The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-11
MAY Get C. B. & 0.
Topeka Has Chance To Be on
Big TranscOntiRental Line.
Plan That Road VIII Come In
Over Old L. & T.. Branch.
FL. WELLS TALKS TO C. or C.
New President of Road Outlines
Opportunity to City.
Thru Trains to Chicago Would
Be Result of Plan.
F. [. WELLS TALKS TO C. OF C

connected with another tranScOntin-
entail railway system, by way of the
Leavenworth & Topeka line, looked
good after an address made today be-
fore the Chamber of Commerce by F.
L. Wells, president of the latter line,
and James w. Orr. Atchison, attorney
for the interests owning it.
Orr, in his talk, volunteered the
definite information that if Topeka
would get behind the deal and give the
Leavenworth & Topeka line reason
able patronage, attempts to induce the
Chicago Burlington & Quincy to
lease it might prove successful. He de-
cIared that the combination would
give Topeka thru trains to Chicago IN
less time than offered now by any
schedules. In an interview foIloWlns
his address he stated to a State jour
nal reporter that the terminals OF the
road in Leavenworth pay return OF
several thousand dollars year, sum
that would bring big interest on the
rental or purchase of the road.
The Burlington uses the same ter
minaIs as the Leavenworth & Topeka
in Ieavenworth. The big point, ne
asserted, is for Topeka to get behind
the road and insure it's success.
Mr.. Wells Explains.
In speaking before the chamber, f.
L Wells. president of the LeavenWorth
& Topeka. Chicago, outlined the sit
uation as follows:
There are no mysteries or senSa-
tional details or schemes or plans as
far as 1 know, connected in any way
with the Leavenworth & Topeka rail-
way matters. l am very sure that II
the destinies of the Santa Fe or Union
Pacific had been yours to control you
would have done exactly what has
been done. If you were the whole
owner of a line between two cities do
you imagine you would send much
Business over a line in which you were
only a half owner?
There has never been a time as
I see it when in view of all the facts
as they exist it was to the interest OF
the owners of the L. & 7. to give it
much attention and it was of some
value to keep it from becoming COM
petitor. There has never been a time
up to the present, when title to that
property could have been given to any
one especially to a railroad interest
that might become competitive.
TT perhaps may be interesting to
you to know that after my offer for
the property was wholly accepted and
the transaction closed verbally for
period of practically three months IL
seemed that it would be almost i'm
possible to get title. Necessary docu-
ments. releases from mortgages, abro-
cation of financial contracts red tape
of all kinds in Philadelphia, New
York, Chicago, Topeka and Omaha,
brought about unheard of complica-
tions, but today, as a matter of fact,
these complications and delays are
ancient history. The road now is a
separate property. and stands abso-
Iutely Independent and alone in every
way.
when large corporations tell you
they will carry out an agreement
seemingly perfectly understood, it is
never safe to proceed on the assump-
ton that the trade has been COM
pleted until all the little details have
been finally settled, hence there has
been delay in getting started to solve
the problems connected with the road.
I'VE are not expected, perhaps, to
consider the problem as a philan-
thropic one; we believe the road can
be so operated to pay and we are
making every effort to that end. If,
however, it should have to be nursed
can see no reason why 1 should not
properly approach gentlemen like
yourselves with the suggestion that
this property be operated with serv-
ice really worth something to the por-
ton of the state it covers and that
the risk of operation be partly as
sumed by the territory benefited.
The owners of the road, if their
valuation is a reasonable one and
less than the value of the material
itself, should receive a small profit
if they are expected to operate the
road.
Just as capital and labor must
work together so these small railroads
and the communities served must have
| common interests or the small roads
will go under
New Express Company.
Several of the most prominent of
ficers of your state have suggested
that one of the largest railway sys-
TENS east of the Missouri river could
use the L. &. T. to great advantage.
1t would also bring an important new
| express company into Topeka
1T seems to me strange that such a
city as Topeka should not have a
! thru night sleeper from Chicago.
Passengers, mail and express leaving
| Chicago at p. m. do not reach this
| city until 11:10 a. m. the next morn
ing. The L. & T. could connect thru
and make better time than that.
My thought is this. Those of Won
who are here could arrange tonnage
| enough to make the road a success
! IF your association cared to give
! the matter any study and attention
and would appoint a committee of
three. say a banker, a merchant and
a manufacturer, I would like to con-
suit with them, and jointly consider
all the possible angles affecting our
road and the communities served"
Depends on Topeka.
The success of the Leavenworth &
| Topeka Railway company is largely in
| the hands of Topeka business men, &C
cording to w. A. Austin, former receiv-
er of the line.
The road is ready to do business
now. he declared, and is only awaiting
| the cooperation of the two terminal
| cities. If Topeka business men will
prorate their freight and express bust
| by the L. & T road, the company
would be on it financial feet. he stated
Provided that cooperation of the
business men of the city is secured by
the company, solicitors will be placed
| here this winter and an active part in
railroad affairs will be taken by the
new and independent road
A committee of the Chamber OF
Commerce will be appointed this af-
| ternoon to consult with the three rail