The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-17
RIPLEY WAS HERE
President of Santa Fe on His
Way From California
Made Inspection of New General
Office Building.
MAY BE TROUBLE.
Mr.. Ripley Doubtful Over Stand
ard Oil Situation.
Vice President Storey Optimistic
Over Topeka Outlook.

Tanned from his outdoor winter life
in California. in high spirits over the
general condition of the Santa Fe and
declaring that he never felt better
physically in his life, E. P. Ripley,
president of the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe railway, spent two hours in
Topeka last evening. President Rip
ley stopped in Topeka on his way to
his Chicago headquarters from his
winter home in Santa Barbara, Cal.
With the Santa Fe president was w.
H. Storey, jr., vice president of the
Santa Fe. Since he has held the po-
sition of vice president, following the
absence of ]. w. KendricK abroad, Mr..
Storey has travelled over the entire
lines of the Santa Fe getting ac-
quainted with the officials and the
physical condition of the road.
AS soon as the special train carry
ing the president and vice president
arrived-at $50 last evening-Presi-
dent Ripley, Vice President Storey and
a party of Topeka officials walked
from the station to the new general
Office building-a distance of nearly a
mile. The Topeka officers wanted to
arrange motor car conveyance for Mr..
Ripley and Mr.. Storey, but the presi-
dent wouldn't listen to the proposition.
81 haven't seen Topeka on foot for
q long time" he said. Besides, after
my winter in the west, I feel like boy
With this President Ripley set a
stride up Fifth avenue that was fol-
lowed as closely as possible by Cen
eral Manager KounS, General Freight
Agent Koontz, General Passenger
Agent Cornell, Chief Engineer Felt,
Treasurer Copeland, Superintendent
Jones-all of them, with the exception
of President Ripley, removing their
hats every few yards to wipe the pers-
piration from their brow.
Inspects New Building.
President Ripley wished to inspect
the new ten-story general Office build
ing of the road. For an hour he
walked up and down unfinished stair
ways, climbing over sections of marble,
and felt his way in parts under con-
struction. Like a rapid fire gun he
threw question after question to his
chief engineer, Mr.. Felt. concerning
the construction of the building and
for the employees.
President Ripley was looking around
in one unfinished Office looking into
the parts here and there when he
turned to Chief Engineer Felt and
said:
"In a big building like this we ought
to have Ventilators-they. keep the
rooms fresh and cool and are a safe
guard to the health of the employees. -
Mr. Felt assured the president that
Tie NSnlAldIOIS were D6lnB
and plans had been made for a system
to cover the entire building.
Well, now that's fine" said Mr.
Ripley.
The president was greatly pleased
with the location of the new building
Standing in one of the west windows
that overlooked the state house
grounds and Topeka's beautiful resi-
dence district, Mr.. Ripley admitted
that he wouldn't mind having one OF
the Offices himself. And every oficia
with him ggested-silently- ht
move his Office from Chicago and make
Topeka his home.
Silent on Standard Oil Decision.
Speaking of the recent Standard OF