The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-09
That on Lower Kansas Avenue
May Be Built Now.
Engineer Thinks 1t Could Be
Completed This Season.
VERY MUCH NEEDED.
Drainage of the District 10 Very
Bad Indeed.
Talk of City Damage Suits as 8
Result.

In all probability the proposed 5-foot
brick sewer from the foot of Jackson
street to the river will be built this fall,
under the city engineers estimate of
s2.470 for the job.
1t seems likely that if the sewer is not
built at once. the following will be the
results:
made land" in the city park worth
hundreds of dollars will be washed into
the river.
The big wholesale houses will refuse to
carry out their present plans to build
ON lower Kansas avenue.
Heavy damage suits may be brought
against the city for flooded Easements
Increased cost in building the sewer
next spring when the river is high
Nearly all of yesterday afternoon was
spent by the council committee on
sewers inspecting the proposed location
for the sewer, and talking with bust
the exact needs The result of the con-
ference viii be a favorable report to the
council on the evening of Nov Is The
sewer committee is composed of Council
men Warner, Weber and Griley-
The committee ascertained that upon
the construction of the sewer depends
in large measure the construction of two
$4,000 wholesale houses on lower Kan
saS avenue next spring. If the sewer is
not built, the proposed Whiting whole
sale paint and glass house and the
-AHQlLGkef wholesale COMMISSION mousse
may be afraid to carry out their present
intentions of building.
A member of the Parkhurst-Dav1s
grocery firm told the committee that the
city was likely to be sued for heavy
dana ges in case the basement of that
building should be again flooded as 1t
was once during the past season
petition is now being circulated in
the blocks adjoining the location of the
proposed sewer. asking for the creation
OF benefit district This petition will
come up at the next council meeting
The proposed district extends from
Kansas avenue to Van Buren,. and First
street to the river.
The proposed line for the sewer is
from the northwest corner of First and
Kansas avenue westward to the alley
between Kansas avenue and Jackson,
north along the alley to Crane street.
west on Crane to Jackson, and thence
directly through the city park to the
river. The $50 feet through the city
park is all the city has to pay for. The
rest will be built by the residents in the
benefit district.
II the sewer is not built the city park
is in danger. City Engineer McCabe
says: IF we allow the water to flow
through the park in that ravine, thou
sands of wagon loads of dirt will be
washed into the river. 1t has cost the
city hundreds of dollars to fill in the
dirt there, and it would cost many
lowed to wash out Dirt is a scarce
article in that part of town. 1t has to
be hauled in from long distances, and
costs great deal of money"
An inspection of the proposed site of
the sewer in the city park shows that
already the ravine of which Mr.. Nc
Cabe speaks has washed out hole big
enough to hide a house in, at the place
where it reaches the river. The dirt is
soft, and huge slices are continually
slipping off into the water. If the river
should rise, it is easy to see how the
costly work of the past two years in
filing in the city park could be undone
In a few days.
Now is the time to build the sewer
not only dangerous, but is certain to be
costly 1t would not surprise me if
$1,000 worth of damage should be done
to the city park by the high water and
ice this coming winter, if We allow the
water to course down that ravine. and
the swift current of the river to eat
away the dirt fast as it washes in.
The city should at least put in the con-
crete and masonry at the mouth of the
proposed sewer this fall 1t can be done
now at a saving of several hundred
dollars. because the river is low, and 1t
will not be necessary to build a Golfer
dam. If we wait till spring. the Golfer
dam will be necessary a preliminary
to building the opening of the sewer
Il believe that if work is commenced
at an early date we can finish the sewer
this winter. Work can progress as long
as the weather does not freeze the
mortar, and the temperature down In the
dltcn IS SeVeral degrees higher than on
the surface. I think the city will make
a great mistake if 1t does not start in
on the sewer at once and rush 1t to
completion before the spring rains set
In
The whole question will be placed in
the hands of the council at the next
meeting, on November IS. 1t seems
likely that the favorable report of the
committee on sewers will be adopted
and another step taken to help the city
park and the coming wholesale district
Of Topeka.