The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-03
Demand Better Drainage Facil-
tiles from the Council.
Citizens to Attend Meeting of
City Fathers Tonight.
HOMES WERE FLOODED.
" ill Ask That Money Be Voted
for Drains.
Much Damage Was Done by
Sundays Rain.

Ihere promises TO be large ana en-
thusiastic congregation of indignant
citizens at the meeting of the city coun-
ell tonight. They are coming to kick
about the superhuity of water which for
a second time this season has character
lied life in Topeka. And for political
reasons, the kckers are likely to meet
with very respectful hearing.
The demand will be for better drain
age facilities, to take care of storm wa
ter. If the eight councilmen who rep
resent the wards which have suffered
from floods all stand together, they can
carry into effect any kind of relief
measures they may agree upon in spite
of the opposition of the dry" wards.
There will be delegation of 1ndlgna-
ton from Parkdale. 1t is perhaps the
most determined and best organized ag-
gregation Such prominent political
workers as T. S. Williams and the Rev
F. E. Mallory are interested in the
movement Parkdale wants the city
council to vote money to build an ex-
tension of the Biddle creek sewer, so
that surplus storm water will run from
Lawrence street direct into Shunga-
nunga creek, instead of following the
bends of Biddle creek or cutting cross
lots through the north part of Parkdale.
This proposed improvement to drainage
facilities is in the Second ward, and
will receive the support of Councllmen
Snyder and Griley.
Two or three different delegations
have been heard from in the south part
of town. Walnut Grove people are sald
to be coming en- masse to demand
something-it is not exactly clear Wha'
they want. except the general PROPOSE
| ton of relief from rain water. There Is
said to be another delegation coming
from the neighborhood of Fifteenth
street. and another from Martin
Dennis addition. This pretty well COW
ers the whole of the Fifth ward, ano
Councilman Sinner is the charge
| d affaires of this constituency. II
Councilman Howe were here, he WouIc
probably cooperate.
Auburndale is in the Sixth ward ter,
ritory, and it is out there where Ward:
/ creek did much damage and caused
| confusion Sunday morning when i
! commenced to flood the streets. WASH
out bridges and fill cellars. No positive
| information has reached the city Off
Gals vet about any delegation beini
prepared for the city council, but there
probably will be some heart to hear
talks with S. A. Swendson and George
/ Tincher. who represent that ward in thu
council, and Tincher and Swendson viii
have a feeling of sympathy for thu
other food sufferers. They will be in
! clined to help the Second and biftf
ward. because they may want som'
favors themselves
The councslmen from the First ware
are likely to remember their own mis-
fortunes, and be glad to extend tn
helping hand to anybody else in tn
council who is after flood relief
Councilmen Snyder and Griley from
the Second, Tincher and Swendson from
the Sixth, Kutz and Blossom from thu
First, and Sinner from the Fifth, con
stitute a majority of the council anC
can. if they work together, adopt an,
| chosen line of action.
1t is not known exactly what the Varl
Gus grievance committees will demand
They probably do not all know them
selves just what they want But the.
are positive that the city should TAX
some action to prevent water overflow
ing the streets and injuring their fences
flower beds and sidewalks to say moth
ing of their flooded cellars. They VII
ask for the construction of additional
drains sewers, and bridges. Some o
them insist that the city has made mis-
takes in its grades, and ought to estab
lish new ones. A man and a womal
living near East Fourth street calle'
on the city engineer this morning an
told him that he would have to take VI
. the East Fourth street pavement, as
had been laid so high that it turned a
, the water right into their lots. AS
matter of fact, the pavement is seve
inches lower than the street was befor
it was paved.
There has heretofore been great oppo
sition to the plan to build a drain 70
Parkdale at the city's expense. 1t wa
contended that the expense of the drai
should be met by the Parkdale peopl'
lust as the expense of a sewer is me
Whether the combinat ton of all the f1oo
suffering districts is strong enough I
agree to the proposed expenditure
something which will be determined thi
evening.
? city Engineer McCabe said today: g
t don't see what the city can do in tn
present emergency There can't be an