davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

renewed main pole-lines On the Union
Pacific. fifty-three poles to the mile
is the standard, ana this figure WI
eventually obtain on ali divisions OK
the system.
Often in winter the snow and, Tnois-
ture that hangs on a telegraph wire
freezes into a hard. cylindrical sheath.
sometimes as much as eight inches IN
diameter. The enormous increase IN
the weight of the wire entails heavy
strain on the poles and cross arms,
and 1t often becomes necessary to
climb the pole and cut away the coat
ing of ice and snow by hand
From Grand Island to kearney,
Neb.. the Union Pacific made replace
ments following a severe blizzard and
windstorm in 1920. In the new con-
struction. not only were fffty-three
poles used to the mile. made of tough
washington cedar. but the sixth pole
was strengthened with side-guys. to
prevent oscillation at right angles TO
the line. An H fixture was also pro-
vided at every half mile, to give dou-
BILE strength at these points, each fix
ture being braced with line-guys rum
ming in the same direction as the wires.
to afford additional security.
The improved stability of this por-
ton of the line met very eXaeting
test in March, this year, when a storm
of unusual severity caused widespread
destruction in both Nebraska and kan
sas. Along the reconstructed tele-
graph line hardly anything was OBJ
served to indicate that there had been
a storm at all.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
COPELAND GETS MORE MAIL.

The Santa Fe Hospital association
election is causing a big increase in
the amount of mail which L. l. Cope
land. secretary of the association. is
receiving. Ballots were attached to
pay checks and mailed out to approx
mately $4,000 employees April Is.
Every employee of the system received
a ballot with the exception of those
on the Gulf and Coast lines which
have a separate hospital association.
Now the ballots are coming back to
Mr.. Copeland at the rate of several
hundred a day. They will average
about two mail sacks a day and one
day four sacks of ballots were re-
ceived. The ballots, as fast as they
arrive, are turned over to A. D. Gray,
assistant treasurer, who Is keeping
them in a vault until they are counted.
According to Mr. Copeland no date
for counting the ballots has been set
but he expects all of them to reach his
office by May I s. The counting will
be done by a committee appointed for
that purpose
The naming of two members of the
board of trustees of the hospital as
ISOLATION is involved in the election.
Heretofore, all members of the board
have been appointed by the president
OF the railway company.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
ROADS TAKING CATTLE NORTH
Movement From South to Better
Grazing Land Already Is On

The Santa. Fe has, during the past
few DAYS, taken trainloads of cattle
from various parts of New Mexico,
Texas, Oklahoma and southwest Kan
sas to Kansas City.
This. it is said, is the beginning of
the movement of southern cattle into
the northern pastures for the summer.
Between now and the latter part of
MAY. the Santa E'e expects to handle
6, 900 carloads of cattle into Kansas
and other northern states. and $500
carloads into the northwest.
The latter distribution VIII be made
thru Amarillo. Tex, and Denver con-
nections, it is said. while the other
will find It's scattering point at Kan
sas City.
The other roads that will figure in
the general movement are the Rock
Island and Missouri, Kansas & Texas,
and on the basis of their estimates
10000 to $4,000 carloads of cattle
will make up the combined move
ment over all roads to the summer
grazing lands
The number taken into the north
west will be larger than last year.
and the number into Kansas probably
1000 less than last year, according
to reports
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
MENNONITES USE ROCK ISLAND
Total of More Than 10000 viii
Migrate to Mexico This Year.

Total OF More Than 1000 Will
Migrate to Mexico This Year.
The greatest migration. probably
since the days of Israel, is now going
on via the Rock Island Lines in the
movement of the Mennonites from
their settlements in Canada to their
new location in Mexico. More than
10000 of these people will move over
Topeka to the Ell Paso gateway this
year. A total of more than $4,000
Mennonites will migrate.
The Mennonites are leaving Canada
owing to differences which have
arisen between their leaders and the
Canadian government. They have
elected Mexico as their future coloni-
cation place, after canvassing various
sections of the United States for a
suitable location. They are primarily
farming people. In their migration
they are taking with them their
household goods, their livestock and
all personal belongings.
The MennonlteS are religious sect,
founded in the sixteenth century in
Holland by Simons MEME. Later
these people established their settle
ments in Germany and Russia and
thru the centuries have maintained
their original mannerisms.
The Mennonites from Canada, being
of German extra ction, still speak their
mother tongue, and do not send their
children to English speaking schools.
4h6Y are IilElIl3r u6SllS u De dl4OWCu
to worship in their own way. claim ex-
emption from military service. but
further welfare work in times of
stress.
The first of the Mennonite trains.
operated over the Rock Island via the
Ell Paso gateway, have created con-
siderable curiosity. They originated
at Plum Coulee and Haskell, Mani
toba. The makeup of one of these
trains consisted of twenty-five freight
cars and three tourist sleepers.
The Mennonites have purchased
about $4,000 acres of land in ChihQa-
hua, Mexico, and with them on the
trains go all their livestock. They
milk their COWS and take care of their
chickens as if they were still on the
farm. Religious services are conduct
ed daily on the trains and their repu-
tation for cleanliness is rypified in the
cleaning of their cars twice daily en-
route. A range is located in each car
where meals are cooked.
The Mennonites are travelling Sin
bond" across the United States and
cannot aIight on American soil Spe-
ciaI American governm ent guards
have been appointed to ride these
trains to see that the law is observed. |
The Mexican government is hauling
these settlers free of charge over the
Mexican National Railways thru Mex !
ico.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
RECLAMATION SYSTEM PAYS
Rock Island Turns Scrap Heap Ma
terinI Into Profit of $2,OOO,QOO.

teriaI Into Profit of $2,OOO.QOO.
That the railroads are practicing
economy in many ways, not generally
realized by the public. is shown in a
report just issued by the Rock Island
Lines, dealing with reclamation and
conservation of materials, generally
supposed to go the scrap heap as a
dead loss.
The report shows that the Rock
Island during the last year has re-
claimed material which represents q
saving of $425.000. This is the value
of railroad supplies saved from scrap
and worked over into disable material
at the Silvis (IlL) shops, under the
supervision of c. H Rost, general
storekeeper there. The report also
reveals that the Rock Island, in adj
dition to Teclaiming nearly a half
million dollars worth of material, sold
the unusabIe material for $1,427,SsT-
This material was gathered along
the 5000 miles of the railroad, by en-
ployes of the Rock Island, including
section forces, agents, trainmen, shops
men and others who have been en-
listed in the program of economy on
this road.
The success of the system of recla-
nation on the Rock Island has been
so marked that other railroads are
sending their representatives to the
Silvis reclamation plant with the view
of adopting a like system
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
THE RAILROADS ARE BUYING
More Than $4,000 New Cars Have
Already Been Purchased This Year.

The railroads of the United States
as a whole are preparing for the
country's expected prosperity and the
resulting increase in business. They
are ordering freight and passenger
dollars is being spent for additions,
improvements and betterment
Records compiled up to April is,
show that the railroads this year have
placed orders for 1921 freight cars.
S43 passenger cars and 176 locon1o-
tives. Since that time the New York
Central has ordered $4,000 new
freight cars, and other large orders
will be placed within a short time.
A feature of the 1922 freight car
business has been the size of the or
ders as evidenced by the New York
Centrals $1,000, the Buriington's
folk & Westerns 1000, the Union Pa
cifie's $500 and the Pacific Fruit Ex-
press company's 3,30e.
The Missouri Pacific has just pur-
chased 100 refrigerator cars and will
close bids April IS for 1000 automo-
bile cars. The Louisville & Nashville
has Just ordered 1000 hopper cars
and 1000 gondolas, and the Chicago
& Northwestern will soon place an or
der for 1880 freight cars. The roads
are also placing large orders for ma
teria1 of various kinds.
The Pennsylvania has announced
that it will spend $75,Oo0,oo0 for adj
ditions and betterments this year; the
Santa Fe s4S,000,00O; the Union Pa
cific s29.0oo. 600 and the Frisco S.
100000. The Pennsyivania spent for
the same purposes last year only
$1,066,049.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
EVER RIDE A POLLYWOG?
There Is One Operating Between Hol-
liday and Atchison, Kan.


A Leavenworth paper wants to
know who named the Santa FEES line
running from Holiday to Atchison the
"Pollywog," and now generally called
"Polly'' for short.
The paper states that F. l.. Vande-
grift has always contended that the
late Andy Brown, Atchison's veteran
flagman. gave the road its present
nickname because in it's beginning and
before the Santa Fe took it over, it
was always Laundering in the mud
like q. pollywog.
W. S. Sullivan. of Atchison, has
made the statement that w r. PEN
fold. now of Denver, first applied this
popular epithet to the road when he
was yardmaster for the Santa Fe in
Atchison. One day the train came
into the Atchison yards wiggle-wob-
bling like a pollywog, and Penfold
then and there dubbed it the Polly
wog."
In either case the name has stuck
and the old Polly as it is now
called, has wiggled along for many
years under its odious name and but
tied against the jeers and 1ests of the
public, the same as Henry Ford's tin
Lizzie
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

any one who is younger and as 1 am a
farmer wife have plenty to do for /
chickens and do my own homework.
You may publish this letter as am
ready to do anything to help other
women as have been so well and happy
since my troubles are past. Mrs. e T.
GALLOWAY, Carter's Greek, Tenn
Most women find plenty to do. ~
they are upset with some female ailment
and troubled with such symptoms as
Mrs. Galloway had, the smallest duty
seems a mountain.
If you find it hard TO keep up, If you
are nervous and irritable, without ambi-
ton and out of sorts GENERALLY, give the
Vegetable Compound a fair trial. We
believe it will help you greatly, for il
has helped others.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

Undoubtedly LGne~g2a is the oldest
telegrapher in the United States still
at work. ana probably the oldest in
the world. He was agent for the st.
Joseph & Grand Island railway, a
line operated by the Union Pacific, for
twenty-five years, and today sits in a
chair which was presented to him in
1888 after his retirement from that
company.
Lonergan was born in ireland. Feb
ruary IL. 1912. just 80 years after the
birth of Abraham Lincoln. In 1876
Morse discovered the telegraph and
twelve years later, 1858, found Loner-
gan, then lad of 16, engaged as mes
senger for a telegraph company in
Milwaukee. There he learned the
dots and dashes of the Morse code.
In 1862, Lonergan Joined a volun-
teer company to fight Indians in Min
nesota. While there he became at
tached to General Pope's headquarters
at Fort Smelling In 1853 he went
south and was assigned to the army
of the Cumberland. Later he Joined
the division of the army which went
to the relief of Grant at Kicksburg.
He had various assignments with
Sheridan, Resecrans, Crooks, Girard
Howard and Thomas.
1t was at the battle of Peach Tree
Greek, July %, 1864, that he met Gen
erai Grenville M. Dodge, who after
wards became one of the builders of
the Union Pacific. II saw the OPEN
ing of the gap in this battle" says
Lonergan. lin which General NcPher-
son rode and was killed"
In 1863, Lonergan received the press
report of the driving of the Golden
Spike at Promontory, Utah, which
connected the Union and Central Pa
elflc lines, forming the first thru rail-
way line across the continent.
During the war Lonergan sent many
messages and retains a copy of one
which was dictated by General Sher-
man March 1, 1865.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
Who Was Ieiured-the
Attorney or His Client?
F. Smith, Chief Clerk in Union Pacific Law Department
at Topeka, Relates Some Distressing But Interesting
Circumstances in Connection With Personal Injury
Cases.

freight train on which he was taking
a free ride. He had a leg broken,
which his attorneys thought was
worth the above amount. To show
the difference. I once saw a foreigner
fall off of a building and injure his
hay in a spring wagon and started
him home, and before leaving he
raised himself up and called to the
man nearest him:
''You tell the boss I want him to
allow me full time for today
The accident happened about p.
m, and he was earning about SITS
per day. That was his idea of at
least part compensation for his in
And so it goes. Former General At
torney Williams used to remark:
"a living scrub COW becomes a
blooded dead COW when crossed with
a cowea teher, which shows that every
farmer believes in the apotheosis of
his livestock
A Sad Circumstance.
During government control of rail-
roads the St. Joseph & Grand Island
was under the jurisdiction of this de-
partment and in going thru some of
the files one day I ran across a letter
from an attorney in Arkansas which
relates some sad and distressing cir
cumstances. Probably those who
have read the letter Sam Weller re-
ceived from his father on the death
of the 1atter's second wife may be
ney or his client received the injury.
Concealing his identity by calling hifa
John Jones, following is an exact
copy, punctuation and all:
JOHN JONES
Lawyer
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
-ontrdct NO. = -7=----------
January the Gath day 10 and 10


January the Gath day 10 and 10
To claim Department st. Joseph
st. Joseph, No.
Gentlemen Sirs:
s have a claim against your Co, in favor
of Lr. J. w. Brown, whom on the 9th Day
Over your line while in the yards at Mar
rysvilIe Kansas on the night of January
the 8, 1910, about s. O'Clock ?. NJ; the
Switchman Rushed some Coal Cars back,
against the Cab6se that Hewere Riding in.
and he was sitting Closed to Stove Thrown
was cleaning Lights Thrown Him Clear to
the Back end of the Cabose- This Con-
duetors Name the pest | ean make ont That mat
and me out of Marrysville was. Cattle. His
No. is III The Car. ] came in Billed from
31sT6 Station No. go. shipped from Billed
ordary Live Stock. This shock was Very
unoranary, it Knoeked out some Window
not Caused By The Train Crew inwiten
man man in 9Th the Yards there at Marrysviie
Kan This ingery has caused me mnteh
pain and Loss of Time and No Doubt will
hurt me the Balance of my life. it has
already Caused me to be cut Money for
s sel Bssaaes enst Thst ffie ~ ho my
thing in handIeing. my Horses, or any Of
the work. But to be Fair where have 1
Neither 7 Time Nor Money Wv viii II replace am
only Going to ASK your Company To pay
this is paid this Side of law Suit. We
offer this as A Compromise and If we
have to Bring suitwe will expect to Collect
for what we think that We ire really Dam
aged but it is always my experience that
to avoid A Law Suit IL always Worth the
most to all Parties Concerned Yet they ap-
pear to be A Nessary Eviel in Varies in
stances Thinking your inadTance for an
earle Adjustment of this Claim.
am yours very Trueley
John Jones
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
FEBRUARY A GOOD MONTH.
Railroads Had a Net Operating In,
come of 47,Se2, 500.

Reports filed with the Interstate
Commerce commission show that the
had a net operating income in Feb
ruary of $47,762, 600, which, on the
basis of their tentative valuation.
would be at the annual rate of return
of 4.57 per cent, compared with an
operating deficit during the same
month last year of S5,176,S6T.
This was short $14,SS4, 600 of the
amount necessary to have enabled the
carrier to earn 8 per cent return.
In January their net operating income
was $29.476, 900 or at the annual re-
turn of ass per cent of their tentative
valuation.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
STILL At THE KEY At 80 YEARS
John Lonergan of MarysviIIe, Kan
Has Had an Interesting Career.

Persons who would like TO talk with
one who heard Lincoln and Douglas
debate, who sent dispatches from civil
war battlefields and marched with
Sherman from Atlanta to the sea, who
with essed~the grand review atS2Vasf-
ington at the close of the war, and
who in his eightieth year, is still put
ting in a. full day at the telegraph
key. should go to Marysville, Kan,
and see John Lonergan, the represen-
tative of the Postal Telegraph com
pany at that place.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

company show that it will handle
from 500 to 1000 carloads OF straw
berries out of Louisiana every year.
Most of them are grown in the south
eastern section of that state, east of
the Mississippi river. Special express
trains to move the crop are routed
north over the Illinois Central as far
as St. Louis where the cars are scat
tered to all parts of the country.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
STRAWBERRIES BY TRAINLoAI
The Louisiana Crop Is Now Moving
North by Express.

Louisiana strawberries are now be-
ing handled by the American Express
company in train1oad shipments. One
train of thirty cars reached Kansas
City this week for distribution to
other points and two of the cars. con-
signed to the United Fruit Exchange.
were received here.
Reports Of the American Express
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

doctors certificate attached to letter.
Form of Statement Of Examination
1, J. r. Johnson Regular Practiceing
Phyiszision under the Laws of the State of
In the county of Sewer. Located
state that l have Sunday The 10th day Of
January 1919. Examined one J. W. Brown,
and Find that of his Ribs are Frac-
tured his anil Ribs are Fractured, and
to an extent to cause Him mulch Pain,
and also Renders him unfit to Work at his
usaI Avication.
]. R. johnson. NJ D.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
MAKE LINES STORM PROOF


Probably few railroads have so great
a mileage of telegraph wires so sub
stantially safeguarded against weather
conditions as the Union Pacific lines.
standard observed by many sys-
TENS prescribes thirty-six poles to the
mile, and there are some stretches
where the number is as low as twenty
eight, but over recently constructed or
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

nalt OF my time in
bed, being afflicted
with a trouble which
women of a certain
age are apt TO have.
y took Lydia Z.
Pinkham'sVe Vegetable
Compound Tablets
and used Lydia T.
Pinkham's Sanative
Wash. / am a we'll
woman now and have
been for &wo years.
4 can work aG we'll ~
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

The area to be planted to melons
this season along the Santa Fe from
Eagle Lake to BeIleville, Tex. will be
2,345, approximately so per cent in
crease over last season,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

Along with the 1925. 900 division Of
flee building at Newton, the Santa F'e
has finally authorized the construc-
Both were provided for in the annual
budget announced February 1.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

The Rock Island has just received
zoo composite wood and steel cars
from the General American Car COM
pany. These cars are forty-one feet
long inside. having a width inside and
height of side which enables each car
to hold $4,000 pounds of coal.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
Is YEARS AGO IN TOPEKA
From the columns Of
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL


The charity hospital maintained by ths
Salvation Army has begun the fifth month
of its work in Topeka, During the past
four months it has cheltered and cared
for 40 patients averaging 20 days each
making a total of 93J full days service TO
unfortunate humanity in this city. The
total cost of this care was about 10 cents
per day each. The service of both ply
stefan and attendants is free of charge.
the money required for the work esing
donated by benevolent citizens.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

The Frisco has awarded a contract
for the construction of new hospital
building to be erected at Springfield,
Mo. The building will cost approxi-
nately 100000.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

The Katy will reopen its freight car
repair shops at Sedalia. Mo, next
Monday on piece work basis. it has
at Parsons. Kan, and Denison, Tex,
will not go on piece work basis at
present, the announcement added.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

The number of cars loaded with
revenue freight during the week end
ed April l showed a drop of over
10, 600 as compared with the previous
week, but an increase of 1913, 600 over
the corresponding week of last year
The total was S27.011 as compared
with 663.171 in 1921, and S5s,s27 in
1920.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

Newcomb Carlton and Paul n.
Warburg have been elected directors
of the Union Pacific to succeed Otto
II. Kahn and Mortimer L. Schiff who
resigned recently in accordance with
the Interstate commerce commissions
ruling against interloeking director
ateS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

Miss Mabel Wilson entertained a few
friends at high five last evening eompIi-
mentary to Miss Bond Mr.. John Waters
received the first prize for the gentlemen
and Mrs. Furry and Miss Mabel Wilson
tied in the score Those present were
Judge and Mrs. J. :. Furry. Miss Frances
Moon. Miss Arlie Ewart, Miss Meta Robin
son, Mr.. Charles Webb, Mr.. Fred Gllistt,
Mr.. Park Ewart, Mr.. John Waters, Ar.
Edward Dennis.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walcott OF Hutchinson
have taken the George NJ. Eagles hOEses II
Quincy street. Mr. and Mrs. Eagle Ia
occupying Mrs. Margaret JOhnsOn's house.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
SPENT HALF Her
Time IN BED
Farmers Wife Tells How Lydia E.
Pinkham's Vegetable Compound
Made Her a Well Woman

Carter's Creek, Tenn. -" Three years
ago was almost an invalid. 1 spent
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

Fifty-seven employees were added 20
the Rock Island pension roll in 1921,
the annual report shows, the total
number on December 81 being SAT.
The pensions paid during the year
amounted to $155,41s.24, making a
total, since the department was ere
ated, of $1,104, 806.01.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22
Track work Was Reduced.

superintendent in the maintenance
OF way and structures department was
reduced from s1.S52, ST5.S6 10 S1.034.-
1884; roadway maintenance from
sS,S4S,o59.72 TO $2,450, 4ST.07: track
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-22

The Missouri & North Arkansas
railway has been granted fifty-year
charter by the state of Arkansas. The
new company was orgs nized to take
over the lines of the defunct Missouri
& North Arkansas railroad, operating
from Joplin to Helena, Ark, a dis
lance of 36S miles. 1t is stated that it
will again be in operation by May l.