The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22
short time until the brick pavement

short time until the Dr1Ck paVem ment
Will be laid.
Topekans do not realize what a hand
some structure the Melan bridge is to
be. Handsome abutments at either
side and five graceful but pOnderOus
arches, and dressed up with fancy lin
ing on a cement surface, will consti-
tute one of the most picturesque sights
in the city 1t viii look like a bridge
of solid carved stone.
At the completion OF most large
bridges elaborate celebrations are given
and there is no reason why Topeka
should not take advantage of this Op-
portunity to do this and to add an en-
jOyable feature of our second Fall Festi-
val, which promises to surpass any
thing yet attempted here.
The suggestion is that on the night
of the water festival a hundred or more
rOWbOatS perform evolutiOns on the
water, each boat adorned with Jana
nese lanterns, similar to the water
fetes now given every summer at sew
eral points in eastern states.
From boats stationed at different DO
sitiOns in the river fire works would be
discharged. The reflection in the water
makes the displays doubly brilliant
It is also proposed that a miniature
naval battle be given on the water.
This could easily be arranged by frame
works representing one or two large
battleships and would draw large
crowds to Topeka Nothing of this
kind has ever been attempted and it
of the novelty of the feature, but also
for its great beauty.
W. H. Keepers of the bridge contract
ing firm of Keepers & Thacher, says
the idea of a water festival can be car
ried out admirably. He says that un-
less the work is stopped by high water
again the bridge will be finished by
Fall Festival week. He said: 4 think
the water fete is a capital idea. Moth
ing could be gotten up which would be
prettier. I think the bridge will be fin
ished by that time. OF course we are at
the mercy of high water here and we
might be delayed. But I think the
bridge proper will positively be done.
OF course the pavement may not be
down yet. but the filing will be in and
people can drive and walk over it. Then,
too, the bridge will offer a fine view of
the water festival. It will hold a large
number of people. At Detroit when
the big bridge was completed they gave
a naval battle on the water and never
saw anything more beautiful. The
water may be a little too low here at
that time, but boats with fiat bottoms
can be constructed to float in very shall
low water, and the upper works can be
made as ornate as necessary. Will be
glad to furnish all our boats for the fes-
tival, and by that time we will have
a large number of them. The fireworks
look especially pretty on the water
and with the Illuminated boats around
on the river the effect will be startling
At Detroit they had all kinds of fire
works and on some of the boats gatling
guns were stationed It was simply
superb I hope the people of Topeka
will take up this project and make. a
big thing of it. I will do all L can for
it.
Mr.. Keepers takes lively interest
in Topeka and all her new projects,
and he is reading all that is said bout
Topeka's Fall Festival. He says the
water festival would bring many peo-
pie to Topeka alone. Mr. r. y Hlnch-
ley. who is nothing if not public spirit
ed. said: The bridge may not be com
pleted at that time. But by Festival
week it will have been far enough con
structed to allow of people crossing
over on it, He thought the display
could be made magnificent.
No more drawing feature could be
added to the week of festivities than
this AQUATIC exhibition, which would
surpass anything of the kind ever be
fore attempted People who saw the pr1I-
liant fireworks displays on the waters
at the Worlds fair viii bear witness to
the fact that a river festival for To-
peka will be one of the best features OF
the week.