The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-25
Street Railway Has Failed to
Extend It's Lines.
This, Despite Their Heated Dis
cussion Last Spring.
is 1T ALL A BLUFF!
This Is What City Commission
err Tandy Thinks.
Claims That Franchise Was Sc
cured to Help the Sale.

Despite the fact that they couldn't
get their franchise ordinance through
the city council fast enough and
pleaded with this body to give them
| certain rights in the city before they
| gave the authority to the commission
form of government, the Topeka rail
way company has failed to make
single move in the direction of their
much footed extensions in Topeka.
| Not a grade has been placed, not a
tie or rail has been laid and ap-
parently nothing has been done to
| give the people of the city additional
| street car service. Furthermore the
officials of the company have made no
| announcements as to the new work.
| They refuse to have anything to say
| about II.
When the franchise ordinance came
up before the city council the officials
of the street railway spent night after
| night in the council chamber pleading
| that hurried action be taken on their
| franchise and that they be given their
rights at once. I'VE must get to work
| at once" they said. ITO build our
new lines we must start operations
Immediately" that was three months
| ago.
The city commissioners are getting
| impatient over the action of the To-
| peka Railway company in this matter.
And the city commissioners are not
| all-the people over the city who sup
ported the street railway in their fight
and those who have been praying for
| better car service have come to the
conclusion that the railway company
| were not sincere in their action.
1t is claimed by number that the
only reason this big fight was made
was for the purpose of presenting to
the illinois company which purchased
the street railway, a better PROPOSE
ton To give the company a better
purchasing value and to make it in
good shape for bonding purposes is
canned TO nave been the main idea of
| this franchise extension.
w. G. Tandy, city commissioner.
who was in the city council at the
time of the fight and who fought the
franchise from the beginning said this
aftcSpoon that he was not surprised
at the delay of the company.
When they came to the CITY conn
ell and asked for this franchise I told
| them right then that they never in
tended to build this line and they
knew it. They looked surprised when
told them that and insisted that they
known that they would never build
ana that their whole scheme was TO
give the company a better market
appearance-and I stood out against
the franchise ordinance.
| Then they signed the contract that
they would build the proposed Nnes
within three years time or forfeit a
bond of $4,000. You will remember
that several of US kicked on this surety
POND they gave. We wanted a cash
bond. Now anyone knows that the
$4,000 bond they gave is worthless to
the city. Even If they failed to build
this line in three years time we could
never collect that money. We would
first have to go to court and next we
would have to prove that the civ was
damaged to this extent That is almost
laughable. We couldn't stand the ex-
pense of taking 1t to court and VIC
couldn't prove our damage after we did
get it there. I never expect to see
these extensfonS-the whole matter was
a bluff
1t has been stated that the street
railway has done this same thing sew
eral times. At one time, it is claimed
to Seabrook if the people would help
pay the bills. A subscription paper
was started and even a check for the
money was offered them but they turn
ed it down. Another time, it is said
that the late George T. Lyle offered
the company $1,000 in cash if they
would build out to an addition of his In
a good part of the city@and they turn
ed this down.
The street railway claimed this
spring that they must build to Shorey
at once and this would be their first
move. Thus they gained the support of
North Topeka for the passage of the
franchise in the city council. They
also claimed that they wanted to build
in the southwestern part of the city
and big fight ensued. 1t is needless
to mention all of the details-as the
scrap in the council will be remember
ed by everyone.
However, they secured permission 10
build out to Shorey, on Fifteenth street
from Clay to Kansas avenue, on Sew
enteenth street from Buchanan to Col
lege avenue, on Clay street from
Fourth to Tenth avenue, on West
Eighth to Summit street and to move
the Clay street line to Buchanan. They
got practically everything they asked
for-and they haven't laid a tie.
The people over the city are kicking
for better service and for this con-
struction work that they promised SO
faithfully. 1t is known that number
of the Topeka stockholders in the
company sold out their stock to the
new purchasing company as soon as
the franchise went through and the
deal looked good for the out of town
syndicate.
It's a funny proposition.
0nLTnAAF &c kEkIAnncn