The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-04
TAKES OUT KINKS
Body of Busy Farmers Headed
by John TrOutman.
Made Over by Great Effort the
Old VinewOOd Road.
A BAD HILL HAS Been REDUCED
Terror of Automobiles Has
Been Entirely Removed.
A Model Highway. Free From
Rocks and Turns.


Topeka township. pushed back his
chair from the Thanksgiving Day din
ner table and meditated over the
1 things Tor which he was thankful he
thought of the stretch of township
road that connects the county and Red
Line highways and leads TO VinewoOd
park. And when he pondered over the
grief that that road had caused auto
mobilists and travellers who journeyed
over it in horse drawn vehicles, he
forgot just what he was thankful for.
But he did decide that it would not
mar another ''Turkeyday'' dinner.
The next day, November &c. Trout
man and several farmers living along
the road gave it the ''once over Pre-
liminary steps We're taken to get rid of
the Objectionable features and two
days later, eight teams and ten men
hove to-"
Heretofore the old Vinewood road
has been known to automobilists as
one that was to be avoided The coun
ty road as far as the J. H. Potter farm,
where the township road commences,
is free from hills and is kept in excel
lent condition. But a stretch in the
township, two miles in length, was a
terror to every motor car owner.
The worst piece commenced a mile
east of the Potter place. Beginning al
the bridge near the farm, the narrow
path wound about an immense gully
and meandered shape up a steep,
rock covered hill Near the top of
the mound uncountable rains had dug
series of steps that further served to
drive automobiles away from that
vicinity. Huge rocks on both sides
completed the scene.
Scenery Is Changed.
In less than two weeks the ten men
and eight teams under direction of
Troutman completely changed the
scenery. A straight line was run from
the bridge through the gully to the
of Inn
were blasted out and used to fill up
the huge hole. Small hills nearby
were trimmed down and the earth
used to. cover the highway that sup
planted the shaped path. Then the
steps were eliminated from the top of
the mound.
Now the road looks as good as any
in the county 1t is free from rocks or
cuitous climb that faced autoists in
former days, a steady low grade con-
fronts them.
Within a few days the work will be
completed: Then Troutman will turn
his attention to another hill, a half
mile east of the one just removed. !
The next mound to be chopped down
is considerably smaller than the first
features that made the former I'M
pleasant. 1t can be improved in less
than a week, Mr.. Troutman believes.
The expense of tearing down the |
second hill and Strengthening the road |
will cost the township little Teams |
will be loaned by farmers in the |
township and funds raised during the |
good roads movement will be used to |
pay for the labor.
VIII Take Out the Twist.
Near the foot of the second hill,
the road turns and runs across a
small bridge over little ravine. This
twist will be taken out when the
is lowered.
With the removal of the two hills
and the Strengthening of the township
'oad, the old Vinewood road will I'M
loubtedly become one of the most
popular entrances to the city from
he Red Line highway, the main road
% Kansas City. The route passes
through beautiful country and affords
| view of the entire city unobtain-
Lble from any other locality. From
he hill just south of League park
motorists are able to get a survey of
Topeka from Washburn college to the
Milling section of the North side. Not
'nly the state capitol and Santa Fe
buildings, which can be seen clearly
rom many other points, but the post
,ffice building, the Bank of Topeka
Ind all the rest of the business
ength of Kansas avenue and a vast
portion of the residential part of the
;ity can be seen. Nor is the view en-
irely lost at night, for the white way
lSnlS up pidcllCdlly ali OF the DuSl-
less streets and the state house
View of the Town.
OF far greater Importance than this
Jew from the distance, however, is
he fact that now out of town mo-
oriSts who enter the city will do so
rom the Ninewood road. This strikes.
Kansas avenue at Fifteenth street.
rhe visitors will consequently tour the
Whole length of Topeka's busiest
treet and be able better to form
adorable impression of the city
Heretofore, to avoid the fearful
pots in the township, motorists con-
inued on the main road until they {
cached the Sixth street highway BY
Sing this road they saw practically
lone of the best points in the city. I
John Troutman, who is responsible f
or this changed condition, has been
resident of Topeka township since {
S65 and is one of the original good
Dad fans. :