The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-30
WHO RULES?
Does the Majority of the Voters
in Shawnee County
Or a Minority, That is the
Question:
GREATEST IMPUDENCE
-..4~s4>sS e
Of Those Who We're Beaten at
the Election,
Now Trying to Defeat the Build
ing Of the Bridge,
HAVE A MOUTHPIECE
In the Capital" Now Owned by
a Millionaire,
WhoAlwaysO ysOpposedThisBridge
the People Ask For.
Tells the People They Don't
Know What They Want.
Now Trying to Defeat the Build
ing of the Bridge,
HAVE A MOUTHPIECE
In the Capital Now Owned by
a Millionaire,
WhoAlwaysO aysOppOsedThisBridge
the People Ask For.
Tells the People They Don't
Know What They Want.
What is the matter?

What is the matter?
Can it be possible that the commission
ers of Shawnee county are seriously con-
sidering an action which will absolutely
annul and set aside the wishes of the
people of this county expressed in the
most emphatic manner not longer than
three weeks ago!
1t is an astounding situation, and the
JOURNAL can not believe that the county
commissioners will make such stupend-
Gus bluuder as a minority sentiment Is
Just now urging them to commit
After thorough discussion and con-
sideration really covering years; after
defeat of other propositions time ana
again, the citizens Of this county, voters
to the number of 5000, voted on the
proposition to construct a bridge across
the K ansas river to cost, plans and all,
S135.O0O to 81 o 700. Thirty eight
hundred of these vUters, almost two to
one. said: "Build the bridge, here is the
money"
At the eleventh hour. as the commits
sioners are dutifully preparing to carry
out the desire of their constituents, over
whelmiugly expressed, the Topeka
~Capital," through its millionaire owner,
comes out and says the people have
VOtSu IOE ''l4UQ DE.Og5 aho tHC PcCR
did not know what they want. This Is
the objection made
The real objection is declared to be be-
cause the commissioners are compelled
to pay $3,375 more to people who know all
about the Melan bridge rather than about
$1,000 to an engineer, however compe-
tent. who is not familiar with the kind OF
bridge we have decided to build
That is the whole objection in nut
shell. even if the bridge is one of the
greatest improvement this town has ever
proposed and most sorely needs.
There are other bridges and cheaper
bridges. This has all been duly can
vassed We have voted on cheaper
bridges and voted the propositions down.
Partly because the cheaper bridges re-
ouire that most of the work be done
outside of this community and are not
sosubstantial nor desirable when erect
ed.
One of the great points which was con-
sidered in the proposition decided ons
was that the building of the Melan arch
bridge would give employment to great
many Shawnee county men, and would
consume large amount OF material sup
piled right here at home.
The whole question practically turns
on about $4,000. This may or may not
represent an excessive price, under all
the circumstances. but that ls not
the real point at issue. 1t will cost In
repairs for the old bridge long before
new proposition can be decided on
ereat deal more than $4,000. and it may
cost the loss of property of many thou
sands more and invaluable lives.
LAWYERS tell US that the proposition
can not be again submitted until after
the converting of the legislature, year
from now. and that may delay the build
ing of the bridge nearly two years.
The people of this community are sup
posed to know what they are about.
They have discussed this bridge propo-
sition for year after year and voted down
bridge propositions again and again, and
have just now finally, and for the trst
time, announced emphatically what they
want and voted the money to pay for 1t.
Now let the county commissioners go
ahead aud execute. They are the SER
wants of the people, let them do the bid
ding of their constituents.
Let US build this bridge and let it make
a showing next year when it is proposed
that the greatest awakening this COM
munity has ever witnessed shall be seen.
Let us be up and doing.
The editor and proprietor of this
paper, while not one of the wealthiest
citizens of the community, is one of the
heaviest tax payers, strange as it may
appear. All of his property is located
in this city and county. de
is Just preparing to put up a hand
some business block for the exclusive
use of the STATE JOURNAL, newspaper
which employs more labor than auy
newspaper in Kansas. This will largely
increase his taxes of course, but expense
and progress have a universal way OF
going hand in hand.