The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-27
Independent Company May Pur-
chase Road OF Many Troubles.
Austin Has Interested Eastern
Capital in the Project.
BUILD A new TRACK BED
To Give Line Tracks of Its Own
Into Topeka.
Extension May Be Made to the
Road in Near Future.

The old Leavenworth & Topeka rail-
road may become a thing Of the past,
a new company may be formed to
purchase the roadbed and little equip
ment possessed by the road and to
operate &between Topeka and Leaven-
worth independently of the Union Pa
cific and Santa Fee systems, which vir-
tually own the road. Such was IN
announcement made today at the
Chamber of Commerce by w. c. Aus
tin, of Leavenworth, receiver for the
Dad, and by John M. Kinkle, a mem
Der of the public utilities commission.
Austin admitted that the scheme
may not materialize but it is known
that Judge Pollock has postponed the
roads hearing for a week a result
of the expressed belief of Austin that
ne has interested eastern capital suffl-
GENTLY in the plan to induce invest
ment. Austin has just returned from
Chicago. He ate luncheon at the
Chamber of Commerce this noon with
Fred Jackson, an attorney for the
utilities commission, and was in con-
ference with Jackson and other attor-
neys and members of the commission
this afternoon.
Austin refused to discuss any details
of the plan, excepting to announce that
a plan had been formulated for the
purchase of the road by capitalists hv-
ing in the east. John kinkle, how
ever, gave a few details of the plan. as
many as he knew, prior to the confer
ence with Austin this afternoon. Kin
k1e had not talked with Austin dur
ing the morning hours.
Free From Santa Fe.
Abe extent of Kinkle's knowledge
at noon concerning the deal was OBJ
tanned from a telegram received Satur-
day from Austin, who was then in
Chicago. Austin informed the commits
sion that he believed a deal would be
conSummated which would take in the
purchase of the road and also bring
bout the building of a new road bed
from Meriden Junction into Topeka.
That would free the orphan road"
from the grasp of the big Santa Fe,
which, for years has owned the stretch
of track from Meriden Junction to To-
peka over which the L. & T. trains
ran into Topeka. Whether, the east
ern capitalists plan any extension of
the road beyond Topeka or LeaVen-
worth its two terminals, whether they
will electrify it, whether they will
improve the roadbed and service. Aus
tin would not state and John kinkle
didn't know.
For years the Leavenworth & To-
peka has been losing proposition
| for some reason never satisfactorily
explained. Running thru three of the
most fertile agricultural counties in
Kansas. almost free from competition,
the road apparently hasn't been a
paying proposition.
| Finally, it landed in the hands of
| the receiver, w. C. Austin, appointed
/ bv Federal Judge Pollock on the rec
! ommendation of the public utilities
! commission. While the legislature
was in session, the only passenger
| train on the road was ordered sus-
pended because the road could not
/ III. 10 20
| it was alleged. The Santa F'e fur
nished the equipment A hearing was
set for this week before Judge Pol
| lock at which an effort was to be
made to either force the Santa F'e to
| put on the train or to sell the road.
| The hearing has been postponed.