The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-22
SELL Helm Line
To The ILLINOIS
TRACTION FIRM?
Belief That Mckinley Lines
Will Come Into Topeka.
Eventually Connect Holdings
Throughout Kansas.
FAST FREIGHT and PASSENGER
Red Ball Service for Shippers
in This Territory.
'sDustless, Dirtless and Noise
lesso Interurban Coming?

Following the visit to Topeka of
several eastern financiers and the pho
tographing of more than 100 views of
the Topeka street car system, together
with the Vinewood line, added to re-
cent moves made by the Kansas City,
Kaw Valley and Western railway, it
is believed firmly in railway circles in
Topeka that a consolidation of the
Illinois Traction company and Helm
lines is near.
The consolidation plan, without
doubt, would mean the absorption of
the Helm lines by the stronger and
more powerful Mckinley interests.
The construction or the inrerurban
from Lawrence to Topeka would
inaugurate the first step of the plan of
the Illinois Traction company to con-
meet the cities controlled in Kansas.
1t has been rumored for some time
that the Mckinley people would take
over the Lawrence city railway lines.
In this event, the big traction COM
pany would have holdings in Topeka.
Lawrence, Atchison and Wichita.
Upon the purchase of the Helm lines,
the extension would include a direct
route into Kansas City, Mo-, through
rich Kaw valley territory-rich in
passenger as well as freight opportun-
tiles.
st. Louis-K. c. Line.
between st. Louis and Kansas City.
With this break bridged the Illinois
Traction company would be able to
install service from Peoria to Topeka
and eventually down the state to
Wichita. Later Chicago would be in
cluded.
1t has been discovered, it is pointed
out by railway men, that success in
interurban building comes from fast.
well equipped and unsurpassed SER
vice. The interurbans, to live, must
compete. both in time and comforts,
with the steam roads.
The Illinois Traction company has
been in direct competition with steam
roads for years. Sleeping cars are
operated on their electric lines be-
tween st. Louis, Mo-, and Peoria. Ill.
This famous "Dustless, Dirtless. Noise
less" route is known all over the Ohio.
Illinois, Indiana and Missouri territory.
Passenger service ISN'T all. The Illi-
nois Traction company also operates
fast high-ball freight trains between
terminals in their district.
Dirt Road Connections.
Topeka has been in need of an in
terurban connecting nearby towns for
years. There are scores of towns and
villages in the vicinity of the capital
city to be reached only by dirt roads.
These ham1ets are located in rich ag-
ricultural territory.
No one realizes the importance of
connections with these towns more
| than Albert M. Patten, assistant gen.
| eral manager of the Illinois Traction
company, with headquarters in To-
| peka. Patten has been handling rail-
way matters in Topeka for years. And
| he is at the head of the Atchison and
Wichita holdings of the Mckinley cor
| poration. The ruraliSts near Topeka
| look to Patten to bring them closer
| to the Topeka market. They do not
ask interurbans as a favor to their
markets. They are fully confident in
the belief that an electric line would
| be profitable to the operators.