The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-30


| is necessary to health. Not only do the
physicians of the First ward, but of the
entire city, recognize this fact The
| city board of health has decided that it
| is necessary; the state board of health
made a personal visit, inspecting all
the territory of the First ward, scrutin-
izing closely its sanitary conditions,
and all of them were of the decided
of North Topeka should be provided
with some system of drainage. At this
meeting some opposed to the sewer
made statements that proper
make successful drainage. Such
statements made by men who are. not
civil engineers and could not, if pro-
vided with all the modern instruments
or run a level, should carry no weight
with them. This city is provided with
a civil engineer who is entirely compe-
tent, is a student in his profession, a
gentleman of unQuestioned integrity,
and any statement made by him can be
received in good faith and relied upon.
1t is useless for men who have no
knowledge of either civil engineering or
sewerage to discuss and argue such
questions. Tt should be in the first
place, as it will in the end, left to our
city engineer, who has full knowledge
of all such matters to- decide.
A man sick with disease would not go
to a merchant for advice, as to what
he should do to recover his health, but
cine and it's effect upon the human
body. A man needing legal advice
would hardly seek it from physician,
but rather from a lawyer, who has stud
led and knows the law. So with sew
erage we must get our advice from one
who has made such matters his profess
sion. The city has provided US with
such a person in Mr.. Barnes our pres
ent city engineer. Let US place our
faith in his knowledge.
In this meeting some resolutions were
n cd To fir1tr oT1f Il 4I1n ct. "a
mentS of THE citizens and land owners
of the First ward in mass convention
assembled" This sounds big, but what
are the facts? There were about 40
persons present. At least half of these
were and are in favor of sewerage.
When such men as William Green,
Archie NJ. Baird, Jonas Lukens Peter
Smith, Thos. Voiland, DR.. L. A. Ryder,
T. M James, Jonathan Thomas, NJ. T.
Campbell, Aaron Sheetz, r. B McMas-
ter, j. N. Henry, Ed Buechner. Theo
Forbes, Eric NystrOm, V. 3. Kistler,
John I. Hill, Elmer E. Miller, Samuel
Dolman, John E. Dolman, John Spear,
A. J. Proudfit, Thomas Page, Charles
Gerteisen, H. NJ. Cline, H C. Mckinley
G. Davis, DR.. Miner, DR.. Mitchell, E. S.
McClintOck, B. NJ. Davies, Rollin Mich
OILS, c. c. Nicholson, E. P. Baker, E. D.
Small, N. F. Conkle, William G.. M.
Lane, NJ. G. Holman, A. NJ. Kent, Rome
Colvin, Dr. o. J. Buck and many 9TH
ers have identified themselves as being
the appearance of having some back
ing and shows that the project will not
lack friends to push It to completion.
To those who are opposing this much
needed public enterprise, 1 would say
change your raimentJ come out and be
public spirited. If you wait until every
one thinks he can afford it, 1.-The accept
ed time will never come. Public inn
provements are beneficial to everyone.
The building of this sewer can be done
as cheaply now as it can ever be done.
Our labOring men need the employment
this will give them. The money ex-
pended will be spent here. It will not
leave us. We are not living In a corn
field that you should oppose these Nine
teenth century improvements, but in a
city of 10000 inhabitants of which the
First ward holds one-fifth at least. Do
not stand in the way of something that
will do US more good than anything we
have ever had. Identify yourselves with
progression, not retrogression. We can
not stand still We must either go for
ward or backward. Do you wish to go
backward? 1 cannot believe it.
Then put your shoulders to the wheel
and push along this public enterprise so
that we may all be able to hold up our
heads and say we are living n the age
of improvement and as the world
moves so we move with it.
w. S. BERGUNTHAL.