The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-09
SOUNDS LINE "A JOKE.
John A. Daley Charges Flood to Me-
Ian Bridge.

John A. Daley, the Santa Fe engineer
who '-prophesied'' the inundation of
North Topeka in a paper read TWO years
ago before the Saturday Night club,
read a paper before the council last
night which was positively blOOdcurd-
ling in its ferOcity. He charged the re-
cent flood, with its consequent loss Of
life and property up to the Melan
bridge, and denounced that admirable
structure as a magnificent crime.
Mr. Daley says the Melan bridge
should be instantly torn down. He
traced the bloodstains to the very door
of the Melan bridge with the same re-
lentless spirit which has characterized
Sherlock Holmes.
There is a large, gaping hole in Mr..
Dailey's argument against the Melan
bridge and it is that they had just as
high water in St Marys and points
west, and Kansas City and points east,
as we had in Topeka, and there IS no
Melan bridge anywhere except at To-
peka.
Part of Mr.. Dailey's bloodthirsty de-
nunciation is as follows:
The magnificent MeIan arch has
withstood the torrent nobly. Daily
Press.
ITO the immobility and indestruct-
Utility Of the Kansas avenue bridge is
due the destruction Of property and in
cidental loss of life in North Topeka and
vicinity, May-June, 1908
Its construction was our magnificent
blunder and its maintenance viii be q
ma gni6cent crime.
Unless steps are Immediately taken
to remove all of said arch bridge ex-
cepting so much as foundation for piers
for a series Of truss bridges, the coun-
ty of Shawnee and the city of Topeka
are liable. after the fact of every life
lost in this iamentable catastrophe. and
lives lost in future Goods win be homi-
cldal. due to our WillfuI acts
NO plan should be considered that
does not contemplate its entire re-
mOVal and substitution by a series Of
truss bridges At as high level as the
A T. & S. F. bridge with additional
spans beyond the ends of the present
Melan bridge With channel already
opened at the north end of the a. T &
, r. bridge, 1t would probably require
no great amount of persuasion TO induce
that company to add a new span to
their bridge
Having practically destroyed North
Topeka and immea sura bly, diminished
values within its limits together with
the thousands of acres on the north ana
west 1t is our bOunden duty to do what
we can 10 make life and property Sc
cure on the North side This can be
done only by spanning the river BIZ
truss bridges and widening the channel
to its natural limits. This with a few
miles of diking, tie proper frightening
and perhaps raising of the Rock Island
bridge, together with restraining the
Rock Island Railway company from Oc-
cupyng the river bed with its yard.
will I believe avoid . repetition of
such a catastrophe as has just occur
red
Mr.. DALEY suggested that the street
railway company be required to build
its North Topeka line down Quincy
so mat from Fourth street the road
would be an elevated road. crossing the
river on 2 double decked, truss bridge
of great height so built that it viii be
suitable for street cars on the upper
deck. and vehicles and pedestrians on
the lower deck. He wanted the Melan
bridge changed into a trussed steel
bridge, on very high piers. Mr.. Dailey's
suggestions We're not adopted last
night.