The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-11
Thousands for Betterment of
ROadbed i'm State.
new STATION WORK IN Topeka
Passenger Facilities Will Be
Improved Here.
Electric Lighted Platform for q
Block Near Depot.

AS a result of the conference of Rock
Island operating heads in Topeka last
evening, hundreds of thousands of dol
lars will be spent in Kansas this year
in track improvement along the lines
of this road. Incidentally, the entire
station platform arrangement of the
railway in this city will be rearranged
and lighted and the passenger facilities
greatly improved All of the officials
who attended the Topeka meeting have
departed on inspection trips with the
exception of A. E. Sweet, general man.
ager of the second district, who is in
his Topeka headquarters office for a
few days.
No detailed plans were made for the
proposed addition to the Office building
in Topeka and the double track between
this city and Mcfarland. The general
managers from the three districts of
the Rock Island system and Vice Presi-
dent Ridgway spent most OF their time
in conference in outlining track I'M
provement and maintenance work for
the summer and the coming year. 10
place the roadbed in Kansas in tip-top
shape is the idea of the Rock Island
lines heads-and they will spend
plenty of money in doing 1t.
In Topeka, the station platform will
be improved. The first and second pas
senger tracks in front OF the depot
will be moved close together with only
a regulation clearance and the side
walk removed. Between the second and
third tracks a large cement platform
will be built This walk will extend
from jackson street to within fifty feet
of Kansas avenue where 1T Will turn
and join the station platform. The first
two tracks will be shortened fifty feet
at the east end to accommodate this
change.
Electric lights will be strung above
the new passenger walk and the entire
trackage in front of the depot will be
paved.
This will make it possible for pas
sengers arriving on evening trains
when the first track is filled, to use
the new platform from Jackson street |
to Kansas avenue, with plenty of
light above and out of the way of NOV |
ing trucks and train workmen.
At the present time the Rock Island
is spending nearly Sc, 900 in charging !
the park site south of the tracks and |
in paving all of the driveways be-
tween the general office building and
Jackson street. Sufficient space has
been left at the west end of the office |
building to allow an extension.
1t was brought out at the operating
that the Rock Island in the
last year has spent millions Tor equip
ment, including 85 locomotives, 1000 |
boxcars, steel passenger equipment |
and other rolling stock. From the
extent of the plans at the Topeka con-
ference, it was apparent that the Wall
street scare is nothing more than a |
general condition of railway securities
over the country and that the rumor
Of the Rock Island following the
route of the Frisco to the receivers
was without foundation and without
sufficient support to be taken seriously.
Business on the road is good at this
time, according to the officials in at
tendance.
''This week should tell the story of
the wheat crop along our lines" ex-
planned General Manager Sweet this
afternoon. "The recent rains have
done lots of good-but just how much
we are unable to estimate"
That the Rock Island Lines will
have plenty of equipment in Kansas
for the handling of the crops was the
promise Of Mr.. Sweet.
eve are in good condition to handle |
the grain,'' said the general manager.
ST am looking for little trouble in TAX
ing care of the freight movement this
year. 1t cost us $500 a day for sew
eraI weeks last year storing cars along
the sidetracks waiting for the grain.
This year we will have the equipment
n ,aadu tO r11Sb n traffic nOinfS''