The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-06
Almost Impossible to Hire La
borers in North Topeka.
Many Who Are Cared for by Re-
lief Committee Idle.
MUST HAVE WORKMEN.
Something to Do for Every
Able Bodied Person.
Merchants Offering Exorbitant
Wages for Laborer>.
BUILDINGS INSPECTED.
Fire Marshal Wilmarth Con-
demns Several.
Most Of the Residences Are
Safe.
Something to Do for Every
Able Bodied Person.
Merchants Offering Exorbitant
Wages for LabOrers.
BUILDINGS INSPECTED.
Fire Marshal Wilmarth Con-
demns Several.
Most Of the Residences Are
Safe.


The time has come for the relief COM
mittee to stop feeding and caring for
able bodied men and women. There is
plenty of work. both for men and wo-
men. and able bodied workmen are
needed in North Topeka-in fact it is
imperative that they should be there.
A big. husky colored man was hulk
ing along North Kansas avenue yester-
day when merchant hard at work in
his muddy store. hailed him.
DO you want a Job2" said the mer-
chant
What do you pay2" said the colored
man.
IN give you 81 a day"
Nav 1 won't work for no 50 a day."
said the negro contemptuously Il
don't have to work. The relief commit
tee viii take care of me-
This is the attitude which a great
many able bodied men seem to have as
sumed. They should be made TO work
for their living. or starve.
OF course the question of caring for
invalids. or women with families to take
care OF. is an entirely different matter.
Topeka is willing to be generous to the
extreme.
I.aborers were scarce in North Topeka
Friday and today. Merchants were of
fering as high as so cents an hour for
men to shovel the mud out OF their
stores. carry out and wash muddy
goods and do other work of similar ma
ture. OF course a great many men were
working at these rates. Two dollars and
two dollars and a half day was
common price. 1t is an outrage that any
one in North Topeka should have to
pay an eXorbitant price for labor.
There was strong effort made to
secure men to work in removing dead
animals. Very few men would consent
to do this kind of work. The city viii
probably have TO pay about So a day for
this kind of labor working eight hours.
There are a great many able bodied
women at the Auditorium. and other
refuge stations. doing absolutely nothing
except walk around the town and enjoy
themselves. reporting regularly at the
relief headquarters for meals ana beds
A woman who needed a hired girl went
to the Auditorium yesterday and offer
ed the place to half a dozen women who
seemed physically strong They all de-
nanded $3.50 or "a week for their
services which is more than the aver
age price for servants in ordinary
times.
FIXING UP OLD FIRE STEAMER
Chief Wilmarth of the FIRE department
has left Assistant Chief Babcock in
charge at headquarters. and is now
making the North Topeka fire station
his office all day.
re saws that the old fire steamer viii
be fixed UP and used as soon as possible
TO pump water out OF the cellars Of
North Topeka stores. Those buildings
which show signs of weakness viii be
pumped out first.
AS the water goes out of the buildings,
the walls begin to show signs of weak
ness. Cracks are beginning to appear
in quite a number of Kansas avenue
blocks.
Aaron Sheetzs grocery store has been
condemned. Tt is still standing but has
a bad crack i'm the front wall 1t is be-
ing held up so Chief Wilmarth says, by
the wall Of the building next TO il.
The building at 6l0 and 612 Kansas
avenue. which has been used for Ed III
mons Joint and gambling house up
stairs is condemned. and no one is all
lowed inside. The upper floor is used by
Timon and Ed Hinman. TimOn also has
half of the lower floor, and the other
half is used by laundry and cleaning
establishment.
The old building next to the North
Topeka fire station. which has been IN
diiapidated condition for some time, has
been condemned and Will be torn down
as soon as possible.
All of the little one story frame shaclSs
which We're partially washed out have
been condemned and will have to be
torn down. This may serve to rid KAN
Eas avenue permanently Of lot Of un-
slightly structures. Tt would be a good
thing if a lot Of such buildings on this
side of the river could be wiped out.
Now that the water has fallen, the
weight of the mud on the floors has
caused several AOors to fall. one wall
uable stock Of shoes has gone down into
the basement. and part of the Henry
hardware stock is buried in six fest
OF mud and water
wall in the Barrett block fell yes
terday and il is likely that portions OF
this building are unsafe
Whether the condemned buildings Will
have 10 be torn down or whether they
can be rebuilt is a question which w ilf
= have to be determined by builders and
contractors in connection with the fire
rarsaal Some of the buildings can no
doubt be rendered safe with very sEaI
Expense.
IN THE RESIDENCE PORTION
Chief Wilmarth visited the residence
portion in the northwest and northeast
part Of town Friday. and SAYS:
THE town is badly wrecked OF
course. and some of the buildings are
unsafe for use as habitations. But s.
great many residences seem to be en-
tr0ly uninjured, structurally. and viii
be ready for use as soon as the water
and mud can be cleaned out"
Chief WilmaIth found that the resi-
dence of John w. Ready. at 214 Para
more. is unsafe, and condemned it, Mr.
Ready was at work ina his home. trying
to get things straightened out. bur
Chief Wilmarth required him to cease
work and leave the building
Little Russia is still partially sub