The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-05
OWNERS HERE NEXT WEEK
C. & G. W., Burlington and Mo.
Pac. Probable Purchasers.
Much Money Needed To I'M
prove "Orphan" Road.


hected within the next few months
with another transcontinental railroad
system by way of the Leavenworth
& Topeka line was voiced in railway
circles here today following the pur
chase of the latter property from the
Santa Fe and Union Pacific by F. L.
Wells. Chicago, representing eastern
capitalists"
Wells, something of a capitalist him
self insofar as he has numerous real
estate and manufacturing interests in
chicago which are said to afford him
an income of probably 100000 year,
was in Topeka today with w. A. Aus
tin, receiver for the LeaVenworth and
Topeka railroad The two called at
the public utilities office at the state
house and on various railroad officials
and left late this afternoon for Chi
cago.
Neither Wells or Austin would offer
any definite information as to what
the purchasers would do with the
property eventually. Both declared
that for the time being after the new
owners are allowed by the court to
take control the road will be operated
Independently from any Other line and
they said it would be run as steam
road. Wells declared things are too
Indefinite to make any forecasts.
To Meet in Topeka.
Officers of the road under its own
ership by the Union Pacific and Santa
he have their designations ready to
turn in. Next week a meeting of the
new owners will be held in Topeka
and new officers win be elected. At
that time it is also expected that
something definite as to the future
operation of the road may be an
nounced
The present officers who have their
designations ready because of the
transfer are &. T. Mcclellan, division
superintendent of the Santa Fe at
Emporia, president; E. L. Copeland,
treasurer for the Santa Fe, secretary
and treasurer. and E. H. Bunnell.
auditor of disbursements for the
Santa Fe, auditor.
Indications as pointed out today
were to the effect that Wells will be
named president under the new own
ership. Austin, the present receiver,
will probably be a director. Accord
ing to announcement made by Aus
tin today. the road will continue to
be operated under the receivership
for at least another month because of
the red tape necessary to unwind.
Judge John c. Pollock, of the federal
district court which controls the road,
will not return from his vacation be-
fore October |, and an order by him
is necessary to lift the receivership.
NJ Railway Men Puzzled.
Speculation in railway circles re-
fused to credit any possibility that the
Leavenworth & Topeka line would be
operated permanently by it's new own
ers as an independent steam line.
such a policy, it is contended by
men who know every spike in the
road, would not make the line a pay
ing proposition. The logical way for
the line to be made pay, it is pointed
out. will be to operate it in connection
with another line, either electrical or
steam, or to lengthen it, the latter
being held as improbable because of
the stiff competition of larger lines.
If the dope" of railroad men. who
know the line from its eastern to
western terminals are worth anything
the Leavenworth & Topeka railway is
bound for one of the following desti-
nations:
Orphan Roads Future.
% Operation as an electric line in
connection with the Kansas City
Leavenworth interurpan.
CD Operation feeder or con-
nection line by the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy, the Maple Leaf or the
Missouri Pacific.
The Maple Leaf, Chicago & North
western. as it is known, has been
flirting with the purchase of the Leav-
enworth q Topeka line for several
years. At numerous times recently
the road has tested out routing ship
ments from Chicago to Topeka by
way Of Leavenworth and the IL &
T." It went so far to send F. H
Dyer, its general agent at Leaven-
worth, to Topeka to solicit shipments
over that route. The routing was said
to have been found satisfactory to the
shippers.
The Chicago Burlington & Quincy
II is pointed out, could purchase the
road, and after building a hundred
miles or so of new line, make it pay
better than any other transcontinenta1
line. The Burlington, WI oh, by the
way, is in an excellent financial condi-
ton, runs into Leavenworth after
crossing the Missouri river from its
main line. Purchase of the Il. & IT,
would. of course, run a branch
straight from the main Ele into To
peka. Continuation of the Topeka
branch to the Concordia-Ooe branch
cutting into the branch at Concor.
ola or Washington, Kan. would give
the Burlington dominance of one o.
the richest territories in Kansas.
Tap New Territory.
The continuation, if built a little