The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-10
EAST SIDE SEWER
Plan to Build One Is Again
Revived.
Councilman Snyder and Others
Favor the Project.
TROUBLEOVER OUTLET
Question Whether 1t Should
Empty in the River.
Ground Is Level and Cost Would
Not Be Great.

Sewer building seems to be conta% 81
Gus. Thursday it was one in the south
part of town; today it is announced that
petition is being circulated and
meeting of citizens will within few
days be hold to secure the construction
of a sewer system for the district east
of the Santa Ee tracks.
The area which it is proposed to sew
er is about one square mile, but 1T may
be found necessary to divide this into
two separate districts.
The movement is backed by such men
as Lew Blackman, Frank Stevens, reg
lister of deeds, Councilman joseph Girl
ley and Councilman Z. B. Snyder.
Some OF the people in that part of
town loosely designated as 'ParkdalS
want the sewer to be constructed ex-
clusively for storm water. A sewer Of
this kind would be much less expensive
than one to carry general sewage. for
the reason that it could be emntied into
Shunganunga creek. General sewage,
according to the city ordinances. must
be carried direct to the river.
There are others, however, who favor
building a scWer to the river, believing
that sucA sewer would be so much
more benefit that it would Justify the
additional expense. 1t is stated that L.
Blackman is willing to build a $4,000
business block at Fourth and Branner
provided a satisfactory sewer system is
constructed. Other substantial improve
mentS of like nature would no doubt
the sewer, for that part of town east of
the Santa Fe tracks is thiclxly popula
ted, and affords excellent openings for
business houses and dwellings The in
crease in the mum Der of men employed
in the Santa F'e shops will hasten the
progress of the locality.
Parkdale has come to signify to the
minds of most people, all of that part
of town lying between the river and the
Fifth ward and the Santa FTe tracks
and Oakland. Strictly speaking it is a
much smaller area thsn this. 1t is de-
sired however. to have all of that part
of town included in the proposed sewer
district, if it is found that the people
can get together on plan of action.
One of the greatest obstacles to be over
come, provided the citizens in that part
of town decide to build a sewer to the
river, will be crossing Shunganunga creek
This creek winds about in promiscuois
fashion, and to build the sewer to the
river it would likely be ne cessary in quite
a number of places to carry it across the
creek on piers or trestles This argument
against building a sewer to the river is
strong one. 1t would add materially to the
expense.
The general system of grading which
has been followed by the city has been to
throw the water toward Sixth street, and
then lead it east on Sixth to Locust. where
the pavement comes to an end, and the
water is left to its own devices. 1t usually
improves the opportunity. in the case of
heavy rains, to flood all the cellars in that
part of town.
If the sewer is to be for storm water
alone, it will probably be built in two
parts, one southeast of the creek, which
will go out Sixth to Locust, and south on
Locust to the creek; the other part reach
ing all the rest of the unsewered territory
northwest of the creek.
1t may be deemed wise to make two
sewer districts, with the creek as a divid-
ing line. The district between the creek
and the river would sewer into the river
and the other would send its storm water
into the Shunganunga.
Aside from the trouble which may be
occasioned by crossing Shunganunga
creek the cost of building a sewer in the
east part of town will not be heavy. The
ground is level, there will be no heavy