The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-11
PRESIDENT RIPLEY's ADDRESS.
Company Spends Much Money Here
Will Spend More.

The center of attraction during the
evening was President E. p. Ripley,
the guest of honor. Mr.. Ripley spok1
On Topeka and the Santa Fe il part
as follows:
81 feel like a raw recruit in the
Santa Fe. The IA years or so that ]
have presided over it's destinies, it
seems as though are but a watch in
the night.
TT is hard to get acquainted with
the people on the 10000 miles of rail
road. I am glad to come here tonight
and get acquainted with the business
men of Topeka.
There are 1000 employees of the Santa
F'e in Topeka. l ann personally ac-
quainted with all of the officials. and
come of the employees. And 1 want to
thank every one of them from the tor
to the bottom. for their loyalty, their
industry and their faithfulness of SER
Vice.
This is a day of big things-big cor
porations and combines. 1t is almost
pity hat it is so. 1t sometimes seems
as if it would be we'll if we could &c
back to the old order of things where
every employer knew his employees
personally. But we can't go back, re-
greet it as we may.
THE Santa Fe has at heart the well
fare of its employees. If any Of you
men are interested you will find # you
visit our shops in Topeka we are really
= IA
doing everything for the comfort and
education of our employees in other
lines. We have some Is or 20 places
along cur system for rest rooms and
recreation BY our apprentice system
We are educating our younger en-
ployes., We try to provide for the men
who are disabled and when they can
10 longer work we pension them
The relations between Topeka and
the Santa Fee have always been pleas
or,f + hoy mil 20. he
We have spent great deal of money
in Topeka ana expect to spend a great
deal more. We are not in the railroad
business for our health, and it is nee
essary for us to spend a great deal
of money here or somewhere else and
90 not see why we should not spend it
here. (ADplauSe).
1.-The Santa Fe does not want favors.
1t wants nothing but justice. We have
given Kansas and Topeka railroad
that they are not ashamed of. We feel
that we should be accorded justice
from the state of Kansas and other
states. l hope that when the smoke
OF battle clears away and the people
view the economic questions more
clearly things will go on for the bet
tee.
THAT we have always received JUS
tice is needless to say. But I think
that the skies are clearing. We are
now borrowing money on the strength
OIL the people dccorulHS US just treat
ment in the future.
ST have here some statistics which
may prove of interest.
1.-The employees of the Atchison
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway company
in Topeka in the general offices l. UNI
| Der 1850, while those in the shops
purchasing department. station. ETC.
aggregate 1850, making a total OF
| 1000: the total pay ron FOR single
month is $245,000, the number OF pay
checks issued in the treasury depart
| ment at Topeka each month num-
| Der $4,000; the number of checks is
| sued on the line, payable in Topeka
monthly, are about 5000; the number
of vouchers paid through the Topeka
Office monthly are 5000; the number
of miscellaneous forms of drafts PAID
! monthly, total 10000, and the monthly