The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-25

the neighborhood of 100000, although
the estimates have not been fully com
pleted.
The site which has been selected for
the new building is on North Branner
street, few feet north of the Santa
Fe tracks and just northeast the
present Office headquarters OF John
Purcell, superintendent of the local
shops, and east of the big machine
shop building.
This building has been in contem-
p'ation for some time. The different
offices of the mechanical departments
are scattered all through the shops and
the arrangements for communication
between the different departments
are decidedly unhandy. When the new
building is completed all the Office de-
partme1ts of the motive power and me
chanical departments will be in the
same building
The preliminary plans for the building
are all drawn and will doubtless be
followed with but few alterations as
they are all approved by the different
officials and meet eevry requirement
desired of the new building.
According to these plans the base
nent will be used mostly by the chem
ical department. This department is
now quartered in the congested build
ing at Crane and Adams street where
but three or four rooms are available
This is a very important department
and is the head department of the en-
tire system with Jurisdiction not only
over the Atchison proper but over the
entire system including the gulf and
coast lines. The office of ". A. Pow
ers, the chief chemist. will occupy a
room Is by 2S feet. Directly in the
rear of this room will be another room
of Is by is feet and a dark room 10 by
i feet. The chemical department will
also have three other rooms which are
in size respectively % by IS: 13 by 81
and % by 28 with several side rooms
for storage and vaults.
The testing department will occupy q
large portion of the basement. This
department has but one room in the
old stone building at Crane and Adams
at the present time. The engineer of
tests. Frank W. Thomas. will have an
Office room of is by 2S, while a large
room for the tests will be % by So
The custodian OF the building will have
his Office in the basement and there
will also be a large room for storage
The plans for the first floor provide
for a number of offices. The mechani-
cal superintendent's department will be
floor on the left as one enters the
building. Mr.. ]. H. McGoff, the me-
Chanicai superintendent. will have al
office 13 by Is feet while the chief
clerk of the department viii have a
room Is by IS feet. A room 19 by 81
has been provided for the clerks of this
department and another room by q
IT dimensions for the storage and filing
Of records.
Purcell on First Floor
On this floor will also be the road
foreman of engines with an Office 10
by IA feet; the telegraph department
with an Office of like dimensions The
bonus supervisor of the eastern grand
division, which embraces all of the
lines OF the Santa Fe east of Newton,
feet The bonus supervisor for the
local shops will have an office room of
IL by 1875 feet with a room 1875 bv Sc
feet for his office force with room for
twenty desks.
The Office force of John Purcell,
shop superintendent will occupy a
suite OF rooms on the right side of the