The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-08
BREAKS IT'S BANKS.
North Topeka's Big Lake Is
Causing Trouble.

Owing to the rain last night. the big
lake west of North Topeka broke over
its bounds last night, and is now rour-
ing across Taylor street, cutting
everything west of Polk street, north
of Morse street and south of Garhelo
street. Nearly ten city blocks are I'M
der water. The water covers THESE
blocks to a depth of from six inches to
two feet People are frightened, anu
are moving out of their houses.
Street Commissioner Snyder and City
Engineer McCabe have been in North
Topeka all day fighting the water and
trying to confine IL to channels. 1t IS
now believed that the ditching which
has been done will serve to run off
most of the water into the sewers be-
fore It runs Down into the main resi-
dence portion Of the city. Two big
bitches have been dug, one leading 60
the sewer inlet at Morse ana Tyler and
one to the sewer inlet at Grant and
Tyler. The water which runs over
these inlets finds Its way to other In
let's by means of the guitars.
The entire force of street men have
been ordered out for duty on Sunday
by Commissioner SnVder. ana the work
of taking care OF the flood water Will
be continued until the west end Of town
is drained.
It is believed that the great rush of
water is due chiefly to the Friday night
rain. Up to Friday night the big lake
west of town had not pushed its way
into the city any further than Taylor
street. Taylor had been filled up higher
than the surrounding land, and formed
a dam which held the water back. Now,
however, there is a strong current run
ming across Taylor and there seems to
be no limit to the source OF the water.
1t has been determined. however. that
the water does not come from the river.
There is no danger from that source.
City Engineer McCabe sent Assistant
arr4T AuHk ~ IV1VYG 90
tigation this morning to try to deter
mine whore the water is coming from.
1t is believed that the basin Which con-
stitutes the big lake is filled simple by
the water which drains into 1t from
the surrounding country, but the city
engineer wanted to be sure of it.
Street Commissioner Snyder said to-
day. The rain has uuoone lot more
OF the work in North Topeka which I
had completed. 1 have been in North
Topeka today dividing my time be-
tween building bitches and tryinc to
convince people that they are In no
danger They are afraid that the river
is responsible for the present rise, but
it has nothing to do with it. The pres
ent rise in water Is very annoying, but
it is not dangerous. 1t will make it
imperative to provide some permanent
system of drainage for this part OF
town.
The Rock Island railway has a gang
of men at work todey cutting through
their big ernbankmcnt which holds the
water near Grant aRd Tyler street. This
eInbankment is now serving a good
purpose by sending the water down
toward the sewers instead of LETTING it
follow the old swale OF the flood current
toward Garfield park and Holman's ad-
dition When the Rock Island COM
pletes its work 1t will put in some big
thing to allow the water TO flow under
its right Of way. and this will make it
necessary to arrange for some way of
disposing of the water thus released.