The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-02
Offer Old Right of Way as
Special Inducement.
NO WAY TO GET THERE
Park Is Too Far for Those With
out Conveyances.
superintendent Patten Not Pre-
pared to Talk on Plan,

There is a big movement on foot in
Topeka to induce the Topeka Railway
company to extend their Eighth avenue
line to Gage park. a distance of about
two miles from the vest city limits.
and thence to the Catholic cemetery on
West Tenth avenue. a distance of one
half mile beyond Gage park.
Although superintendent Patten Of
the railway company stated this after
noon that he had heard nothing of the
move and doubted if the company
would build such a line this year IN
account of the fact that this years ap-
propriations have been made, it is 3
fact that a large number of Topeka
citizens and those living along ths
highways between the city and the
park feel that it will be possible to Sc
cure this line at once.
Gage park has been one of the city.s
most beautiful parks for the past three
years and since the installation OF 4
large bathing lake and several Other
popular features the travel to the mark
from the city has grown heavy. How
ever. with the absence of a suitable
transportation to the popular park 1t
IS impossible to accommodate the class
Of people who do not possess carriages
or automobiles.
Right of Way Is Ready
t is proposed to build this new line
TO Gage park straight out Eighth ave-
nue. for a distance of about two miles
until it meets the park site As an in
ducement to the railway to make this
extension it is the intention of the peo-
pie to secure for the railway and give
to them the old right of way used at
one time by the West Side Circle or the
Belt Line road which ran out this df-
rection and then out to Martins Hill
The right OF way OF this road is stIII
intact and would serve as a tempting
fnducement to any railroad The grades
are all IN perfect order, the cuts are in
good shape and the roadbed would
need nothing but a little ballast here
and there, the ties and the rails
AS the main proposition of railroad
Is to secure the right of way. make the
surveys build the grades and make the
cuts, IL is thought that with a. gift of
this kind it viii be possible to make
the Topeka railway see the advisibility
Of making this extension out TO Gage
park
Gage park is city institution It
is located about three miles west OF
the auditorium and two miles west Of
the city limits It is Oue-half mile long
between Sixth and Tenth avenues. ex-
tended, and one-fourth mile wide
from Highland avenue west In this
park are located the headQuarters of
nurseries and a large number of popu-
lar attractions to the public in the
form of beautiful driveways, hooks
and bathing features
The original Gage lake has been en-
larged until it is about three times its
former size A small shallow portion
has been ffoored with brick and cement
and surrounded by a hand rail This
Is used by women and children for
bathing. while the men ard boys use
the deeper portion on the opposite
end
The lake is well patrorized in the
hot summer months and bath houss
with about rs lockers is planned This
bathing feature is about the only out
door bath pool in the city and IS
swarmed with people all summer Il
street car service could be secured the
financial end of the park for the city
would be greatly benefited and thou
sands of people not owning horses or
automobile would be able to enjoy the
features of the park
The Catholic people Of the city have
started a petition TO ask the street rail-
way to extend the line to their cerne-
terry, about half mile to the south
west It is understood that they will
secure the right Of way and give the
| railway people every inducement to
build
When asked concerning the matter
| this afternoon, superintendent Patteu
OF the Topeka Railway company said-
/ 4 haven't received any word from
anyone concerning this proposed ex-
tension and of course know nothing OF
| the details. I will say that our sp-
| propriations this year do not provide
| for anything OF that character and
can hardly see where we would have
the authority TO build that line"
| However. the proposition Of pre-
senting the railway with the grades,
/ and the right of way was not men
/ toned. and until the matter is placed
before him in this manner it IS hard
to tell what viii be done. 1t is under
stood that the Topeka Railway COM
/ pauy intends to make a number of ex-
| tensions this summer and the people
are clamoring for street car service to
/ Gage park