The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-10
POOR TENT CITY.
Retreat for Refugees Has Been
ShamefuIly Neglected.
Have No Furniture and Sleep on
Ground.
CVCTENI IS IAOKING
SYSTEM IS LACKING.
Live in Haphazard Manner With
Few Accommodations.
Would Be Much Suffering In
Event of Storms.

J.
lief work in Topeka that is under
done. and needs attention, it is that
through which an effort is being made
to place a few of these people in tenn
porary homes of their own. The VAly
explanation of the condition in which
this socalled tent city is now found is
that the general relief committee, over
burdened with duties of every sort, ex-
pected the tenants 10 look after them
selves intelligently.
This they are incompetent to do II.
O. Ga1vey was this morning requested
to take charge of the place temporarily.
1t is proposed to secure from the ad-
jutant general a small detachment of
National Guard militia. under pay, to
control the camp. There is no other
practical way of handling the situation.
Unused to living in tents the occupants
of this shelter are lacking in every ca
pacity for self government. All of them
belong to the poorer class of North side
residents. Many of them are normally
INDECENT and dependent and more help
less than ever under the present cir
cumstances.
on the south end of the Douthitt tract
the Is tents and the wagons are now
located upon a knoll, admirably adapted
for the use to which it is put. The Oc-
cupants of the tents have little bed
ding, a little food, little clothing, but
absolutely no conveniences for sanitary
living Here are some of the things
that are needed:
WHAT IS NEEDED.
A water supply A lateral could be
run from the main on Topeka avenue
at small expense and the entire camp
could supply itself from one or two ny
drants.
garbage system by which refuse
from the camp could be disposed Of
Bathing and toilet accommodations.
These are absolutely wanting
Several general cooking tents COOKING
is now done out doors
Floors for tents. The refugees are Nv
ing on bare ground.
More tents.
More clothing.
More regular and liberal food supply
More furniture and everything pei
tanning to housekeeping
These are a few of the things that
can be readily seen to be needed Ihese
people who are forced to occupy the tent
village do so from absolute want. The
greater part of them are women ana
children. What men there are IN the
village are at present in North Topeka
attempting to save what they may
from their shattered homes All but
+ few of them will obtain or resume reg
ular work as soon as they can Most
of them will remove to houses as soon
as thew can be obtained and will not be
burden upon the town longer than Il
absolutely necessary. A few OF course
will remain on the hands of the relief
committee as long as they are permit
ted to, but that should not be given
consideration at this moment
In the event of rain or stormy, cola
weather the suffering in the tent vii
lage would be intense. Its occupants
would be warmer and better sheltered
in the Auditorium. The impOssibility OF
securing more tents prevents the inn
mediate enlargement of the settlement.
which is now far oVererowded- l ne
headless condition of the camp makes
the Auditorium headquarters the only
source of aid. and until this noon the
Headquarters was not possessed OF any
reliable means of communlcatlon WITH
it. With little or nothing at his dis
Aposa1, H. 0. Garvey has this afternoon
Undertaken to relieve the straightenea
condition of the occupants of the VIII
SLEEP ON GROUND
A casual observer can in a few mo-
ments note the necessity of a cOmpe-
tent management OF the tent villags
venient distance to the fair grounds.
None of them have much clothing.
/ few not even change of it. Today
several beds were sent out so that to-
night no one will be forced to sleep on
the ground. Tuesday night several.
4 among them a woman with an infant.
made their bed upon the ground The
woman and baby were sheltered by
wagon top. In the small tents the aver
age of occupants is about five. Several
families have wagons which are useG
4 as sleeping apartments A tent which
contains a double bed has room for
+ scarcely anything else. A few bundles
Of clothing and a small gasoline stO u
are occasionally crowded in besides.
while the cooking utensils are piled on
the ground outside. In the event o.
rain it would be next thing to impos-
! sible TO cook.
At the present time the garbage from
/ some distance from any of the tents.
That this practice cannot be followed
/ long with safety is evident Arrange
ments should be made with the desic
( eating company to haul barrels to and
from the camp and dispose of the refuse
/ al a see distance.
4 It is physical impossibility for a per-
son in the tent village to take bath.
/ There is no place where the operation
could be conducted and there is enough
difficulty to find utensils and towels to
wash hands and face.
PUT UP MISS TENTS
Most Of the families agree that it
would be more convenient If several
/ large mess tents could be conducted at
which several families might cook and
eat Cooking is conducted under such
difIeulties at the present time that most
Of the villagers are tired Of the present
system already.
I If the health of the occupants of the
( tents is to be maintained floors must be
put under them at once. AIiddle-aged
and aged people. walking. and sitting
upon bare ground. are exposed to colds
and disease. Many Of them are already
/ sick from exposure during the flood and
since More OF the tents have been
( properly ditched. A few of the people
krow how to do the work but most of
them are absolutely ignorant Of the
proper way to make their habitatiOns
storm tight Only trained militia can do
the work properly for the whole camp.
Street and cutters viii have to be dug
could be easily accomplished if handled
the risht way.
Although ut present every tent is
4 crowded to its capacity none of them are
/ large enough to hold the furniture
necessary to the convenience of a small
family and to hold the family too. In