The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-24
City Commissioners Would Have
Universal Transfer System.
Will Take Up Matter With To-
peka Railway Company Soon.
FRANCHISE MIXED.
Sections Don't Agree on lssu-
ance of Line Transfers.
People Petition City Officials
for Double Fare Relief.

If the CITY commissioners are able to
prevail upon the Topeka Railway com
panv with enough strength to secure
their agreement to a section of the
Franchise relating to the giving of trans
fers. the people of the city of Topeka
will soon Rave in effect for their Dene-
fit a universal transfer system-ln other
words a person will be able to go from
env one point on the Topeka railway
to any other point for the one fare of
five cents.
The universal transfer proposition
has been a regular visitor to city ad-
ministratiOns and has been the ambl-
ton of every councilman since the street
railway took their franchise, but under
the new commission form of govern >
rent where five commissioners are are
raid a salary to deal automatically
with The street car company, 1t Is
thought that some mutual agreement
can be made to bring about these re-
suits.
street car people grant the universal
transfer advantages as according to
law the city mas no right to change or
alter the present franchise. The To-
peka Railway company has the city
tied up in this matter and nothing can
be donc-even though the city wished to
change and cut out number of sec
tons.
May Secure Concession.
But it is believed that the city COM
missioners will pc able to secure this
concession from the railway people
least the matter viii be taken up In a
short time. In lieu of the fact that the
section Of the franchise pertaining T.
this transfer system is in a doubtful
condition as to its legal translation, it
IS thought that additional pressure may
be brought to bear to bring forth the
results.
rave been receiving letters lately from
people over different sections of the
city. These letters have been written
with the intention of getting togeth-
err with the street railway company
and arranging for the universal transfer
Tlan. Unlike former unsigned letters
seeking blood and hollering for revenge,
these letters are signed and simply ask
for square deal"
For instance. one has come from
people living on the Fourth street line
1t costs them 10 cents to go from the
Continental creamery district to the
asylum section of the city. This cost
unless they walk over to the Sixth ave-
nue. line. When person wants a car
most it is during bad weather and a
walk of this distance is inconvenient.
Likewise, letters mention the fact
that to go from along the Sixth avenue
line to the Presbyterian church and
out Eighth avenue a person must pay
10 cents or wait for the right car.
From Eighth avenue to Christ's hos
pital and from the hospital to Wash
burn college-all of these changes
make a double fare necessary.
In section 764 of the street railway
franchise with the city concerning
the issuing of transfers. appears the
following paragraph:
g. said railway shall not charge
more than five cents for transporting
a passenger upon a continuous trip
from any one point on its line of rail-
way to any other point thereon within
the said city"
This looks very much like the city
would be able to demand that the
paragraph be carried out and univer-
sal transfers be issued. But farther
down into the section there is another
provision which acts as a soothing
syrup to this statement. 1t says:
g. said railway shall issue
transfers over its line as said term