The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-14
CITY ASK $4,000
Street Railway Co. Forfeit
Bond i'm Above Sum.
Failure to Complete Extensions
in Agreed Time.

The city of Topeka is demanding
$4,000 from the Topeka Street rail-
way for failure to fulfill an ordinance
passed March "a, 1910, providing that
certain extensions be completed with
in three years time. The time has
expired and the amount of the note is
due. The matter is destined to END IN
the district court The city has an
nounced its intention of using every
means in it's power to obtain the capt.
tai. Albert Patten, superintendent OF
the street railway company, declares
he has no intention of paying the
bond.
The ordinance went into effect with
its publication in the state. paper
March "a, 1910. The Title Guaranty
and Surety company supplied bond or
$4,000. The ordinance provided that
the extensions of lines mentioned be
constructed and fully completed three
years after the passage of the ordln-
ance The time expired March "a,
1913, although the matter was not
taken up by the city commission until
April IA.
The city attorney made the follow
ing suggestion this morning:
1.-THE Railway company and the
Surety company should be notified inn
mediateIy that the time and the bond
have expired; that the city expects
them to live up to the bond; and shall
endeayor to secure it by every means
in their power"
Commissioner Bone, approved by
the commission, moved that Mr.. Rals-
ton be instructed to notify the railway
and the bonding company OF the eX-
piration of the note and the turther
fact that the city would expect to pro-
tect its rights to the fullest extent IN
the matter.
In order 70 extend the lines the
street railway company must procure
a new franchise. This Albert Patten
refuses to do.
Its either litigation or extension,
said Mr.. Patten today one or Ine
other not both. We couldn't nave
the matter dragged through the courts
and then go to the expense OF pur-
chasing a new franchise. It's ques-
ton in my mind whether the city can
prove that it has sustained loss to the
extent of $4,000. 1 have talked Ine
matter over with my attorney MT.
Doran I've received no communlca-
ton from the city as yet, but lnteho
to discuss the matter with the com
missioners as soon as possible we
have built extensions as fast as we
could with the funds in hand-dohe
the best we could for the city"
Among the lines which nave not
been built are: Clay street from
Twelfth to Fourth: Eighth street from
Clay to Summit; Kansas avenue from
street from Kansas avenue to jack
son: Twelfth street from Madison TO
Kansas avenue, and Madison street
from Fourth to Seventh. The ord1-
nance excerpts the last three lines ana
various loops and side tracks.
The line which has caused the most
discussion and created the greatest
interest is the extension of the line on
West Eighth street to one mile east or
Cages park. 1t was hoped that the
extension would be in the process of
construction this spring Cages park
should undoubtedly be in closer COM
munication with people who do not
possess machines or motorcycles. The
extension of the Kansas avenue line
from Seventeenth to Twenty-first has
also been requested many times.
The Shorey line has been built in
compliance with the ordinance, the
Buchanan street extension, and the
line extending on Fifteenth street west
of Kansas avenue.