The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-17
Santa Fe and L. p. Turn Over
All Their Interests.
Chicago Capitalist at Head of
Purchasers.
WILL IMPROVE THE SERVICE
New Cars Will Be Run by GasO-
line Power.
One Train Day Considered
Inadequate Schedule.

All equities of the Leavenworth &
Topeka railway passed from the hands
of the Santa Fe and Union Pacific
railroad companies today to the new
ownership, headed by F. L. Wells,
Chicago capitalist. The transfer was
formally made in the office of E. L.
Copeland, treasurer for the Santa Fe
and former secretary and treasurer
for the Leavenworth and Topeka af-
ter the new ownership elected new
officers, directors and an executive
committee.
F. L. Wells, Chicago; Leslie Lati-
mer, Chicago; Harry H. Talcott, Chi
cago; ]. p. Latimer, Cimarron, Kan;
w. A. Austin. receiver for the road
Leavenworth. and A. B. Wells, Chi
cago, were named directors to sue
ceed H. D. Copeland. Junction City;
F. c. Fox, Topeka; w. r. Smith, To-
peka; A. D. Gray. Topeka; c. T. Nc
Clelland, Emporia. and H. P. Dillon.
Topeka. who today rendered their
designations because of the transfer.
w. A. L. Thompson, Topeka, will re-
main temporarily as a director. He
is the only officer under the old own
ership still occupying place after to-
days election.
The board of directors, immediate
Il
L. Wells president to succeed c. T.
McClelland who, in addition to being
division superintendent for the Santa
E'e at EmpOria, was president under
the old ownership Albert j. 1sher-
wood, Leavenworth, was elected sec
retary and treasurer to succeed r. L.
Copeland. The place of E. H. Bun
nell, auditor under the Santa Fe and
Union Pacific ownership, was not
filled by the new director.
Announce New Plans.
f L. Wells was elected chairman
of, the executive committee with Aus
tin and Talcott the other two mem
bers.
The executive committee will at
once, it was announced, begin work
ing out a plan for permanent opera
ton of the road. Directors and Off
GERS stated today that the line would
be operated as a steam and gasoline
line. The project of making several
changes in the operation has been de-
cided upon. The matter of placing
gasoline rail cars, similar to the ones
operated by the Chicago Great West
ern over a small line out of Chicago,
is being investigated. These cars have
a capacity of from forty to sixty per
sons and are cheaper than the ordi-
nary motor or trolley car. They
greatly resemble a huge motor bus on
car wheels and are operated on the
same principle as gasoline motor
bus.
Give Good Service.
1--WE are going to try to give the
public the best service we can under
the conditions that exist" w. A. Aus
tin, director said today. Actual
chang which will result in better
service to the public and the financial
advantage of the road will be prob
ably announced in about thirty days
We cannot say now what the changes
will be. It is a matter that has all
got to be worked out and tw1 or three
| things are under consideration, in
Guiding the gasoline motor PROPOSE
| ton"
| It is understood that the new own
| ership of the road considers the pres
| ent operation of one train a day over
| the road inadequate and will enlarge
| enough for freight maybe but not
enough for passengers a director
/ said.
! Until Judge John c. Pollock of the
i federal court lifts the receivership and
| approves the new ownership, which
! will be in the next thirty days, Austin
as receiver, will continue to operate
/ the road under the present policy I'M
mediately after the receivership is dis
missed work of reorganizing its opera
i ton will become active and in a short
| time after that the new ownership ex-
| poets to have II in working order