The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-01
1T STARTED 4 ROW
City's Viaduct Meeting Brought
Ont Heated Discussion.
Officials and Employees Of
Santa Fe Fought 1t Out.


With hundred or more persons
present interested In the Branner
street viaduct question, a meeting OF
the mayor and city commissioners was
held Monday evening in the council
chamber # the city hall for the pur-
pose Of ascertaining public sentiment
as to closing the roadway under the
viaduct and building q new approach
to the structure.
With the exception OF C. w. Kouns
general manager of the Santa Fe, and
w. r.. Smith, general attorney OF the
Santa Fe, practically all those who
attended were holly against closing
the Santa Fe officials and property
owners-most of them employees of
the Santa Fe-was heated. No def
mite action on the question was made
by the city commission.
The first property owner who
spoke. stated that 80 per cent of the
residents living in the vicinity Of the
Fe's plan to close the roadway and
construct another approach. AT the
time the structure was built" said the
speaker, the residents protested but
the viaduct scheme was carried out
by the high handed methods of the
old city council"
A man living north Of the viaduct
/ spoke. CLOSING the roadway will
damage the value OF every piece of
property north OF the tracks" he
said.
| Nearly all arguments presented
against this scheme were that prop
erty would be damaged and that those
living north OF the tracks would not
have a suitable means of escape from
high water.
| 1t was also pointed out by prop
erty owners that other places in the
city were equally as dangerous and
were only considered dangerous
enough for a Waterman to be en-
ployed part Of the time.
One man attacked the Santa Fe
on account Of the Fourth street-Santa
Fee crossing and said that numerous
times this crossing had been held by
trains for 20 minutes and that in
| switching, freight cars were kicked
across the street with little care for
public safety.
That the viaduct was not kept in
shape for traffic was pointed out by
other speakers. Other statements to
the effect that large amount of the
danger would be eliminated II the
supplies and fences which obstruct
the view Of oncoming trains were re-
moved by the railroad. were made.
c. w. Kouns when called upon to
speak said: THE expressions that
have heard among the property own
public good. The road being open is
dangerous for the large number OF
children who cross the tracks.
Women and children cross the
tracks and take their lives In Their
hands every day. The industry OF
the shops require that supplies be
piled near the viaduct The Sants
Fe's argument IL for public safety
and not for private gains. There Il
danger present at the viaduct all thu
time That there are not more acct
dents is due to the grace of God and
not to public care. For years the city
|, has been trying to eliminate danger
, GUS places-this is a dangerous place
, The time is coming when there will b.
three or four children killed at thi!
crossing"
w. r. Smith stated that 1t was tn
agreement, at the time the structure
was erected, between the city council
and j. E. Hurley. late general man
ager of the railroad. that the roadway
, under the vtaduct was to be closed
: II defy any member of the city com
: mission to show me viaduct in AM
city of the country where the road
way beneath it is kept open." sait
Mr.. Smith.
No action was taken by the mayor
; and city commissioners at the meet
: ing. The matter will probably b.
I threshed out at the next city commits
sion meeting.