The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-16


Sixty-five passengers patronized the
car on the trip this morning. This is
a good record, when it is understood
that the service was only decided upon
Friday. and consequently was not well
advertised There were many doubt
less who would have patronized the
first trip had they known about it. OF
the sixty-five who rode the car this
morning, two rode on passes. The
remainder paid regular fares. Four
passengers came clear through. from
Emporia- Twenty-six bought round
trip tickets and many of these will ride
the car back tonight. Forty-five un-
loaded in Topeka.
Burlingame and Usage City, the two
largest intermediate points contributed
the greatest number of passengers.
There are eleven stops between the
two termini, and but one station, WAX
arusa. failed to contribute to the num-
Der of passengers.
This is quite showing. Monday,
as is we'll known. is poor day for the
passenger business. The service eStab-
iished by the motor car is primarily
for the purpose of bringing shoppers
into Topeka. Monday being wash-day,
doesn't draw many shoppers.
The car has schedule of two hours
and fifteen minutes between Emporia
and Topeka. There was not the slight
At Lang, the first station this side of
Emporia, the car was forced to lay
over six minutes. it being that much
ahead of the schedule. From Pauline
to Topeka, the car made slow time
and at that pulled up in front of the
Santa Fe depot in Topeka at 9:42, just
Three minutes ahead of time. Of
course when the service is better es-
tablished it will be less difficult to
run down to the schedule as more time
will be required for loading and un-
load ading passengers.
Three men were in charge of the car
en- the initial trip. Tom A. Verlin, one
Of the Santa Fc,s most popular conduc-
tors is ca plain of the crew. and his gen.
lal manner and acquaintance along this
line where he has run for years, as
sLrcs the popularity of the train. G..
A Kelly is the motorneer on the car
This was Mr.. Kelly's first trip over the
route, but despite this fact he ran the
car like veteran c. Stotts, the brake
man, assists in handling the passengers
helping in the loading and unloading.
With one man running the car and two
men to cater tc the passengers, the
best possible service is given the trav-
cling public.
Much interest in the new service
was shown AL along the route At
nearly every station big crowds gath
cred to get the first look at the new
car 1t was the subject of comment on
every hand Many passed judgment on
ats freak construction and general ap-
pearance. 1t is unlike anything ever
before run over this portion of the
Santa Fe. The car is 30 feet in length
The front end tapers 10 a point to
lessen the resistance of the wind The
rear end is rounded and a circular seat
is built along the interior of this end,
affording an excellent observation ef-
feet.
The big car pulled up in front of the
Emporia depot at o'clock this morn
ing. half hour before leaving. Imme-
ciately a large crowd gathered and
by the time the car left there were
three or four hundred spectators ready
to watch the start. Promptly on time
the big gong or the car sounded. the
whistle biew j couple of times and with
O. "choo-choo.' the car was off. The
grade between Emporia and Lang was
climbed with ease. In fact the car
seems to be able to climb any grade
with the ease of running on level
ground.
Riding in this motor car is more
pleasurahl than riding on the fastest
train Between stations The car makes
great time. A strong breeze goes
through. which is free from dust. smoke
or cinders. No train can offer this at
Il ction. The car is 3afSe and roomy
There are 30 large seats, which in cases
of heavy traffic are of sufficient size to-
comfortably seat three passengers.
Twelve people can fill the large circu-
lar observation seat.
One of the great points in favor of
the car is the ease with which it is
operated. A State Journal representa-