The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-07
Santa Fe in Topeka Preparing
for Return of Property.
Titles, Positions and Good Will
to Public Coming Back.
RESTORE TRAFFIC COMPETITION
Passenger and Freight Offices
Will Be Reopened Along Line.
The "Earth," Industrial Publi-
cation, To Be Edited Here.

Plans for unscrambling government
control, in anticipation of return of
the lines March 1. were practically
completed in Santa Fe departments in
Topeka today.
Reorganization will be in view of
reinstalling departments and sub-de-
partments removed when the govern
ment abolished competition CONNER
cial solicitors, publicity. advertising
colonization and industrial depart
ments are among those to be revived,
it was declared.
Passenger and freight business
getting organizations will be revived
on about the same plan as before gov
ernmeTt control. it was understood to-
day. Practically all the officials and
men who were scattered to other de-
partments when the "tear-up" came,
are slated to the old Jobs
The advertising department which
has never been completely abolished.
will be enlarged, it is said, and con-
tinued in connection with the passen-
ger department, insofar as the Topeka
offices are concerned. A shake-up in
passenger personnel is expected-that
| is, along the line of returning to
competitive basis, with the revival of
the old scheme of solicitors, agents
! etc.
| Earth Is Coming Back.
! 1.-The Earth" the roads industrial
and commercial magazine. will also
probably be re-established along with
a revival of the publicity, industrial
and agricultural promotion depart
| ments. Frank farrell was formerly
editor of the Earth and head of the
publicity department.
While the reorganization on return
to private control will be, for the most
part, a reversal of the government re-
organization, many new problems
created in the last two or three years
will be up for solution. Among these
with the Santa Fe is the union or
ganizations in the ranks of employees
land advanced wages which the unions
will undoubtedly demand in trans
ferring their dealings from the rail
directors office to the officials of
the roads.
| Take Back All Titles.
Operating departments are expected
to retain the most of their .peFsonnel.
Federal Manager Wells is slated to
become vice president in charge of
loperation, of course, and w. B. Storey.
jr., president of the corporation, will
guide the road back to a private basis
las president. in place of the late Z.
P. Ripley. E. L. Copeland, now fed
lera1 treasurer. will probably go back
to his old title of treasurer and ex-
ecutive officer.
General superintendents were made
assistant general managers under gov
lernment control. They will return to
their old status, it is understood.
1t is understood that the matter of
improvements will not be taken up
by the Santa Fe until the road has
been put back on a private control
basis. Under government control the
road has been put in the best possible
state of maintenance and repairs" "
The matter of a new general office
building in Topeka, abandoned under
federal guidance. will probably be
taken up again in the next year or
Swo.
Best of all, however IS the promise
that the half-hearted policy of "the
public must take what it gets will go
and in its place will come a policy
of catering to the public needs and
desires short, better service Gre
lated only by competition