The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-29
HAS BEEN SETTLED
City Finally Gets Possession
of the River Bend.
PRICE PAID is $4,000
All Obstacles Now Removed
From a New Dam.

The dam question is at last settled and
the Little river in south Riverside park
now belongs to the city Of Wichita AIr.
steinbuchel yesterday agreed to sell it to
the city, and he viii withdraw his damage
suit that has been hanging fire in the
district court for some time. Mr.. stein
buchel agrees to sell the ground in dis
pute, about four acres, to the city for
he sum of 1920 and to withdraw all
claims for damages up to that time.
The city council in executive session
ct its last meeting authorized c. W.
Davidson, chairman Of the public i'm
provement committee and City Attorney
a Z. Helm, and the mayor TO make set
Element with Mr. Steinbuchel, who rep
resents the Stackman heirs. Mayor Nc
lean and the other parties named met
in the Office Of Air. Helm yesterday and
the settlement was made as stated This
IS considered a good way out Of the
trouble for the city, and the park viii be
OF more vahue because it gives the city
control Of the Little Arkansas river.
After the dam was put IN the river be-
low Central avenue it caused the water to
back on Mr.. Steinbuchel's land and he
commenced q damage suit in the district
court against the city The city made a
contract with Steinbuchel, the substance
Of which was, that in consideration Of
suit, the city would clean out the bend
Of the river in front Of his place and
remove dirt from the island SO that the
water woulo cover it at low stage. When
the city came to ask for bids to do this
work It was found that it would cost
about $500. That scared the public i'm
provement committee and it began to
figure some way out of the hole into
which the contract with Steinbuchel had
put the city.
While the matter Of clearing the island
was being discussed, the high water came
and washed out the dam. This would
have settled the matter to a certain ex-
tent If it haa not been for the contract
with Mr.. Steinbuchel If the contract
had been out Of the way the city would
have built the dam above the Steinbuchel
place and allowed Mr.. Steinbuchel to
clean out his own river. However, the
outcome OF the muddle is the best for
the city. The Little Arkansas river is
not meandering stream and the bend
Of that stream west OF south Central
park belonged to the SteinbucheI place
and not to the city as many were led TO
believe. The members of the city coun-
Gil and others who were posted as to
[. he state Of affairs think this is a lucky
Sc Element for the city.
p eopIe VINO have come to think that
Rive rside park was Of great value to
the ity were getting restless about the
dam not being replaced. They were
afraid that the trees would not grow
so luxra-ienuy when the stage Of water
was lowered three feet in the channel
of the river. and then the dam in the
river added much 10 the appearance of
the park. The city can now reburd tie
dam below Central avenue or above as
1t sees mt
Mr. Steinbuchel probably got more for
his land than he could have sold it to
an individual for, but 1t IS worth several
thousand dollars to the city of Wichita
PEOPLE from the east who come here and
look over Riverside do not hesitate to
say that 1t will in d very short time,
If it does not already, add fifty per cent
10 the value Of the residence property
OF the city. by making Wichita one of
the most desirable residence cities in
this whole country. 1t VIII therefore
be a comfort to the people Of the city
20 know that an individual does not now
own G part of the stream In the park,
and that while he could not compel the
city to remove its dam, he could subject
the city TO great cost IN endless ntiga-
ton