The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-01
CITY HALL NEWS.
TOpeka-SOuthwestern Will Not
Receive $4,000 From City.
Railroad Was to Be in Opera
4 tiOn Today.
MAYOR GREEN SORRY.
City Has No Authority to Ex-
tend Bonds.
Other Items of Interest From
City Building.

Today the Topeka Southwestern
railway organization forfeits the
bonds voted by the city of Topeka
amounting to $4,000 which were
for the purpose of aiding them in the
construction of their line and the ter
minal facilities in this city.
The bonds were voted by the people
OF this city on condition that the rail
way spend the same amount Wlthln
the city limits and have its line in OPP
Grafton to the west line of the county
by this day April 1.
The city council has granted the
proposed railway another year in
which to get together among them
selves and create enough trackage to
procure a right of way through the
city and the right has been shifted
from April 1, 1909 to April L, 1910.
But the city is unable to extend the
bond proposition as 1t was voted by
the people and the only way it can be
changed is by special election by the
city as a whole. The city council has
no right to vote new bonds for the
purpose of giving the railway termin-
al rights and advantages.
In speaking of the forfeiture of the
bonds Mayor William Green said this
morning:
II am sorry that this Topeka South
western railway is not reality-it
would mean much for this city. But
it looks as though nothing can be
done. The council has voted to ex
tend the right of way another year,
but we have no authority to extend
the use of these bondS''
All the townships between Topeka
and Council Grove voted aid bonds to
the extent of $4,000 per mile with the
exception of Mission township, Shaw
nee county, where the railway COM
pany lost by just two votes. Alto
gether the railway company will for
felt about 100000. The city coun-
ell will extend the time specified in
their franchise here in the city, but
they cannot extend the time to comply
with the bond requirements, so if the
railway company wants the aid from
the city and the township they must
ask the people to vote the bonds over
again.
Work on the line has been at a
standstill for sometime. Last August
the management was put into the
hands of a board of managers, who
retained w. L. Taylor to do the work
for them. This board and Mr.. Taylor
was succeeded in the management by
MI Curnick, who was treasurer of the
ager of Lamprecht Bros. & Co., New
York office.
Mr.. Curnick put the contractor to
work and a few miles were graded.
Bros. who had the contract for fin
ancing the construction company fail
ed. Mr. Curnick remained here all
winter and only left a few weeks ago
stating he was going to New York to
Interest capital in completing the
ROad. Before he left he promised to
nay the per cent interest due March
1st on the outstanding bonds, this he
has failed to do.
Directors to Blame"
Mr.. Taylor. who was the original
promoter and first president said this
morning: There is no one to blame but
the directors of the company Mr..
Curnick came here last fall and said
that he wanted to run it his way. First
he wanted $4,000 which we gave him,
then he baked and wanted $1,000
more which he got. He took the mon
ey on the representation that he