The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-25
MR.HERBERT'SO.k.
Will Sign Grading Contract fOi
TOpeka-SOuthwestern.
he urns From an Inspection
Trip Over the Route.
PLEASED WITH PLANS
Says That the Prospects Arc
Very Good.
Holds Out Little Hope for
North and South Line.

Mr. H. NJ. Herbert the consulting
engineer for Lamprecht Bros & Co.
of Cleveland and New York has jus
returned from an inspection trip over
the Topeka-Southweste between To-
peka and Eskridge. Mr.. Herbert was
accompanied by w L. Taylor, presi-
dent of the company, Mr.. a. G. Good
win. superintendent. W. F. Shamlef-
fer, general right of way agent and
| V. r. Parkhurst, chief engineer. They
made the trip in Mr.. Goodwin's auto
bile. This is Mr.. Herbert's first visit
since last December when he came
out and passed upon the proposition
for the eastern financial people.
When seen this morning by a repre-
sentative of the State Journal Mr.
Herbert said, Il am very well pleased
with my inspection and Will today
sign the contract awarded few days
ago by Mr.. Taylor to Denton & Max
well. While Mr.. Taylor and his asso-
ctates have carried out our specifca-
tions 1 find that some minor changes
can be made which will assist us very
materially in getting the road COM
pleted a an earlier date.
The average person does not ap-
preciate what it is necessary to do in
order to build new railroad from the
beginning and I think Mr.. Taylor and
his associates are to be com plimented
on their success in getting the line
ready to begin the actual construction
work in so short a time 1t is true
we purchased the old Council Grove
Interurban company's franchise but
there was nothing in this franchise
that we could use with the exception
of the good will of the people. This
made it necessary for the new COM
PAW to go into the field and pract1-
caIly do everything from the pesln-
ming
When asked how soon he thought the
road would be completed and in opera
ton to Council Grove Mr.. Herbert saio;
That is something cannot say. Under
the requirements of the bonds voted II
is necessary to have the road completed
by the 1st of April 1909, but we propose
to build this line in first class shape
and have it completed soon as we can
I have great faith in the Topeka-Soulh-
western. 1t traverseS good country
inhabited by a prosperous people. The
territory through which the Topeka
will run will be greatly
benefited by the building or the line
and / believe it will be greatly apprec-
lated by those living in that territory,
who-a are compelled to drive from ten 10
twenty miles to the nearest railroad.
BY referring to the map you canhol
hfid a strip of territory in the eastern
mart of Kansas that needs a railroad
worse than the community between IT,
peka and Council Grove.
When asked what he thought ABOUT
the North and South line Mr.. Herbert
said: Il will perhaps make an lnspec-
tion over the line between Topeka ana
but 1 cannot offer any en-
roura cement at this time. FINANCIAL
conditions in the east are such that
none of the large railroad bonding
houses are taking on any new enter
Drises and while Lamprecht brothers
3. Co. have enjoyed a good business IN
the class of securities they hanole,
1on't think they would at this time give
much encouragement to any new rail-
-oad enterprises under the present |
financial situation but Mr. Herbert /
added The smaller investors and the |
more conservative ones are looking Tor
Investments in the smaller railroad pro
positions where they can easily lnVesC-
yate the proposition and see that II IS
3ot over bonded, drowned in water or
complicated with the securities Of two
" three other railroad companies
There is no investment that offers pet
ar securities to an investor than the
irst mortgage bonds of the smaller
,ailroads. and not only the $500 ana
4 600 investors are looking for these
ac,Irities. but some of the larger ones
Tho have been squeezed out OF the
,fgger railroad security pools ana IN