The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-24
SEE THE SIGHTS.
Members Of Legislature Ride
Through North Topeka.
Surprised at the Devastation
Wrought by the Flood.
OPENED THEIR EYES.
Had Not Believed All the Stories
Of Damage.
About $50 Go on the CONNER
cial Club Excursion.
OPENED THEIR EYES.

The sights of North Topeka are no
longer new TO the members of the leg
islature one hundred of them visited
the hood-stricken districts of the town
in carriages furnished by the Comme~-
cial club this morning. The drive was
a success. both in the efficiency with
which it was carried out and in the i'm.
preston it made upon the minds of Ihe
lawmakers.
Few. who have already seen sights
equally distressing in the Kaw valley
elsewhere were prepared for the shock
ing spectacle which awaited them. but
the senators and representatives from
the upland counties of the state We're
not That they We're impressed by the
damaged appearance of things could be
gathei cd from their ordinations OF
surprise It's an old story now to To-
peka, but TO most of the legislators it
was new this morning.
one short grass representative re-
malAe-..
u read in the papers that the mud
was three feet deep in peoples houses
but I didn't believe it, I simply didn't
have ina giNation enough to picture the
condition of North Topeka, and it's a
lot worse now, after three weeks OF
work has been put on it, than 1 had any
IDEA
Because the possibilities of a drive in
North Topeka are very limited on ac-
count of the condition of the streets. "a
lot Of interesting places could not be Wis
tied AT o'clock a dozen or more car
TiaEes OF varying capacities had been
assembled at the National hotel and
were at once loaded and sent on their
way. No effort was made to maintain
line OF travel The buggles were scat
tered out and the drivers went wherever
they thought best Carriages loaded
with legislators passed each other at
every turn Of the road and salutatiOns
and jOcularities between members who
had not seen each other since last ses-
sion were discharged every few mo-
ments.
In half an hour after the first car
riage had started the supply of vehicles
began to be short so Major Anderson
rustled up several hacks Some of the
buggies remained over only an hour or
so and were sent back with more sena-
tors and representatives. A good many
went from the Copeland and Throop.
The principal route of travel was north
on Kansas avenue to Gordon street,
then west five or six blocks and north
again to Shorey. From Shorey the car
rlages made their way back through
town while others took a side trip up to
GARFIELD park
The devastation in northwest North
Topeka made deep impression upon
most of the men who saw it for the
first time today. Many of them express
ed the extravagant opinion that the
property never could be reclaimed, 9TH
ers that it is foolish to attempt to make
ii hahitable on account Of the liability
to future inundation There appears to
be "a profusion of ideas as to the proper
kind of state relief that the legislature
should extend to the flooded localities.
The majority however seem to think
state aid is not demanded. Judging from
the divergence of opinions it seems pro-
bahle that the special session may con-
sumo several days before a conclusion
can be reached as to the proper method
OF nrocodure.