The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-12
UNION STATION IN TOPEKA.


Neary two-thirds of the cities with a
population of more than $4,000 in the
| United States have union stations. To
be exact, 1S5 of the 227 municipalities
are favored with union terminus. To-
| peka is one of the go cities without a
| depot for all railway passenger facili-
! ties. Many cities in the listed ninety
| two however, are with a population of
less than $4,000 and many of them are
not situated on three railways with the
business and Importance of the Santa
Fe, Rock Island and Union Pacific.
! Topeka wants a union terminal. And
that isn't alI-Topeka deserves union
station. Furthermore-Topeka needs a
union depot. The Commercial club has
made known a campaign that it will
wage this winter-a campaign for the
construction of a common accommoda-
ton for the railroad passenger business
| in this city.
Heretofore Topeka has not worried
the railroads with a union station re-
quest. The city has realized that other
improvements were to come first-im-
provements that have been duly &C
copied and appreciated.
In the meantime Wichita won her
fight for magnificent terminals. Then
came Salina, a city with small per-
centage of the passenger business OF
Topeka. Salina will have a union depot
Now Kansas City is after one. Atchi-
son has one. Topeka still goes to the
northern boundary line for Union Pa
cific service, to the lower section of
Kansas avenue for Rock Island trains
and over in the eastern section of the
city for Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific
accommodations
When confronted with the union sta
ton question, railway officials say:
well, where will we build it?''
I'm the territory between the Rock
Island station and the Santa Fe Shops"
you reply.
The official wrings his hands and
complains of bothersome bridges and
difficult operation of trains in order to
run into a station in this part of the
city. Does the official forget that in
Wichita IT is necessary to build over
head crossings, and run trains over the
streets-an expensive luxury? Does he
recall any city in the Eountry where
some obstacle did not have to be over
come in order to have union facilities?
'Tis true the Union Pacific probably
would have to use a Rock Island bridge,
the Rock Island use Santa Fe bridge
and possibly Santa Fe trains would
have to back into the terminals. But !
today, the Rock Island backs into its
station, and other traffic agreements |
have to be reached. Surely the rail-
ways cannot expect to have a union |
depot on a piece of ground where the |
tracks of each road would enter and de- |
part without the changing of a switch, |
the rebuilding of a small stretch of
track or the formation of a traffic
agreement.
Topeka is not omp1aining-on1y sug- |
costing, requesting and planning. This
city, the home of the shops and gen. |
eral offices of the Santa Fe, the general |
offices of the second district of the |
Rock Island and the legal offices of the
Union Pacific, is in no situation to feel |
bitterly over her railroad treatment |
The railroads have lavished many fav-
ors, in the form of shops and offices,
on Topeka.
Nevertheless, Topeka wants, needs |
and will ask for union station. |