long
and made more equitable, in line with /
the reduction Of other transportation I
rates which is prevalent these days.
There was not a large attendance at /
the meeting and Judge T. F. Carver ,
said that In view of this fact and as
the matter was an important one he /
would suggest that the consideration. of /
it be postponed until the next meeting |
A motion to this effect prevailed with |
out further debate. Following is a copv
of the resolution which was offered:
whereas, Several bills are pending in
the congress Of the United States /
whereby third and fourth class mail |
matter are proposed to be consolidated /
under the title Of merchandise, and /
the present rates on merchandise viii [
be reduced to about One-thfrd of the /
present rate and the limit Of weight OF
packages increased to eleven pounds (
and on rural routes up to 200 pounds I
In weight and in dimensions up to q I
barrel at a cost OF 25 cents, thereby /
permitting mail order houses to secure
extremely Oh cap transportation Of
merchandise In much larger packages
than at present. and,
Whereas, Such cheap transportation .
would be at the expense Of the whole
people for the benefit Of the merchants
ar the large trade centers and to the
great loss and detriTnent Of local ner-
chants paying rent and taxes and shar-
ing in the interests. hopes and burdens
OF their customers be it
Resolved, by the Topeka Commercial
club that the United States senator's
and representatives in congress from
TIE state OF Kansas be and they are
he eby- requested to vote and use their
inraence against the enactment Of
sue legislation.
resolved. That the Commercial club
arr ether business organizations OF the
atatr be requested to join IN the petit
ton t. our Congressional delegations
plans for the proposed trip Of repre-
eents f4ves Of the Commercial club to