The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-01
CONTRACT IS LET
j. HI. Maxwell and w. T. Denton
Score.
Given Task of Grading for
TOpeka-Southwestern
COVERS II MILES.
This Much Of Right Of Way Has
Been Secured.
Expect to Go to Work by
October 15.


J. H. Maxwell, of Topeka. and W. T.
Denton of Cleburne. Texas, were award
ed the contract for grading the first II
miles of the Topeka & Southwestern
railroad Monday afternoon. At the
meeting of the board Of directors held
at the Commercial club rooms last night
the action was approved by a unanf-
nous vote.
When Mr.. Taylor was seen this
morning he said: 1.-THE bids of Mr.. Max
we'll and Mr.. Denton were accepted and
the contracts will be forwarded to New
York for the company's signature at
once. The construction company re-
CURED the railroad company to assure
them that the right of way would be in
readiness before they would let any
subcontracts and that is what I have
been trying to impress upon our peo-
pie for the past six months. A great
many people interested in the railroad
proposition keep asking when is the
dirt to hy?' some of them ask When
are the contractors going to commence
construction" and I have endeavored
to explain to them that it was neces-
sary for us to get a right of way be-
build railroad on it.
AT the meeting of the board of di-
rectors last night a resolution was I'M
animously adopted instructing the
Southwestern Railway company to no.
tify Lamprecht Bros. & Co., who are
financial hackers and owners of the
construction company, that we are now
ready to pledge the right of way over
the territory covered by the contract
let to Maxwell and Denton.
IF any one will stop to reason a
minute they will see why this construc-
ton company REQUIRES that this right
of way be under contract before they
begin the construction of the line. If
these subcOntractorS put so or 100 teams
to work on the construction of this
road. and we did not have the right of
way for them to work on, there would
be a damage suit started at once so it
can be easily seen that it is absolutely
necessary that we get right of way
under contract and ready for the con-
struction company as fast as they need
Mr.. Maxwell advises me that he can
go to work by the 18th of this month
if we are ready. The contracts were
forwarded to New York today and
should be back within a week, and
then the contractors will be ready to
begin moving dirt as that seems to
be the cry.
1.-The contract let to Maxwell and
Denton covers all the earth construc-
ton, in fact everything ready for the
track, excepting the bridges. The en-
cheering department is now working
on the specifications for the bridges and
it will be ready in a few days, and then
bids will be received for the construc-
ton of the bridges which will be built
at the same time that the contractors
are doing the grading This will put
the line ready for the laying of the
track
1t is the intention of the contra tors
to begin the construction in the vicin-
ity of Seabrook and work both ways
from that point. Maxwell and Denton /
will re-let considerable of the work to
subcontractors and they will be strung |
out so that the entire line will be |
practically covered and completed at |
the same time. j. H. Maxwell is a To- |
cal contractor and needs no introduce !
ton to Topeka. Mr.. w. T.. Denton is |
one of the largest contractors in Texas |
and has just completed 317 miles of
line for the Frisco system. He is a |
typical southerner and understands |
railroad construction work from A
to z.
"In letting these contracts Mr.. |
Taylor said, 1--WE wanted to favor a |
local man. Mr.. Maxwell was the only |
local man who filed a bid on the work |
and inasmuch as this railroad is a
Commercial club proposition 1 want |
ed to see it go if possible to a Topeka |
man, all things being equal. I had |
taken this matter up with our financ- |
ial people in the east and they were I
perfectly willing that I should use my |
own Judgment in case two or more !
contra ctors' bids were the same. The |
contract price IOr the WOTk Is OIL 1
course not for publication. They get |
paid so much yard for the dirt and |
so much for the stone, and so much |
per foot for laying the tile pipe. The |
engineers estimate on this contract |
was over $4,000. All of this money |
will be disbursed through Topeka. Mr.. |
Denton, from Texas, will probably |
move in fifty team outfit. Two 9TH
err subcontractors will pro badly bring |
in 25 teams each. Mr.. Maxwell will
probably put on twenty-five or fifty |
teams from Topeka. ALI these men |
and teams will have to be supplied. |
The Shawnee county farmers will fur
nish the feed for the teams. The To-
peka merchants will furnish the sup
plies for the men and it can be seen |
that probably rs per cent of this
money will be turned back into the
tills of our home people. That being |
the case why should not our bonds be
purchased by Topeka people and help
us secure our right of way %