The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-09
that new ROAD.
w. L. Taylor Makes Statement
About Developments.
Means Much for Topeka and
Its People.
OPENS BIG TERRITORY.
Capital City Would Receive the
Benefit.
Bonds Asked Only Small Part
OPENS BIG TERRITORY.
Bonds Asked Only Small Part
of Cost of Terminals.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
Desiring that every one interested
should know exactly what progress
the Commercial club of Topeka is
making in the securing of the Topeka
Southw Western railway, 1 desire to
make the following statement:
We are now circulating petitions
which will be presented to the mayor
and council asking for a special cleo
ton to vote aid bonds to aid in the
purchasing and acquiring of termin-
ais, for this new railroad within the
city limits of Topeka. We have just
started out canvassers with these pc
t-tions and to give idea of the in
terest the people are showing in this
proposition, 1 will state that ninety
nine per cent of the tax payers to
whom our petition has been presented
have signed it. In fact there are only
TWO or three exceptions reported up
to this time. In one particular Incl
dent a tax payer made the remark
that the contracts for this railroad
were all let and that the road would
be built whether Topeka voted the
bonds or not. wish to say that this
particular tax payer is wrong, unless
Topeka votes $4,000 in bonds to aid
In the purchasing. construction and
acquiring of terminals, the road will
not be built and the contracts between
the railroad company and the f1nan-
cial people plainly stipuIates that fact
Who Gets the Bonds.
Another tax payer asked the ques-
ton, who gets the bonds and why
should Topeka vote bands to aid this
enterprise?'' Space will not permit
me to give the numerous reasons why
we should vote these bonds, but l will
state that these bonds go to the fnan- |
cial people who furnish the money to |
build and equip this line In the first |
place il is always conceded that an in |
dependent railroad proposition like
h 4
oped country, Will not pay the interest |
on an investment for at least three |
years, so that being the case it is nee
essary that we make some inducement |
to these financial people. so that after |
they have spent $1,500,000 in building |
this railroad that they will have some !
thing in return for their money until |
the road is in paying condition. 1t |
can be easily seen that the $4,000 |
voted in Topeka together with the
pay one years interest upon the whole |
investment SO it will be necessary for |
these people to keep their money in
vested in this proposition until thsline
is on a4paying basis and reeeivedIToth
ing other than the aid bonds voted by |
the townships and municipalities.
What 1t VIII Mean fo- Topeka.
If this line is built. it will mean that
a new and wealthy country nearly
sixty miles long and an average width
best people of the state, will be put in /
direct communication with our city.
1t will mean that at least $685. 900 in
railroad terminal facilities will be
spent in our city within the next year.
1t will mean that over 200 employees
will be regularly employed by this
company and when we have once Sc
cured good railroad terminals by this
company in our city. it will be much
easier for us to secure the building of
other lines into the city. using the
terminals of the Representatives,
Nj. X. g. T. May Come.
While 1 have not been advised posi-
lively by any of the officials of the M.
X & T. or by the financial people in
New York to the effect that the NJ. K.
& T: will use the line from Burlington
to Topeka; that is, if it is constructed,
but can say that such a proposition
is now being considered by both the
financial people and the officials of the
M. K. & T., and judging from the ex-
tensive plans of the terminals of the
confident that some agreement has
been reached whereby the M K. & T.
will run over the new Burlington
branch from Burlington to Topeka,
and use the terminals of the Topeka
Southwestern in this city.
Who Pays the Interest.
On the 10000 of bonds that will be
voted by the city of Topeka there will
be $1,000 interest annually, and this
amount will be paid by the taxpayers
of Topeka, but we must not lose sight
Of the fact that the railroad company
will pay taxes into the city treasury
from two to four times that amount,
so in the end, the voting of the aid
bonds in order to secure this railroad
Is a good investment for the city, and
trust that every taxpayer in the city
will vote in favor of these bonds at the
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