The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-09-08
CHANNEL HAS MOVED
Big Arkansas Changes Near
Maple Street Badge.
ADDS FULLY TEN ACRES
River Bed Is Steadily Becom-
ing More Narrow

The channel Of the Big Arkansas river
has again changed and by so doing has
added about ten acres to the long strip
claimed by the Schwartz brothers, Inc
river now runs along the west side OF
the small island at the Maple street
bridge where some time ago chute was
built down from the bridge TO allow
wagons TO haul out sand from the river
bed. This chute mas for the greater part
of the time been kept locked, so as to
allow no one to drive off the bridge save
the persons VINO put the chute in leading
up to the bridge.
This island formerly stood in the CEN
ter Of the channel. The row of piling was
driven along the banks of the river, and
soon after the channel changed so as to
wash out the piling for some distance
above the Maple street bridge. The chan-
mel has Rugged the east bank at this
point closely ever since, until the last rise,
when it was induced to change.
The first encroachment upon the river
along the east side was caused by the
throwing of manure out of the barn just
north of the Douglas avenue bridge. This
has since been filed up fifteen feet deep
in manure The additions then began
10 the property owned by Schwartz broth
ers south Of this. The sand began to
gather and was assisted somewhat by
the judicious placing Of brush and rock
along the outer edge. Additions have been
steadily going on toward the Maple street
bridge and now where the water two or
civ m a.
deep, the sand now lays high and dry
above low water mark.
Where the current turned at the head
Of the island to flow toward the east
end Of the bridge, brush dam has been
erected about a hundred yards in length,
to prevent the current from ever coming
in toward the shore again, and to facili-
tate the natural filling N process when
ever there should be a rise.
The Schwartz brothers who are having
the work done, when asked If they did
not think the great narrowing of the river
would endanser the city by an overflow
during a high water period, expressed
themselves as being not in the least lear
full of any such thing occurring
"If the movement now on foot to compel
the irrigation companies of Colorado to
cease using the water that would other
wise flow down the natural river bed,
was successful, would there not be some
danger then?" was asked.
They expressed themselves as not in the
least apprehensive of the Kansas irriga-
ton scheme ever attaining anything. The
water originates in their own state, and
they will keep it there" they said.
There seems to be no small apprehen-
sion among some, that sometime the river
will assume larger proportions than it is
| anticipated it VIII. If this should be the
case, there would be necessarily an over
flow of greater or less proportions. But
under the present state of things it seems
very unlikely that this may be the case.
Upon the west side Of the river the
sand has banked up for some distance
| outside the piling, and the owners Of the
property along that side have in contem-
plation the extension of their fences so
as to include this in their holdings, and
| in such case will prepare to make the
addition permanent.
City Engineer Jackson is quoted as be-
| ing in favor of removing the east span
of the Douglas avenue bridge and filling
/ in the roadway, and also shortening the
| other bridges as occasion may require.