The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-20

guarantee plan. The merchants are
asked to guarantee a certain sum to
insure against a deficit and under
stand it has not been necessary to call
upon them for the guaranty but once
and that time the jubilee was $500 be-
hind They depend wholly upon the ad-
missions to pay the expenses
NJ. G. Holman: Il believe that jub-
lice in Topeka could be made success
for we have a large number of Choir
uses in this part of the state. Topeka
is central and there would be no trOu-
bic in the people reaching Topeka from
any portion of the state If we start
in time we ought to have very success
full meeting"
H. M.Philips: 1.-THE auditorium should
be built before that time or there viii
be no place to hold a musical festival
Major Anderson: There is no use to
talk of having an auditorium built by
spring for it cannot be done. But
think that the casino in Garfield park
could be arranged so that the contests
could be held there"
Better Bridges in the Country.
The special committee of the Topeka
Commercial club to investigate and report
on plans for securing better bridges IN
the country made a preliminary report at
the meeting of the club Wednesday even
ing. The report is as follows:
Your committee has caused to be. printed
Mr.. Hinckley's remarks before the club
upon steel-concrete construction, as well
mittee:
Existing statutes prohibit the expendi-
ture by county commissioners of more
than $1,000 upon any one bridge without
special authority (Sec. 51S, general stat
The committee suggests:
Ftrst1Ihat the above. amount IS lnsuf-
fcient for the construction of any perma-
ent bridge worth mentioning The limit
in OHIO, for example, where hundreds OF
arch bridges are being built is $1,000
SecondEThat the statutes might be
amended 10 authorize an annudI eHPeno-
iture, under proper restrictions, and not
exceeding a stated levy, for the construc-
ton of permanent arch bridges.
Third-That hereafter. at least on the
main thOroughfareS approaching our pr1n-
bridges should be built.
ject We have found it to be universally
favorable to the Melan bridge already
trial National bank, says:
terest in public works and have visited
most Of the important bridges all over the
United States and I must say that con-
slider our Melan bridge the best and hand
soonest of them all Let US have more
A. W. Knowles. vice president Bank of
you can say for me that the Melan
bridge is all right. There are good
many people who never look ahead be-
outlined by the committee
The Santa Fe Railway company is by
far the heaviest taxpayer in the county.
c. D. Purdon, assistant chief engineer,
I'VE are spending a good deal of money
bridges with permanent structures. We
figure that it is economy to spend three
times as much for a Substantial steel
bridge as for wooden trestle, and where
permanent arch bridges can be built
ranted.'
r. W. Day, division engineer C., R. I.
& P, says:
we are replacing all our temporary
bridges with permanent ones; and, as far
possible. with arches and culverts of
Portland concrete and of steel and con-
crete together. IT. We certainly would not
this policy (west of the river alone) if it
were not considered good economy
Hundreds of others say. as E. B. Guild
says:
1.-The Melan bridge is a great success
and a policy that will paw the maximum
percentage of the expenditure to home Ia
Dor is cOmmenda ble.''
preSSiOns of interest in the movement for
better bridges and it is suggested that the
present committee might be continued for
the purpose of conference with the other
cities with reference to proposed Iegisla-
ton z. WILDER,
Chairman.