The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-13
THE SEWER QUESTION.
North Topeka People Discuss 1t
"A Lively Skirmish Last
Night.

Perhaps there were one hundred per-
sons at the anti-sewer meeting at the
fire station last evening. Two-thirds
of them were opposed, one-third favor
able. A committee was appointed to
circulate remonstrances. The sewer
district, as outlined, covers some 1900
lots, upon which are 800 houses, prin-
cipally the most densely populated dis
tricts of the city.
Another meeting has been called for
Thursday evening by those in favor OF
the sewer, and those opposed are IN
vited to attend and hear something
from the other side
The meeting was called to order by
NJ. NJ. Hale and J. B. Billiard was elect
ed chairman. MeSsrs. Billiard, Fensky,
Hale and others spoke against the
sewer using as an argument that the
people could not afford the sewer and
that the fall of the land was not suf-
ficfent to carry off the sewerage.
City Engineer Barnes had been re-
QueSted to be present He could not be
there and wrote a letter stating that
the matter had been carefully gone
over and that a successful sewer could
be built for $25 number and that the
tax payers could have ten years to pay
it in. The letter was not read at the
meeting.
Archie Baird and William Green,
both large property owners, spoke in
favor of the sewer. Mr. Baird hoped
that the citizens would be progressive.
He announced that a mass meeting
would be held Thursday night at
Lukens' opera house and all were in
Vited to attend whether they were LOT
or against the sewer.
Chairman Billiard appointed the fol-
lowing to circulate a remOnStrance TO
be signed and presented to the city
council: Jas. Thompson, chairman;
Geo Allen, Ben HOlzle, G. H. Haywood,
Jas. Bartel, N1ilt Newly, Jas. Anderson,
J. S Morse, VIM. Howard, e. Z.
Fowler, A. V. Heyden, A. G. F. James,
James Hanley.
The meeting of last night was one of
protest The meeting of Thursday
night will be rather one OF discussion
and it is believed the great majority
will favor the sewer. The two argu-
ments presented by the opposition 10
the Improvement fall to the ground
when the real facts are known and pre-
scented.
said the city engineer, the experience
in other cities and the facts IN certain
level districts on the south s1de Oh the
river set at rest any valid excuses on
this line. The city engineers profiles
and plat show that the plan OIL the
sewer for the north side gives album
dant fall. -
DeopIe Of the north side of the river
can not afford the sewer it is Wen
enough to note that very many Oh tHe
people of North Topeka are Wealtny
and a very large portion OF them Wen
to do. Many of them do not parade
their wealth, but it is nevertheless IN
evidence. The people of the north slde
like modern Improvements as wen as
any one and are entitled to them Inc
North Topeka people are good pay.
The city engineer has prepared a
most remarkable table of statlstlcs
which every opponent of the sewer
should study These figures have been
presented in the form of blue prlnts
and are easily available to any one VINO
desires to inform himself.
7nea srres of convenience in cities, put
are of the most vital Importance 70 the
health of the people. More sickness
and more deaths, to a most aSIoIllSill,IlS
degree. occur in that portion OF the Guy
not possessed with suitable artlnclal
drainage The table compiled by En-
gineer Barnes, covering a per1od OF Two
years ending May l, 1898, SHOWS tldI
within the sewer districts of topeka
there are 20, 900 people and OUTSIDE tne
sewer districts of Topeka are 13,ooO
Deople The death rate in that portion
of the city without sewers is 10 TO the
thousand; in the portion with sewers
it is only to the thousand, or one
ont of 10 fatal cases of typhoid fever
IL deaths occurred in the portion of the
city without sewers and only TOUR II!
the district with sewers. out OF 10
deaths from malaria fever Ia were Out
side of the sewer district and two IN
ont of II cases of diphther1a 10 were
outside and two were in. out OF oo
eases of pneumonia A were OulSAuG llAS
sewer district Out of 2S3 deaths in the
two years from diseases when are SuS-
ceptible to sanitary conditions, only a
occurred at places where the houses
The fact that the construction of
suitable sewer on the north side VIII
cost the property owners less than 500
a year for ten years should pr1ng all
tbs DroDertv owners into line favOring
this important Improvement. Several
interesting things have been reported
in connection with this sewer discus
sion It is said by those who pretend
to know that in referring to his hlgh
taxes Mr.. J. S. Morse last evening
read figures giving his taxes for two
wears IF this be true he could very
readily cut his taxes in two by giving
the amount paid each year, instead of
s"There was a time" said VIM. Green
to Mr.. Morse, when you were in favor
of the construction of sewers. That
was when you were in the business of
mating sewer brick" This was one Of
the saIlies made on the part of one ia
voring the sewer to one opposing it.
1t is said that the reason number
of North Topeka property owners op-
pose the sewer is because they get a
large part of their income from FenldlS
and they observe that new residences
being put up by progressive citizens
are provided with water and sanitary
facilities that will compel the old lano-
lords to introduce these modern i'm
provements in their rental property.
There IS some truth in this, naturally.
The Journal would like to see the
north side take rank in this matter of
important sanitary facilities just as it
takes rank with other portions of the
city in other lines of progress. The
great Improvement represented in the
new bridge is really to be classed as
North Topeka Improvement. Let the
north side keep pace in other direc-
lions.
Their Eyes on Kansas.