The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-09

help and need it at this time and the
commercial club should help us get it..
This Commercial club has done moth
ing 10 help us and We do not want to
De considered the laughing stock of the
city but that is just what will happen
IL something is not done and that at
once The idea of letting the expendi-
ture of $4,000 stand between the city
and the building of railway which will
cost nearly a. million and one half dol
lars
Fail to Appreciate importance.
j. w. Robinson said: There is no use
for us to rehash matters here tonight
Tor see the same faces that have been
before me at every other meeting called
in the interest of the Topeka & South
western project. For some reason the
people of Topeka do not seem to APP
preciate the Importance of action at
this time. The eastern hackers of the
project have been lenient with us and
waived portions of their rights. All that
we are asking the Commercial club to
do is to get the people out to meet
ing so that we can present our case
to them. If it will help any let the
club appoint another committee to raise
the necessary money or assist the pres
ent committee but something should be
done and that at once. Appoint a
committee of bankers and with the ma
terial we have at hand they can tell
in an hour whether the proposition has
merit or not. We have decided that
1t has, and if after reaching the same
decision they can give the word and
there will be no trouble in raising the
necessary funds to build the road"
G. K. Holiday said: 81 think that
we should make a strenuous effort to
elect a president of the Commercial
club before we meet again Friday
evening. This matter has been de-
Iayed too long already. Mr.. Pierce, the
vice president has said that he will
not take the place and the club
should have some one at the head of
it who has the interests of Topeka
uppermost in his mind.
Mr.. Poole has had the entire re-
sponsibility of the club on his
place to fill. The club needs head
and needs it badly and l will do all
that | can to bring about the cleo
ton of a president between now and
Friday evening and l am sure that
Mr.. Davis who is one of the direc-
tors will favor this.
There is no such a thing as fail
ure and this road will be built but
we need assistance at this time and
if the Commercial club will get be-
hind the proposition we can raise the
required money in a day. We need a
man for president of the Commercial
club who will be a friend of every in
terest in the city. We need a big
active man at the heeo of this club
and with the united Commercial club
back of us we will not have the
slightest trouble in raising the
paltry $4,000 which is needed at this
time to give Topeka another railroad.
1 am. going up and down Kansas ave-
nue. tomorrow into the stores and Of
fees and ask the merchants and bust
ness men of the city to attend a mass
meeting Friday evening. It's a shame
and a crime to have a railroad right
here at our very door with the con-
tractors in the city ana construction
gangs along the right of way and I'M
able to go to work because we have
not furnished a right of way as we
agreed to do"
w. L. Taylor said: "Lamprecht
Brothers and Company went to the
Commercial club at Coffeyville two
years ago and asked them for a site
for an oil refinery. In less than two
hours the finance committee of the
club raised 100000 and purchased the
site and as a result that city now has
a million dollar plant employing a
small army of men. These people
have been more than patient with us
and If something is not done at once
we are liable to lose their support. If
it is in order l would like to move
that it is the sentiment of this meet
ing tonight that the board of direc-
lOiS VI llt CluO De III
to call meeting at once and
select president of this club
f. w. Thompson said: 81 have
had 30 years of experience in rail
road building and l cannot see how
we can afford to let this opportunity
slip away from us. When this road
is built we should make Topeka the
terminal of the line for this will
mean much for Topeka. Trains should
be run into Topeka i'm the morning
and out in the evening so that the
farmer and his wife can spend day
in the city and return home at night"
Judge IT. r. Carver said: 81 have
not attended many of these meetings
but 1t seems to me that there is an
element in the city which is opposing
the construction of this road. 1t
seems that in the interest of some
thing else that cold water is being
thrown on the project. I will confess
that j have a much better understand
ing of the proposition than when I
came into this meeting and I am more
impressed with the proposition than
ever. What you need more than any
thing else at this time is enthusiasm.
Get the people out to these meetings
and get them enthused and the rest
will be easy. There is no doubt that
this road will be built for the people
along the line demand it as their in
terest in the project indicates. This is
not gold brick proposition for the
right of way is worth much more than
it will cost. Enthusiasm is like small
pox. it is contagious. and if you will
get the people out they will catch it
and the road will be built
mass meeting will be held Fri
day evening under the auspices of the
Commercial club and it is more than
likely that the organization will be
headed by we'll known Kansas ave-
nue. business man as president. 1t is
said that z. w. Crosby is the man who
is slated for the place. though he has
said that he cannot afford to take it.
The indications are that he will be
drafted and will preside at the mass
meeting Friday evening.
The following members of the To-
peka Commercial club attended the
mass meeting called by the club for
the purpose of discussing the Topeka
Sn1lt western railway nrniect last