The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-20
Randolph Man Places Plans
Before Chamber of Commerce.
Would Run Line Thru Potta-
watomie and Riley Counties.
Topeka is URGED TO HELP
Road Would Tap Territory
Railroads Do Not Serve.
Figures Cited to Show Project
Would Be a Success.

Building a 10O-mile trolley line
from Topeka, thru Pottawatomie and
Riley counties to Randolph, was pro-
posed to the board of directors of the
Chamber of Commerce today by Eldon
c. Newly, a Randolph newspaper
man. Mr.. Newly urged the Chamber
of Commerce to make arrangements
for financing a $4,000 survey of the
proposed trolley territory by a we'll
known New~York engineer, whom he
declares has made surveys for the J.
Pierpont Morgan interests, the Car
negie interests and, who, when Pres
ident Wilson was governor of New
Jersey. was sent to Europe on a sur
vey for the New Jersey governor.
IF this engineer makes a favora BILE
report on the survey, I can assure
you" said Mr.. Newly, that brokers
will have no difficulty in disposing of
the bonds. 1t is questionable if the
engineer will recommend that we
merely extend the line to the Central
Branch territory. 1t may be that he
will urge the road be extended into
the Burlington territory in Washing
ton county"
Mr.. Newly told the directors that
the proposed trolley would go into
outside of Topeka and would touch
Randolph and other towns, where
shippers are crippled on account of
railroad facilities. He quoted E. P.
Ripley, president of the Santa Fe
railroad system, who stated that a
ritory in Kansas where it had a field
without competition three miles on
each side of it's tracks.
He Quotes Figures.
Such state of affairs would exist
in the territory. Mr.. Newly proposes
to build a trolley line in, and he furth-
err quoted figures of passenger and
similar to the proposed one, to prove
that the proposition will make money
If it materializes. He read agricultural
statistics to prove the productiveness
of the three counties and told of the
large number of banks in the territory
as proof of the prosperity of the peo-
pie who would be served by the troll
ley.
Mr.. Newly has been in correspon-
dence with a large and apparently re-
| liable brokerage firm in Chicago
| which guarantees the sale of bond:
should the survey of the New York en-
gineer be favorable to the building Of
a trolley. The proposition was re
ferred to Luther c. Bailey with in.
tors the result of an investigation Of
the proposition to be made.
Aid Farm Bureau.
l Topeka bankers will be given an op
portunity to subscribe $500 towards
establishment of a Shawnee. count!
farm bureau. w. E. Davis and c. B
Merriam were appointed ~-.1mitte'
of two to present the proposition t.
members of the Topeka clearing
| house at their next meeting.
H. H. Wallace appeared before tn
board of directors and asked thu
Chamber of Commerce to get behint
a subscription campaign to raise tn
$500. The remainder of the none.
will be subscribed from money do
mated, under the law. by the boart
of county commissioners and the Stat
Agricultural college at Manhattan
The $500 is needed only the first yea
for purposes of establishing the blu
reau. Mr.. Wallace reported that
sufficient number of members, ESQ
had subscribed. They must pay 81
year membership and this will b
added to the yearly subscriptions o
the county commissioners and agri
\ cultural college in maintaining tt
bureau.
I'm other counties the money wa
raised by the banks" said Mr.. Wal
lace. THAT is merely suggestion"