Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-06
THAT DAM NUISANCE AGAIN
To the Editor Of the Eagle:

10 the Eultor OF the Eagle:
1t is with reluctance that We offer this
communication in correction of the general
public opinion, that suit is pending to re-
move the dam from the Little Arkansas riv-
er; such was the case, but this second suit
being confronted by the change of venue to
the court of a rival county in a competing
rival city, where in the light Of common
reason we could not expect an unpreiu-
diced consideration of this vitality impor-
tant question. In vain, we should exhibit
the erection Of this dam without compe-
tent charter privilege; that the commits
sioners of assessment awarded privilege to
erect dam only two and half feet high
that it is erected about eight feet high; that
the entire flow of beautiful river is totally
perverted from its natural channel for a
mean-doing flow of some ten miles; that
many valuable mill sites were thereby de-
stroyed; that no compensation was ever
made to the parties thus damaged; that the
city of Wichita is hereby defrauded out OF
valuable advantages these power sites would
offer TO our much needed manufactures; tina:
the river is no longer a flowing stream be-
low the dam; that the bed of the river for
the most part is now putrid sinking pond
being filed up by the washing Of every rain
the offall of all animal and vegetable de-
composition along its banks, which sinking
to the bottom of this sluggish pond, cover.
what was once the sparkling, beautiful sand
Of the rivers bed, with this rotten silt forr
ing a nutritious foundation, on which grows
an equatic brass moss and flag which wh,r
disturbed at the bottom of the pond emit
AN odor so offensive that the leas
sensitive nostril or stomach revolts a
its initiation; that from this foul malarioui
decoction alone the supply of water for thu
city is available In vain. we say, these fact
would be pressed upon the jury of riva
county and city as they have been pressct
upon the representative council of this cit,
for years without actuating an effort at re
dress of this fragrant imposition upon boil
public and private rights. Hence, and 70
all these reasons, all legal proceedings look
ing to the abatement of this foul nuisanc
are withdrawn, of which the public are here
in duly advised, so that if they desire al
abatement of this menace to their health AM
comfort it is with them to find the remedy
1t would seem pertinent, however, in con
junction with this explanation to call the at
tention of the people to the prevailing SAM
tary condition of both Europe and Americ
at this time. Asiatic cholera is rampant o.
the continent of Europe, yellow fever
menacing our cities or the Gulf of Mexico
the record of our last years fatality speak
tor itself, Wills. the ink of the reports of tn
pestilential seourge of Kentucky and Vii
ginia is scarcely yet dry. OF that let us re
fer to few paragraphs published from th
reports of the medical Investigators and r.
porters of the cause of that epidemic.
The Louisville Journal of November p
1884. says: This season lin the pest riddle
region) has been very dry, and the stream
are diminished to narrow threads of mudd,
foul smelling and foul tasting water, with a
occasional pot of the poisonous stuff. =
1t is neither pleasant nor Of moment to reft
: to our two thousand deaths in less than thi
y, dsrs In vho1e neiphhorhoot