The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-14
Maple Leaf and the Q Have
an Eye on Us.
Have Been Looking Over the
L. t. & s. w. Line. ts
ONE OF THEM MAY BUY IT
Will Be Sold if Receiver
Doesn't Make 1t Pay.
Would Be Necessary to Build
From Meriden Junction.

Attracted by the more than s3.oOO.-
600 collected annually in freight and
passenger revenues by roads entering
Topeka. the Chicago & Great Western
and the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy
are considering seriously an extension
of their lines to this point. it is un-
derstood here by persons in close
touch with railway affairs. Both
lines now enter Leavenworth and it is
known that they have seen representa-
tives here within the last two months
to look the ground" over.
In the event either of the roads
completes arrangements to enter the
city it will be done through annexa-
ton of the Leavenworth & Topeka
which has just gone into the hands
of receiver, it is said. Agents of the
Great Western it is known made an
inspection tour of the L. & T. just
prior to its desertion by the Atchison.
Topeka & Santa Fe and the Union Pa
cific, who according to railway men
held the line for years to withhold
from other roads a means of reaching
Topeka
That the Atchison. Topeka & Santa
Fe and the Union Pacific are no
longer unwilling that an outside line
worth & Topeka is admitted by repre-
sentatives of the two lines. When a
receiver was asked for the L. & T.. at
torneys for the lines expressed them
selves as positive that the Leaven-
worth & Topeka could not be made to
support itself from the revenues earn
ed on its forty-seven miles of line be-
tween Leavenworth and Meriden.
Probably Must Be Sold.
Despite the expressed intention Of
William A. Austin, receiver for the
Leavenworth & Topeka, to make the
line paying proposition, railroad men
freely predict that eventually II must
ceiver. Judge Pollock instructed him
that funds to meet the expense of
operating the railway must be obtain
ed from the roads revenues Judge
Pollock further advised Mr.. Austin
that in the event this cannot be done,
he report to the court who will ask
the Union Pacific, on whose petition
the receiver was appointed, to amend
its original petition so as to ask for a
foreclosure and sale of the property
In the event the Leavenworth &
Topeka is purchased by one of the two
roads seeking to enter Topeka. Il
probably would have to build a line
from Meriden to its terminal here. L.
& T. trains now reach here from Meri-
den over the main line of the Atchi-
son, IOpekd y santa re. by an agree
ment between the two lines the con-
tract to operate L. & T. trains into Dp-
peka over the Santa F'e can be termi-
mated at any time on sixty days no.
tice.
Just what terminal facilities a new
road could obtain here railroad men
are unwilling to say. That, however,
it is admitted, will be one of the big
gest problems that will face a railroad
seeking to extend its line to Topeka.
The possibility of another roads
reaching Topeka has long been recog-
nized by lines now operating into the
city. and is said to be the principal
reason for the control of the L. & T.
by the Santa Fe and Union Pacific.
After sixteen years of guardianship.
however. at a loss of several hundred
thousand dollars. the two lines are
willing to quit