The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-28
President of Topeka Railway Co.
DispOses Of Stock.
Congressman Mckinley of Illi-
nOis Pays Flattering Price.
NEAR MILLION MARK.
Transaction Said to Be Largest
in State of Kansas.
Local Officials Claim to Know
Nothing of Big Affair.

Through a change that took place re-
Gently at Pekin. Ill. E. w. Wilson
president of the Topeka Railway com
I,sny and heavy stockholder in the To
peka Edison company. sold his interests
In both companies to Congressman Nc
Kinley of Illinois and the Mckinley
syndicate of Pekin.
1t is reported that the transaction
was one of the largest ever consulnma-
ted in the state and involved stock close
to the million dollar mark. Mr.. Wilson
has been president and leading direc-
tor in the Topeka Railway company
ever since it was organized many years
ago. The report states that he did not
sell out his interests because he con-
sidered it poor to carry on hand but
because he was offered such a fattering
price from the Mckinley syndicate.
Frank G. Kelley. secretary and treas
urer of the Topeka Railway company
with offices in Topeka. was immune CO
the subj .ct this afternoon. He refused
to say that he had heard anything about
the deal. He also stated that Mr.. Will
con was president but did not have the
controlling interest in the stock of
the company.
Doran Knows Nothing
Thomas Doran, attorney for the To-
peka Railway company, also stated
that he knew nothing of the change.
have said nothing to me-" said Mr..
Doran. "Oficials of the company
would know lots more about it than
I would. l would suggest that you
call up Mr.. Myers, vice president of
the company"
But Mr. Myers is 1000 miles away
and has been away since the franchise
ordinance first came I'D before the
city council some time ago.
The Pekin Weekly Times of Pekin,
Ill, has the following to say concern
ing the deal:
Negotiations which began last No
vember between ex-Mayor Wilson and
his brother and the Mckinley gyndf-
cate, were concluded about a week
since by which the former disposed of
the Topeka, Kan. electric line to the
Mckinley people for a fancy figure,
said by persons with a knowledge of
the transaction to have been close to
the million dollar mark
The transaction was one of the
largest ever conSummated in the state
of Kansas. Ex-Mayor Wilson was vfr-
tually the owner of the street car, and
lighting systems involved in the trans
actions, although his brothers were in
terested in the John Wilson estate, GER
tain portions of which were included in
the transaction.
1.-The property has been quite profit
able to the Wilson's, but the figures Of
fered by the Mckinley syndicate were
very enticing and were accepted. Ex-
Mayor wilson found It inconvenient to
give the affairs personal supervision
desired. It is probable that attention
will be turned to enterprises closer 20
home in which the Wilson's are in
terested."
From the manner in which the To-
peka Railway has been contemplating
and making improvements there is
TO sign of any change in policy of the
company. 1t is expected that within
the next three years $4,000 will be
spent in the extensions of certain lines
over the city and constructing a cross
town line of significance.
Is Fine System.
The Topeka Railway company has