The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-03-20
Railway Head Tells of Work
to Start This Spring.
Topeka Getting Better Service
Than Most Cities.

that 1t is not and that aside from re-
pairing the crossings at Eighth and
Sixth avenues on Kansas avenue only
a few minor repairs have been made
II the street car company does not
intend to make the promised improve
ments, the logical thing to do would
be to reduce the fare to cents" Cor
wine said.
| The railway company has made
improvements on Kansas avenue al
Sixth and Eighth avenues" he said
| and taken care of flat wheels and
made slight improvements in service
Outside of this, it has not fulfilled its
promises.
| Promised improvements.
Improvements promised when the
Scent fare was granted include:
Improved crossings, especially at Eighth
| street and Ninth street on Kansas avenue
also at Intersection of Seventh and Jackson
| streets.
Keep tracks In repair. particularly West
Fourth street; also Clay street between
Tenth and Twelfth streets; also Oakland
! line.
More cars at regular schedule. Extra
service at busy periods Of the day and or
Remove all cars with fiat wheels. Exam
inc all cars for same.
Tenders to be kept in a respectable con.
Not less than fifteen minute service or
Wire screens on left hand side of cars.
Cars kept in a clean and sanitary con
dition.
I'm my opinion, If Manager Albert
Patten cannot make the repairs" said
THE mayor, "he- should say so.'
"Serricc Good''-Patten.
I Patten today went into a detailed
PYn1a n . finr nf hn
improvements ordered by the public
utilities commission when the scent
fare was granted last June have not
been completed. Early winter. in
ability to obtain materials owing tc
embargoes by the United States Rail
road administration and various othel
reasons were advanced by Patten tc
explain the inaction. He declared thai
service in Topeka is as good or better
than in other cities the same size.
Earnings Low.
| He pointed out that the company
has spent $4,000 for the purchase OF
eight new safety cars and safety equip.
lment and appliances to placed or
the old cars now in operation. The
gross increase in the earnings of the
Topeka company for the month o.
February was only 4 per cent more
than the same month year ago, ht
said. Records showed a decrease Of
10 per cent III TiueS. L ne increases II
gross earnings in other cities where
the Illinois Traction company operate:
ranged from 10 to SO per cent. The
increase here. he said, should have
ibeen about As per cent, in view OF th'
advanced fare.
Patten declared the public utilitie
commission at the time the increased
1.-THE company to accumulate enough
earnings under the 6-cent fare to pa,
for the repair work promised.
Work This Summer.
The general manager gave assur
ance, however, that the repairs will b.
made this summer. The paving worl
begun last summer will soon be re
sumed on Lake and Branner streets
on the Oakland line, he said, and tn
lrepairs at the corner of Seventh an,
Jackson streets will then be made.
Use Wire Screens
Patten said considerable repairs ha'
been made on the West Sixth an
West Eighth street lines. The wir
screens, he said, will be put on tn
cars as soon as the weather is warn
enough to have the windows open. H
declared tenders are kept in goo
shape and that two men are employee
who do nothing but repair and replac
Tenders.
Safety zone lines were repainte
several times last fall, he said. but 4
many cases were completely obliter
ated by automobiles running acros
them before the paint had time to dry
; He intimated that steps may be take
to build raised loading platforms il
the event those now being tried ou
: in Kansas City and other cities prov
! successful.
Buy New Equipment.
1.-THE layout of $4,000 for safet
: appliances and new cars" said Patter
: lis purely voluntary and was never or
dered by the utilities commission.
: think this fact and the repairs whic
we are now undertaking should b
: ample evidence of our good faith an
efforts to give our patrons value re
ceived.''
Pattcn's Answer.
Manager Patten in explaining tn
!, Y street railway situation said:
! The company has no intention Of evad
Ing any requirement made by the commits
sion that it is able to comply with III
commission found and stated in its opir
ion in this case that the company, at II
date of the 6-cent fare order, July i, 191
I was without funds with which to mai
proper and necessary repairs and replact
nents and ii was evidently the intent
E the commission TO allow the compan
money under the 6-cent fare with which
make improvements in Its property an
service.
5 As regards the specific contentious az
, vnnced by the city and approved by Il
/. commission. IL can be stated that the streT
street on Kansas avenue have been pl
] in first class condition. At Seventh an