The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-25
CITY HOLDS SACK PLAYED IN BATTLE
Sixth Street Vaduct Is Jacksons Military Band in
"White Elephant" Spanish-Amercan
Pray Cyclone to Distributed Among
Blow 1t Away. Soldiers in Cuba
CANNOT BETTER CAR SERVICE NOW The BOYS ARE IN NEED
Topeka Railway Must Operate
Only Cars. Disbanded.
Contract Military
City Council. Aggie Contest
Officials Pray for Cyclone to
Blow 1t Away.
CANNOT BETTER CAR SERVICE
Topeka Railway Must Operate
Only Small Cars.
Old Contract Handed Down by
City Council.

Wanted-A good healthy cyclone to
demolish the Sixth street viaduct.
If something would just happen-1ust
naturally happen-tO the Sixth Street
viaduct, something that would put II
completely out of commission and be-
yond any hope of repair, the members
of the city commission would probably
breathe easier, provided of course that
the demolition occurred without any
loss of life.
For the Sixth street viaduct is a
white elephant on the hands of the city,
and until it is completely out of COM
mission there is little hope of better or
safer car service for the people or
Oakland. But much as the city COM
mission would like to see the old via
duct make way for a new and safe
one, yet the irony of fate compels them
to keep the old viaduct in repair time
without end, or until the franchise OF
the Topeka Street Railway company ex-
pires. This is due to what the present
city commissioners characterize as
something put over the city" by an
ancient city council.
A deal was made by the old council
which now furnishes campaign material
in favor of the commission form of
government, for the adherents Of the
present form argue that no such one
sided deal could ever be put over under
commission government. This deal gave
the street car company the right to
use the viaduct as long as it's franchise
should run, and the city was obliged
to keep the viaduct in repair. All the
city got out of the deal was a few
hundred dollars with which to make
some immediate repairs on the struc-
ture.
City Must Maintain 1t.
Th1s contract. it is believed now
oif
duct. With the contract out of the
way, the viaduct could be torn down.
and it is argued that rather than sub
Iect themselves to the liability of dam
age suits resulting from accidents
which would be certain to happen
were only surface crossing maintain
ed on Sixth street over the Santa Fe
tracks, the Santa Fe company and the
street car company would themselves
build viaduct and one strong enough
to support the traffic, or at least they
would materially assist.
But as the contract is in the way,
the only nope seems to be that a cy-
clone will blow the old structure away
and clear the board for the construc-
ton of new one which parties other
than the city will pay for
. Should the city at the present time
undertake to build a new overhead
crossing a special election would first
be necessary, and as to financing the
uhuCA lohiIiS WllHoOl d DOHO ISSUE, ill
the money the city will have in the
next four or five years from the one
quarter of a mill bridge levy, would
be necessary, even if not cent were
spent on other bridges in the city dur
ing that time.
As to better street car service over
the present structure, it is of little
use to hope for it. It is at least out
of the question to consider operating
the heavy cars over the rickety old
affair. 1t was never built for such
traffic and the fact that one span gave
way last summer is proof 1t will not
support it.