The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-28
ON WITH
THE BRIDGE.
Let Us Have a New One Before
the Old One
Falls Into the River and Kills
Somebody.
HOW THE MATTER is.
Better to Keep the Money at
Home
For Our Own People as Well as
the Labor.
HOW THE MATTER is.

Mr.. H. c. Speer who purchased the
Shawnee county bridge bonds had a
conference with the board of county
commissioners today. The meeting was
behind closed doors and so it is not
known what was done. 1t is under
stood, however, that Mr.. Speer still in
sists that he will take the bonds and
will dispose of them as the money is
needed to keep pace with the progress
of the work. The commissioners, how
ever, do not show a disposition to wait
longer on Mr.. Speer.
It has been said the bonds could not
be sold because they were not made
payable in gold but Mr.. Speer says such
was not the case. II only heard from
one man." said Mr.. Speer, who made
any reference to the bonds being made
payable in gold and he inquired by tel
egram whether it could be arranged L
simply replied that it could not be ar
ranged and it would not be wise to
make them payable in gold if it could,
and 1 heard no more about it.
When the contract was made with
Mr.. Speer he was not required to put
up a forfeit and consequently the cOun-
ty is not protected. He says that Shaw
nee county is no worse off than many
other counties and municipalities and
that there has been almost a panic re-
Gently which has prevented the sale of
bonds of all kinds.
When the sale of the bonds was or
iginally made to Deitz, DennisOn &
Prior, provision was made for the post
ing of a thousand dollar forfeit with
the county treasurer A certified check
for that amount was put up, but when
it was sent to Cleveland, collection was
refused and the county gained nothing
by the Deitz, DennisOn & Prior dasco
except a reputation that the bridge
bonds were Illegal.
If the commissioners had acted with
decision at first and had not allowed
around the country they would have
been sold long ago and the bridge
would now be we'll under way.
There is some talk of selling the
bonds to the state school fund commits
siOners, but nothing can be done in
that direction until Attorney General
Dawes returns which will be this after
noon or tomorrow. There is plenty of
money in the state school fund waiting
investment and while the school fund
commissioners are not allowed to pay
more than par for the bonds the coun-
ty can pay part OF them WheneVe r there
are funds on hand and in this way
more could be saved than would be
gained by the premium offered. It
would also keep the money a home.
Contractor Keepers is still in Topeka
hoping that some disposition can be
made of the bonds. He will not leave
this week unless the case appears to
be hopeless He made a proposition to
the commissioners several months ago
to accept the bonds as pay for the work
but he has withdrawn his proposition
because he says he would be unable to
dispose of the bonds in the east owing
to the panicky condition of the money
market.
If the bonds are finally sold this week
Mr.. Keepers will commence the sur
veys at once preparatory to moving the
old bridge. His plan is to carry it down
the river far enough to be entirely out
of the way and this would probably
take it below the east line of Kansas
avenue.
The old bridge is to be set on pile
piers. The contractor figures that it
will carry the travel until the new
bridge is built which will hardly be be-
fore next spring with the most favor
able weather.
Mr.. Keepers hopes to do a great deal
of work on the new bridge this fall
when there is no danger of trouble from
high water. He says that the work can
be carried on throughout the winter
except in very severe weather and he
thinks that about month will be lost
in that way.