The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-07

ed plainly that Mr.. Doran had the
wrong idea entirely of how railroads
are financed; that the plans for this
road were regular and along beaten
paths. 1t made Topeka man proud
or his city to hear this old pioneer tell
OF the struggles and achievements of
the city many years ago in the face
of great obstacles.
j. NJ. Meade, chief engineer for the
western division of the Santa Fe, was
called upon and made a good talk for
the Southwestern project. He said: Il
have built roads for the Santa Fe and
surveyed the route over which you
now plan to run your road i am speak
ing as Topeka citizen and not as an
employe of the Santa Fe when / say
that the route is a good one eminentiy
practical and should prove a splendid
paying proposition. i don't see why
you hesitate. Mr.. Doran is too con-
sentative. There never would have
been railroad built in Kansas had
they followed his scheme. The reputa-
ton of the men behind these bonds is
enough to guarantee their sale
Frank p. MacLennan: There is lit
tie to add to what has already been
said. 1t seems to be up to Topeka to-
do her part. We have needed this road
to the southwest for many years; it
should have been built long ago. There
can be no discussion over the advan-
tages of this road. 1t appears to me
that the proposition is simply one
where Topeka and Morris and Wa
baunsee counties have entered into a
contract with the I.amprechts to fur
nish the right of way if they would
build and finance the road They send
the president of their construction
company here and he tells us he is
ready to begin work at once 1t is up
to us to carry out our part of the con-
tract before we begin to question any
a or int ont in
matter. Morris and Wabaunsee coun-
ties have filled their part of the con-
tract. Topeka is still short Let us
furnish that right of way and check
it up to them. / have signed up for
$500 on this project, and if your finance
committee will come to me in the morn
ing l may double my subscription. AT
this stage the whole thing is up to us
to make good our part of the contract.
w. c. Stephenson: Il have driven
over, the right of way to Council Grove
and 1 say that this is the best and
cheapest road ever offered to COM
munity by promoters. 1 cannot see
why our people doubt it or hold back
on this proposition"
Congressman Miller: Council Grove
was beaten out of the Santa Fe be-
cause knockers rose up and hammered
the proposition the road made to us.
We learned afterwards that these
same knockers were interested person.
ally in the road missing our county,
Holiday Made Hot Speech.
At this point Chairman Holiday cut
loose and made a red hot, rousinS
booster speech. He declared that Mr.
Doran had the wrong idea entirely. 1t
took hard work and boosting all the
time to build up a town. He declared
that the promotion of the road was all
right and regular in every respect.
Franchises and rights of way hadto be
secured before promoters would finance
a road. IT believe he said, that nine
tenths of the people of Topeka are in
favor of this city carrying out its con-
tract with these promoters and getting
this right of way. You have to go
down in your pocket and put up the
coin if you are going to build up q
city. Faith and nerve are the greatest
of city builders. It's time to stop auib-
bling and get busy. II any man breathes
anything against this project he should
be frowned down; he is not loyal to
his town.
Mr.. Doran sprang to his feet and
burst forth in a vehement defense OF
his course. He declared that he would
not be bulldozed by Holiday or any
body else. He said the scheme could
not win unless the people were behind
it and they were not going to have 1t
crammed down their threats. He
wound up with the statement that he
favored the road.
Mr.. Robinson of the finance commit
tee then went on to explain that the
Lamprechts had agreed to bond the
road at one and onehalf millions OF
dollars and dispose of all these bonds
excent 800. 900 which they had placed
with the local office in Topeka for sale
here to cover all the expenses of the
right of way. engineering, surveys, etc
He declared that there was plenty OF
6 per cent money here and that our
lie no
once understood the situation
Mr.. Bonebrake moved that the finance
committee make concise statement OF
the situation for publication in the
local press at once. and that the meet
ing adjourn to Wednesday night at the
rooms of the Commercial club. The
motion was carried unanimously.