Wichita eagle., 1889-05-12
AGAIN THE TALK.
THE LITTLE RIVER QUESTION RE
VIEWED AS THE HOT WEATHER
APPROACHES.
The New Law Said to be the Key to the
Situation--A Pointer on Some Sly
Work---InterviewS on the
Situation.

curry or tall closes the discussion. An
ever present question-in hot weather.
and the last few days one could hear Little
river talk On a number of street corners
The directory shows that those seemingly
interested in the question live along the
liver and are Second warders, while the
north part of the Fourth comes in for &
word occasionally. AS is known to the aver
age Wichita reader it is much mooted
question even with the council Some
time ago Geo. Harris and c. F. Derby in
the council braced up against it. The
next tilt came about the time the sewer
system was adopted and in the renewal of
the question after the history of the agita-
ton is reviewed.
Mr.. Trix FoUts, a member of the boat
club, stated yesterday that the club having
commenced to agitate the question with
the city council they would in all proba-
blllty push their claims as hard as posi-
bic IN hope of reaching a favorable result
lie said the green coating this spring is
collecting more rapidly than ever, and
seems to be of more Objectionable kind
than on former years. 1t had been his OBJ
servation that it had been getting gradually
worse since about ISL and he thought the
time near at hand when it is imperatiyely
necessary that change should be made.
The boat club was most concerned in hav-
ing the river water pure and enough of it
for their use. The committee having the
interests of the club in hand would prob
ably call on the council at its next meet
ing and ask for hearing.
Captain George E. Harris, accosted on
a St1 I'M al hot - hol
of his favorite hobbies while in the coun-
Gil and there was scarcely any subject that
interests the people that he has given
more attention and is personally more in
terested in. He said it was his opinion
that the river, under the present condi-
lions, would be more Objectionable this
year than ever, as it has been getting
more obnoxious ever since the mill race
has been robbing the river of part of the
water. He had cut ice off the Little river
every year exceptingithe last two since
1872, and as every old timer would recall
in an early day Little river ice forced itself
to the top OF the market. The water then
was from eight to twelve feet Deep and is
now reduced to two and three feet. He
thought the present condition quite inju-
rious to the health of that part of the city
and that it ought to be set down as pub
lie nuisance. Since the dam had been con-
structed the earthly matter carried by the
Little river had been deposited on reach
ing the big river and raised the outlet
creating a lake He referred to the price
set on the dam by Colonel Lewis as being
out of reason and thinking $4,000
would be big sum for
the river but the benefit to
the city he estimated would be very
great.
Mr.. J. o. misunderstanding mist be
done to relieve US of present conditions.
L hope for a compromise without any
tronble.
Colonel B. H. Campbell-Don't consider
it a question for the people on the Little
river alone, but it certainly interests the
whole city In the condition it has been
in it is a breeder of fevers, and in my
opinion is growing worse year by year.
If permitted to continue in its present
may do great damage What
ever legal rights may have been receiQed
in former times, this should not stand in
the way of change as the welfare of the
city should be considered.
THE OTHER SIDE.
Colonel II. w. Lewis, one of the princi-
pal owners of the mill race and property
benefited by 1t, was approached on the
question and stated that he had been
called upon many times to defend himself
in the courts and had always succeeded.
When the council committee came to him
he had given them a statement showing
as mere business proposition the dam
!, l., La
ne would take. Since that time Engineer
Herring had been called upon for sewer
IDEAS and he seemed to think water from
he race and dam might be necessary to
bring success in the sewer system. |
In view of that fact and in |
order TO be sure and not stand in the |
way of the city's welfare he had stated |
hat he would take S35, 900 and if the city |
wants it TO finish the sewer it can be pur-
chased for that amount. He would even |
20 farther He would leave the matter to |
hree disinterested men and whatever they |
decided was right for him to dohe would |
abide by the result. This was |
he financial part of it. Also in the finan- |
,ial phase OF the question he stated that in |
lis Judgment it would be business |
N the part of the city to pay
i've per cent on S35, 900 for water to flush |
be sewer than to erect pumping station
which would call for mo 4ey TO put in the |
liant ard an expense to operate it much |
greater than would be incurred in the plan |
# flushing from the Little river. This, |
however, he meant as only natural con-
fusion as an inducement for the city to
ccept the offer.
Going through the financial part OF it
he Colonel stated that in his opinion if
he dam was removed it would not benefit
he Little river below TO a noticeable de-
,ree. If he should release his claim to the
lam in order for those who
bought they were being injured
o derive any benefit should there
he any, it would be necessary to flush the
liver with a large amount of water at
east once a week. This might relieve it
f the swamp-growth that is TO be seen
nd which is feared. The earth formation
t the mouth of Chisholm creek and the
little river he thought from similar
auses. In an early day heavy rains
yould result in flooding the Little river
nd remove whatever sandbar that had
formulated at the big river. This accu-
lulation was less rapid than now owing
0 the fact that lands in cultivation would
i've up more earthly matter TO the water
esulting from heavy rains and it also pre-
ented the high waters so in two ways the
esults are made very different, and to
make the Little river what is desired
would certainly be necessary to flush it
lie seemed TO think, however. that bust
ess is much preferable 10 boating and
shiug, and if it is not, those who dance
ught TO chip in for the music.