The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-10
THERE IS A HIATUS
Matter Street Railway EXten-
sion at StandStill.
People Are Awaiting Action of
City Commissioners.

/ At present, it is not likely that fur
ther steps will be taken toward refer
ring to the people of Topeka the mat
ter of a car line to Gage park. There
is a disposition on the part of those
who are urging the reference of the
matter not to tie the hands of the city
commissioners, but to permit them to
go forward and make whatever ar
rangements they can toward the line.
But that does not mean that the action
of the city commission necessarily will
be final
Regarding the proposal to build an
interurban to Dover by way of Gage
park an objection is being raised that
it would mean, to most of the people
of the city, a 10-cent fare to the park
given to city lines of the Topeka Rail-
way company, those who had to take
a city line in order to reach the Gage
park line would have to pay five cents
for each ride, and then the same
amount to get home again. So from
Oakland, the North side, the East side,
South Topeka and much of the West
side it would require ten cents to
reach the park.
Those who are objecting to the ten
cent fare will welcome the interurban,
and welcome it by way of Gage park.
But it is believed it would not be a
solution of the present problem.
Further steps toward an initiative
petition probably will not be taken
until the commission has had time to
act definitely. 1t will be a week from
next Monday before the present ordi-
nance can be passed finally by the
commission. Until that time it is sub
ject to amendment.
With reference to the Gage park
line A. Swendson, ex-councilman, de-
clared today that he believes nine
tenthS of the people of Topeka want
to see it built, and do not care wheth-
er it goes out Eighth, Tenth or some
hainU
about the line and his position toward
it, Mr.. Swendson said:
''I have no special interest in Gage
park, nor in the car line to the park,
as 1 have no town lots or land in that
vicinity that might be affected by the
park or car line, but have only the
common interest of the citizen as a
taxpayer The donors of Gage park
name, fame and the records of the
city and in the hearts of the people in
the magnificent gift of this park. The
people of the city have now about
100000 invested in improvements,
buildings, grounds and animals, and
have not yet had so much as a look in
at the same.
ITO those of US who have neither
automobiles nor conveyances. the
street car line becomes the common
carrier. The mass of the people, esti-
mated at nine-tenthS, are interested
IN having the already long delayed line
to the park built at once, and do not
care whether it goes out on Sixth,
Eighth, Tenth, HUntoon or Seven
teenth streets. They are not real es
tate boomers nor any part of a real
estate lobby.
"A petition signed by nearly 5000
citizens, am told, asking for the i'm
mediate construction of the line was
filed The women's advisory board,
constituted and recognized by the COM
missioners, and the Women's FEEDER
ated clubs agree in asking for the line
at once. Why cannot the mayor and
commissioners arrange for this extern
sion as soon as possible, on conditions
now offered and pending? Is there a
compromise a real estate lobby, or
some comparatively small personal in
terest that interferes with serving the
lnte rests of the common people, so
clearly set forth %