The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-01
IT LOOKS DARK.
Chances for Second Ward Sewer
Are Rather Gloomy.
Determined Opposition to Its
Construction Has Developed.
PLAN TO REDUCE COST.
Would Include All Santa Fe
Property in District.
Petitions and Counter Petitions
Being Circulated.
PLAN TO REDUCE COST.

Every day dims the prospects of the
proposed Second ward sewer. The OPP
position is doing some hustling. Nu-
merous adverse petitions are being cir
culated and a meeting hostile to the
proposition was held not long ago at
Frank Newland's grocery.
AS the fight is based on the estimated
cost of $50 per lot, the friends of the
sewer have sprung a new trump card.
They are going to include the whole of
the Santa Fe shop land and lumber
yard in the district, and make the rail-
way company pay its share. There are
1.261 lots in the Santa Fe land. and the
addition of this large territory will
probably pull the cost of constructing
the sewer down to S25 a lot. But it
will cost the Santa Fe railway $32. 900.
and this opens I'D a new source Of OPP
position.
1t is also claimed by the advocates
of the sewer that the new territory to
be annexed to the city next month
should be included in the sewer dis
trict, and made to bear its share of the
expense. BY this increase they hope
to pull down the cost of the sewer to
$40 a lot. II they can make all these
toward overcoming some of the oppo-
sltion to the sewer among the Second
ward people.
The people who are fighting the sewer
claim that residents of the ward cannot
afford to pay $50 a lot; that it would
ruin them. 1t is further cOntended by
some that the city engineer is trying to
lead people into an impracticable prOpo-
sition.
Frank Stevens, a prominent Second
ward man, said today: What good
would the sewer do use if built? 1t
wouldn't carry off the storm water.
h
enough to do that. The sewer is entire
ly inadequate if built as the engineer
proposes. 1t isn't big enough. To make
it big enough would cost $45 or $50 lot.
posed sewer to give a good outlet at the
river. The fact is that we haven't for
twenty years had a city engineer who
understood his business
Frank Newland, another Second ward
leader, is fighting the sewer and his
store is headquarters for the opposition,
which seems to be strongest east of the
Santa Fe shops. The south end of the
Second ward will probably be in favor
Of the sewer.
Two or more petitions against the
sewer are being circulated in the ward,
and will probably be ready for presenta-
ton at the council meeting December I.
Councilman Joseph Griley is carefully
keeping himself out of the controversy.
He said today: These people come to
me and tell me their troubles, and I
just tell them to get out petition, ask
ing for whatever they want, and get all
the people to sign it that they can
That's the only way the council can
find out what the people of the ward
want. AS far as am concerned. l ex-
pect to be censured whichever way L
vote"
Mayor Bergundthal said today: TT
looks as though the sewer project in the
Second ward was having very much the
same sort of a time it had in the First
ward. 1t took Us ten years to overcome
the opposition to the sewer in that ward.
We used to have just the same trouble
with water in our yards and cellars over
there that these Second ward people
have. If the Second ward does not
build a sewer. don't know how it can
expect relief The city certainly can not
afford to spend three or four thousand
dollars to build its sewer system for it.
Neither is the city liable for damages
which water may do. We North Topeka
people used to make just that same kind
of a bluff. But we never brought any
suits, and I don't think that the ones
which the Second ward threatens will
amount to anything"
City Engineer sMcCabe estimated the
total cost of the sewer to be $4,000, but
if the Santa Fe yards and the territory
to be annexed are included, it will
probably run the expense up to 800, 900.
But the increase in the number of lots
to be taxed will more than make up
for the increased expense.
1t will come hard TO make the Santa
Fe put up S32, 900 sewer tax, and the
officials of the company may be eX-
pected to oppose the plan, even to the
extent of going to the courts. There
is sort of a private sewer now in use
at the Santa F'e yards. and this is all
the sewer facilities the Santa F'e wants.
Being located right on the river bank,
the proposed sewer system is an I'M
necessary luxury for them. Council
Cr-i1n hon &c n in
favor of including the Santa F'e if a
district is created. City Attorney
Spencer sa--s:
THE fact that the Santa F'e has
private sewer does not let it out. If the
city wants to include the shops in the
sewer district, 1 can see no reason why
it should not be done"
The Santa Fe shop land has never
been taxed for sewer purposes.
Presidential Appointments.