The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-06
Blue Rapids Is Fast Emerging
from Flood Conditions.
Temporary Dam for the Blue
River Nearing Completion.
1000 LOADS OF ROCK.
Vast Amount of Work to Turn
River to Old Channel.
Factories and Local Industries
Resume Business.

Blue Rapids. July 6.-Up to Saturday
night last about 1000 wagon loads of
rock had been used in constructing the
new temporary dam which will turn the
current of the Blue river back into its
old channel Including Saturday Henry
SeibeEt has already furnished about
$500 loads for the west half of the dam,
and Thos. Donahoe has quarried about
$500 loads for the east side. The work
has been in progress over three weeks,
and the two ends of the dam Will be
connected early this week, when the
milling industries will again be put in
motion. In the construction of this
dam good deal of the work has been
performed by either the business men
or their clerks, and thrown in gratui-
tous. There were many opinions as to
the manner of constructing the dam
which would turn the current to its old
channel spring, but the people of Blue
RAPIDS couldn't get together on either,
when Thos. J. Hall, the barber, sug-
gested a plan, and agreed to put up a
FORFEIT If 1t failed. His plan was
adopted, and the job is almost com
pleted. The people of Blue Rapids are
so rejoiced over the near completion OF
the temporary dam and wagon road
that hot time in the old town is
cfANSi way ana banquet VIII De given
TO Mr.. Hall and his corps of co-work-
ers some night this week which will be
one of the most entertaining and enjoy
able affairs Blue Rapids has ever
known. And II will be well earned for
no one has worked harder than has Mr..
Hall and his co-workers.
While Blue Rapids and her business
interests have been seriously crippled
for a month or more by the closing
down of her factories and the loss of
of laa nj -
bridges, her continued growth will not
be checked. Her milling and lnanufac-
turing industries together with four
large gypsum and plaster plants and
IN all probability she will secure more
in the near future, has given Blue Rap
ids a standing in the front ranks of
progressive, wide-awake manufacturing
and business centers. And her water
power, the finest in the west, is known
from one end of the continent to the
other. She may be crippled for the
time, but she will come up again,
PhOenix-hke, because there is wealth in
her water power, grit in her citizens, and
sound financial backing behind it all.
And Blue Rapids is a most desirable
place to live. Her people Will not toll
crate saloon or joint, but one will
find several churches, first-class schools,
and town full of pleasant and cheer
full homes.
Among the other substantial improve
ments which is going to count for Blue
Rapids and the surrounding country is
the addition to her business of the Blue
Rapids Lumber company, Incorporated
who have already in lumber. grounds
and sheds over $1,000 f. A. Train is
president and treasurer as well as man
ager; w. J. Gerard is vice president
and A. G.. Train is secretary.
And the Blue Rapids Ladies Opera
House association, an organization OF
ladies who are going to see that Blue
Rapids maintains and pays for a good
opera house. They took charge of it in
1897, when there was big debt hang
ing over it. And they are reducing the
debt every year. They elect officers an
nually, the present ones being; Mrs
Sarah A. Stocks. president; Mrs. Carrie
Hunter, vice president; Mrs. Nettie
Barlow, secretary; Mrs. Carrie Holmes
treasurer. They consented to have Z
gentleman to act as manager and elect
ed J. l. Barnes.
Blue Rapids has both the Missouri
Pacific and Union Pacific roads. a large
public library. a state bank, a clean
newsy journal in the Times cigar fac
tory, two hotels, waterworks and cleo
trio light plants, lodges of all secret So
cieties, a few chronic kickers and Z
whole town full of wide-awake, gooc
people and progressive business men.