The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-10
HARRIMAN'S VISIT
Was Here i'm Topeka in
1906.
Was Entertained at the Topeka
Club.
MADE POINTED TALK.
Told of a Trip West in Year
1898.
Objected to Reing Classed as
One of the Wealthy Men.

Edward H. Hartman. the railway
wizard whose death occurred yester-
day at Arden. N. Y, visited Topeka
on two different occasions. The first
visit was in 1898 shortly after he had
secured control of the Union Pacific.
AT that time he was inspecting his
new properties with a view of max
ing the extensive improvements for
which afterwards he became famed
as a railway constructor.
The last visit was on the night of
November 20. 1906, when a party of
Union Pacific officials were touring
the west looking at the Hartman
properties. This visit is still fresh
in the minds of Topekans. for Mr.
Hartman was found at that time to
be a very affable man. one who was
ready to spend money wherever
needed, and who promised many good
things to the city at that time.
On this visit. Mr.. Hartman and
his party which consisted of ].
Mohler, J. o. Brinkerhoff and a num-
Der of officials well known to the pub
lie through their connections with
the Hartman system. They arrived
late in the evening and after a short
stop continued westward
Mr.. Hartman was entertained at
the Topeka club. which at that time
had just moved into the handsome
building at Sixth and Harrison. Rail-
way officials of all the local lines met
listened to him as he delivered a short
address on existing conditions. All
found Mr.. Hartman to be a pleasant
speaker, who did not talk as an
of the room and talked as one would
talk to class in the school room.
Mr.. Harriman's Speech.
Mr.. Hartman started his talk with
"reminiscences of his first visit to To-
peka, eight years previous. "It was
in 1885," said Mr.. Hartman, shortly
after I came into control of the
visited Topeka, and in fact I believe
it was the occasion of the first time
L had actually seen the Union Pa
cific property. Mr.. Brinkerhof. I re-
west from Kansas City. I remem-
Der the trip particularly because we
backed our train all the way from
Kansas City to the Pacific coast. We
did this in order that could better
Investigate the property as. we
Upon reaching Topeka I wired by
associates in New York to order 5000
cars. You will remember that the
fortunes of Kansas had begun to turn
-
ing. My associates wired back that
they thought I should wait in order
that we might talk it all over before
ordering the cars. 1 had been over
the country and had seen with my
own eyes They hadn't. I wired
back that they should order the cars
and if they did not approve, I would
take them myself 1 wish now that
instead of ordering 5000 cars we had
ordered $4,000.
"Since I took hold of the Union
Pacific We have practically rebuilt the
entire system at a cost of more than
$20O,O00,000. Last year we spent
$35,0O0,0O0 on improvements on the
system and next. year we shall spend
thirty five or forty millions more"
Discussed Public Questions.
Mr.. Hartman did not talk about the
Union Pacific very much but after a
few preliminary remarks turned his
attention to the public question of the
day. 'It is true" he said, that there
are a few men who have been able to
amass considerable fortunes through
conditions which have arisen and ex-