The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-11
CIVIC PRIDE.
1t is Growing Rapidly Among
Topeka Citizens.
E. W.GileS, One ofthe Patriarchs
Of Topeka
WANTS TO GIVE $4,000
To Beautify the Approaches to
the New Bridge.
A Spirit That More Topekans
Might Emulate.

F. W. Giles, one of the founders of
Topeka, says that he will give So, 900 to
improve and beautify the approaches to
the new bridge to be built across the
river on Kansas avenue
When G. G. Gage erected a soldiers
monument in Topeka cemetery, it awak-
ened spirit in the we'll to do citizens of
the city to do something that will per-
petuate their names and prove of lasting
benefit to the city. Mr.. Giles is one of
these and he says that he will be ready
to give So, 900 when the bridge is built
with the understanding that it is to be
spent in beautifying the approaches to
the structure.
When Mr. Giles was asked today about
the truth of the rumor concerning his
intentions.
"What you heard was true, but 1 do
not care to be known in the matter per-
sonally, now," said he with a show of
modesty. "Pll tell you how it was. On
election day l was talking to Judge
Mcfarland about the proposed bridge
and he said that he would vote for it
with the understanding that it was to be
plain. [ said that l intended to vote for
the bridge and l did not want to see it
plain, either. That started me to think
ing, and l decided to do what l could
to help the matter, and l told Colonel
Tweeddale so afterward and offered him
the deed to some lots to be used to make
the approaches to the bridge beautiful.
This is 4 great opportunity to do some
thing of this kind, aud it should not be
neglected. In my opinion we should
not neglect the approaches to the bridge,
for they are just the places for ornamen-
tation, and it would prove of lasting
benefit to the city.
81 have thought for some time that
$4,000 or $4,000 spent in that manner
would be we'll spent and that is what
prompted me to make the offer to Col.
Tweeddale.
ST have no idea what should be done
for I know nothing about architecture,
but want to see that part of the bridge
beautiful and attractive, This bridge
will probably stand forever and it would
be a great mistake to make it plain as
Judge Mcfarland suggested"
Mrs. Giles laughs somewhat at her
husbands plan. She says that he over
estimates his ability to give considering
the hard times, and this is only the re :
suit of a within. Mr.. Giles is very feeble
as the result of a paralytic stroke but he
is anxious to do something for Topeka.
which he regards as his child, that will
be monument to him.
While hr- Giles plan may not be re-
allied it is nevertheless truo that the
bridge to be built does offer an excellent
opportunity for ornamentation and
where they have been built in other
cities more attention has been given to
that object than will probably be taken
with the Topeka bridge, fer the reason
that there will not be enough money to
do anything of the kind.
Mr.. Giles, who assisted in the found =
ing of the city remembers when a pom
toon bridge was used to cross the river
and he takes no small amount of pride in
the proposed new structure.
If he should find it in his power to give
the city something to remember him by
Topeka would take pride in dedicating g
to him memorial arch or statue at the
! entrance to the bridge.