The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
Santa Fe Making Up Facts on
Physical Property Valuation.
The Showing Win COrr0bOrate
Speech of Roosevelt.
RIPLEY READS PAPERS
How President Gives Public
Every Fact to Be Known.
Other 1 TENS of General Inter-
est in Traffic World.
RIPLEY READS PAPERS

Santa Fe experts are making an up
to-date physical valuation of the pro-
perty which will be submitted to me
public in due time said an
official of the road today, Santa
Fe men say the showing will corro-
borate President Roosevelts declara-
ton in his Indianapolis speech tnat
the railroad property of the country
is worth as much as the securities rep
resenting it, and that, in the concensus
of opinion of investors, the total value
of stock and bonds is greater imam
their total face value.
e P. Ripley, president OF the SANTA
Fe, has spent a great deal OF time anu
written many newspaper and magazine
articles in an effort to bring about
better understanding between the cor
poration he represents and the people
with whom it does business. EVERY
department of the railroad industry Is
conducted with a relation to the pup
lie. and Mr.. Ripley's desire is to have
this relationship emphasized SO that
the public will see it and appreciate II;
Mr.. Ripley, among western railroad
men, is a pioneer IN the matter OF pun
icity. He has favored giving the pup
lie all the information it demands mold
ing back nothing, covering up nothing
Santa F,e reports to the interstate com
merce commission and the state BOARDS
have been complete, and they are not
questioned Mr.. Ripley believes IN snow
ing to the last dollar Just what II eoslS
to construct a railroad, the cost or OPP
Grafton and the cost C maintenance
and also where the money for construc-
ton. maintenance and operation comes
from. Even those who do not agree
with Mr.. Ripley's arguments ADMIT
that he has been frank in the publlca-
ton and discussion Of Santa Fe ng-
ures.
at NAV be surprising to newspaper
publishers to learn that President Rip
ley has for years read every article on
railroad matters in every paper PRINT
ed along the 10000 miles of Santa Fe
road. This is not an easy task tor
busy man.
speaking about his newspaper read
ing, Mr. Ripley said: True, l nave
waded through much chaff, but l am
sure the reading has resulted in some
reforms" 1t is by his newspaper read
ing that Mr.. Ripley keeps IN touch
with public opinion, and it is probable
that no railroad president in the coun-
try is more familiar with public opln-
ion than he.
Newspaper reading has enabled Mr..
Ripley to keep his ear to the grass
roots, and, if the opinion expressed is
not in accord with his views, he is apt
to take hand in the discussion.
MANY editors on the Santa Fe ro3d
nave received IL Jill ~'AA
Ripley, and they always print theme
and feel free to answer them. One
western Kansas editor. printing COM
munication from Mr.. Ripley, added a
paragraph saying: I'VE are not pre-
pared to say that we agree with Presi-
dent Ripley in this matter, but We are
printing his side because we are sat
isfied that he believes what he says is
so.''
Mr.. Ripley's idea of publicity, is pub
licity and to that end the Santa Fe
will share with the public information
about the inside workings of the COM
pany which doubtless will be both in
tersting and valuable"