The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-26
FAITH IN topeka.
Santa Fe Heads See Great
Future in Store.
Vice President Nicholson Says
It Will Prosper.
IN FEW YEARS 100000
Mr.. Nicholson Has a Population
Prophecy to Make.
President Ripley Couldn't Talk
Above Whisper.

George T. Nicholson, vice president
in charge of traffic of the Atchison,
( Topeka q Santa Fe, has faith in the
| future of Topeka. His belief in the
growth of the capital city prompted
him to say this afternoon:
4 see no reason why Topeka will
not be city of 100000 persons in a
few years If the Santa Fe is given
a chance to prosper it will mean the
ultimate prosperity of its main head
quarters-Topeka. The Santa Fe has
done wonders for Topeka in the past,
ii is doing wonders for the city at
present, and If the future smiles on
the road we, of course will do all we
can for this city,
Vice President Nicholson is not
ashamed of his love for Kansas and
its capital city He is a graduate of
Kansas university and he married
Kansas girl-therefore, he has every
reason to believe that Kansas is the
greatest state in the country.
Yes, there is nothing the matter
with Kansas" commented the Santa
Fe vice president.
Nothing on Politics.
How about Kansas politically ?" he
was asked.
Now that is a pointed question for
a reporter to ask big railroad man.
If there is anything that viii change
the expression of a railroad man it is
a mention of the politics of Kansas.
WI. -N1CnOlSOn neSiIdIed a lew mo-
ments and the reporter looked around
for handy exit-even though he was
IN the ten-story general office building.
Wen said the vice president, as
ne looked out of the window at the
STATE mousse dome across the square.
Again there was a silence. weir
ne repeated and he shifted his fuzzy
nat-and the reporter g1oated as he
thought of how Mr. Nicholson's con
demnation of the red-headed governor
would look in the headlines.
BY the way continued the official
with grin covering his face. business
Is pretty dull with the railroads this
year With an election coming on
crops ranging from poor to fair and
conditions generally quiet, there is
nothing for the railroads to brag
Then before the newspaper man
could rereat his question about poll
ties, F. B. Houghton, freight traffic
manager, who was sitting nearby. took
up the cue. Did he explain the 30
lltlcal situation? Here is his answer
see fol yourself:
What the railroads of this country
neeo IS more equipment We need
monev to buy more cars and better
motive facilities. James ]. Hill said
the other day that the railroads, sIaolfId
nave $1,000, 900 a year to spend for
things of this kind. You know
And the newspaper man settled
down IN his chair and forgot about
the red-headed governor and his cru
SADIE on the railroads. The railroad
men were FEELING too good to talk
politlcs-and everyone wants visitors
to he in good humor when thew are
visiting our dear city"
Ripley Could Not Talk.
President Ripley of The santa Ea
was not in a talkative mood today |
HIS physicians have given him strict |
ORDERS to refrain from all taIking-lIn-
less 1t is whisper-aud thar 81, i'm
portant business. The president has
Deen refusing interviews in Chicago-ln |
fact he does not talk to his offfciaI |
associates unless he thinks there is a |
TIM a good listener-but can have
nothing to give to others ears wJlis- |
pered the big PRESIDENT
An invitation was received from the |
Hutchinson Commercial club to a ban |
quet tonlght-but President Ripley had |
to refuse it His trip to Topeka should |
not have been taken according to the
His throat is in bad shape |
ana IL IS almost impossible for him to |
He does this with an effort |
The officers as a whole were in a
quiet frame of mind today-even
though they enjoyed their visit to the I
Iopeka headquarters. All said that
business on the railroads was pretty
quiet and improvements and better
nents were confined mostly to work
that has been started and was neces-
sary to be completed All expressed
their delight in the looks of the big
new general office building=they are
as proud of it as the people of Topeka
Among the officers and directors
who were here today were: = P. Rip
ley, president; George T. Nicholson.
vice president; W. B. Storey, jr., vice
president; w. E. Hodges, vice presi-
dent; w B. Houghton. freight traffic
w. J. Black, passenger traf-
fic manager, all of Chicago. Walker
2. Hines, chairman of the board of