The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-30

in the office block on East Fifth street.
rooms over the office of the gas com
pany, and rooms at S34. 906 and 921
Kansas avenue.
Large forces were at work in all these
1 rooms and considerable complaint was
made because of the inadequate heat
ing and ventilating systems A num-
| Der of those who were required to work
in these rooms suffered attacks of ill
ness, which probbaly would not have
occurred under more favorable condi-
lions.
In addition to that. considerable in
convenience was experienced through
delay in corresponding with the other
various departments. which was neces-
Sary, and could not be avoided under
the system practiced by the company.
A part of the space in these buildings
was also used for filing records and
correspondence of the various depart
ments This alone caused considerable
Inconvenience by reason of the neces-
sity of having to refer to them for in
formation on frequent occasions.
With the completion of the new
building, the offices of all the different
departments have been congregated
under the roofs of the two buildings,
which are connected by passageways.
This is highly appreciated by the forces
which number more than 200 persons,
and facilitates their work that they
might accomplish their duties with
much more haste and less inconveni-
ence.
The Man Who Built 1t.
Henry Bennett of Topeka, who was
given the construction of the new San
ia Fe office building began work as
an apprentice at the age of 3 and has
been interested in construction work
for SO years. During the period of
the Civil war he served as a lieuten-
ant in a battery. He was 1 9 years of
age at the time of his first enlistment
II lcr.lpr
ed in the building and contracting bus
mess in Chicago where he erected some
of the prominent buildings. In 1876 he
moved to Topeka and since that time
personal structures. 1t was Henry Ben
nett who erected the old Copeland hotel.
He is just now completing the J. c.
Gordon four story business building on
the same site. Among his other build
ings in Topeka are the City Library,
The Crawford building. the Central Ma
tional bank building, and the Grace ca
thedral.
TTe is just now completing the Hiram
Dillon $4,000 residence. and Will erect
the new fire proof white terra Gotta
State Journal buildings covering five
lots on Kansas avenue and Eighth |
avenue He has built many Of the asy-
lum buildings in the state, and has
done much work on the state capitol
building
men," said Mr.. Bennett today in
speaking of his army experience, ''in
Battery A. Chicago Light Artillery.
and served for 80 days I was put on /
the sick list and remained at Cairo, |
Ill, nearly six months. In so came |
the call for more troops The Chicago /
board of trade was induced to raise a |
battery the enlistment for which was |
filled in one evening.
1T was an entirely Independent or /
sanization during the remainder of !
the war. It was my good fortune to |
be selected as lieutenant at the be- 4
ginning of my service. I served with \
the battery until the close of the war. I
Our entire service was with the Army |
of the Cumberland
Custodian's Duties.
The responsibility of taking care Of
each days work, delivering the mails
who must be responsible for all these
duties necessarily is a busy man and
attention is required in the
work
j. NJ. Hayes is the man who is re-
sponsible for these duties and he has
a force of IS men under his direction.
Four of these men are employed in
the mailing room. one to drive the mail
wagon from the Office to the passenger
station and return, the engineer of the
building and his assistant and the
porters numbering about 81.
Nj. Hayes has been in the employ
of the Santa Fe 30 years. He was first
employed as q messenger boy in the
office Of the superintendent Of the