The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-12

| would be to use steam locomotives for
| freight trains and to use gasoline cleo
| trio motor cars or self-propelling mo-
tor cars for the passenger and express
| service. The trunk lines operating
| through the country cannot afford to
| stop their trains at small stations for
, local traffic, but the interurban lines
will cater to that business, trains
should be run so that passengers could
arrive in Topeka in the morning, noon
and evening, and SO that they could re-
turn in the afternoon and evening
These motor cars can be operated
good deal cheaper than the local trains
that are now operating on the Drancn
roads of the large lines, therefore they
could run more frequently and give the
kind of service that the people would
want The day and age will soon be
here when the trolley lines will be dis
of the large railway companies operat-
ing branch lines have adopted motor
cars. The Erie railroad as well as
other large companies are installing
them upon their branch lines. The
Union Pacific has several in operation
and are now about ready to turn
twelve new ones out of their shop. The
Chicago and Elgin railroad have
adopted the steam freight system and
are now handling freight and express
the same as have planned for the To-
peka InterGrban lines.
Topeka Belt Line.
1t has been proposed to build a belt
line for Topeka, connecting with tho
Council Grove line south of Washburn
college and running in a circular di-
rection to the brick yards on the Rock
Island. At the first thought a great
many people would think that this
project would not have merit but when
you visit other large manufa curing
cities you will find that comparing
them with Topeka, that we have not
the proper inducements for new man
ufacturerS to locate in Topeka. While
we must admit that there is several
fine locations now i'll Topeka for man
ufacturing sites located on some of the
various railroads of the city, but these
points are not desirable on account of
being too expensive. 1t is hard to in
duce a manufacturing company to put
up two or three thousand dollar
manufacturing plant, if they have TO
pay an equal amount for the location.
Good lots for manufacturing points
along the proposed railways can be
purchased for 5000 an acre. Three
acres will furnish a site for fair sized
and at the minimum cost of
six hundred dollars, while $500 in the
city of Topeka would hardly buy moro
than 50x150 feet or two lots. Another
of the manufacturer To-
Gated on Il belt line is that he stands
equally with all other railroads, and
such is not the case, or neither should
it be when a plant is on the right of
nections by railroad. In addition to
furnishing manufacturing sites for new
enterprises for Topeka it would fur
nish suburban service for the people
living in that vicinity. Cars should
run at least every hour, and 1 have
been assured by Mr.. Myers of the City
Railway company that arrangements
could be made for these belt lines cars
to run to Eighth and Kansas avenue
over the City Railway companys
tracks a universal
system could be provided for.
While some of the 'drones and
knockers may look upon this whole
proposition as an idle dream, some of
those who have helped to make the
town, can easily recall the cfrcum-
stances incident to the promotion of
all the railroads that Topeka has ever
peka could succeed in the hard times
rome by it should be an easy matter
now in the time of prosperity to get
anything that we should go after
Topeka the First.
Topeka was one of the first cities in
the. United States to have an electric
line, and today we have the best street
railway system, and are giving the best
service of any city in the United States,
then why can't we have the first and
best system of interurban railways,
and 1 Will say this, that 1 have inter-
ested capitalists in this project and if
can have the cooperation and as
sistance of the members of this Com
mercial club 1 can assure you that
by 1909 we can have the best inter
urban railway running into Topeka
that there is in the United States. Let
Us all get together and boost this. and
let it be as Caesar said, THE die is |
east and there is no turning back we !
have crossed (Biddle CreekO the Rub |
con-