The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-15
WHERE TO PUT MAIN.
City Council Discusses North
Topeka Water Situation.

The city council is in session this af-
ternoon discussing the waterwOrkS sit
uation in North Topeka. The sentiment
seems to be that the water company
shall not place their mains on the Kan
sas avenue Melan bridge.
The council meeting this afternoon
was made necessary by the continued
sinking of the street railway bridge,
which caused more breaks in the water
and gas mains.
The temporary sleeve" which he
water company put over its damaged
pipe last night lasted until O'clock
this morning. The sinking of the bridge
then caused the pipe to again break. 1t
was repaired at once. but at about 3
O'Clock, broke again. The bridge was
sinking fast.
The gas main parted entirely, and gas
is a rare article in North Topeka now.
All there is there is of home manufac-
ture.
The officials of the gas company say
that there are 200 people on the North
side who are left without means to
cook their meals because the supply of
gas for their gas ranges has failed.
Both the water company and the gas
company appealed to the city officials
this morning for the privilege of laying
their pipes on the Melan bridge. City
Attorney Spencer refused to grant this
permission, and for that reason a spec
ia1 meeting of the council became nee
essary. The reason for Mr.. Spencer 8
dcllOQ was t1dl ne QeiQ the question 10
be one of public policy rather than one
for the legal department.
Both Mr.. Spencer and Assistant City
Attorney Ralston went to FIT. Riley to-
day with the Presbyterian picnic, and
were therefore not at the council meet
ing.
Mayor Parker said this morning in
discussing the matter: Its a case of
be darned if you do and be darned if
you don't. If we refused to allow tie
water company to put it's main on the
Melan bridge, and there is fire in
North Topeka within the next week or
two, tn. people will say that the council
was unwise and should have given that
part of town fire protection at any cost.
On the other hand, if we grant the right
to put the pipes across, then there will
be a howl that we have yielded just
the point that the city has been fighting
against for years. For my part, I am
not real sure that the city has any
right to grant the company the privi-
lege of laying a main on the bridge. It
may be that this is the province of the
county commissioners. The title to the
bridge rests with the commissioners,
understand"
Jesse Shaw. superintendent Of the
water company, said today:
I'VE have given up trying to m AXE
temporary repairs on the North Topeka
main. The bridge is sinking all the
time. and we will be unable to do any
thing until the sinking stops. What
we want is the privilege of putting our
main across the Melan bridge. We will
put it under the pavement if the cit,
requires, but we would prefer to put
it on top. We believe that it would do
just as well. There is room under the
pavement for the main"
City Engineer McCabe was present at
the council meeting at the request of
the mayor to make a report on the
general condition of the street railway
bridge, and the probable time required
to make repairs.
The gas company does not demand
the right to lay perm anent pipes or.
the bridge but only asks to be allowed
to lay temporary pipe to stay until
the street car bridge is repaired.