The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-06-13
MUST Be DRAINED
Pools in North Topeka Will Be
Emptied.
Large Ditch viii Be Excavated
to Soldier Greek.

As the drainage of North Topeka will
from now very greatly affect the sani-
tary conditions Of the flooded locality
the board of health and the street de-
partment are now giving their atten-
ton to it seriously. The opening of the
streets OIL the north side demands the
service of the street department and
will continue to do so for some time to
come As water stands in the holes
made by the different currents of the
flood and at present closes almost the
entire North side to traffic the work of
street building and drainage is very
closely combined.
The north current. described in the
State Journal,still runs through a chain
OF pools and riVulets from the Kansas
river west Of town into Soldier creek
at Central avenue. Extending along
the south side of Holman's addition
from Central avenue to Garfield park,
shallow water is standing in broad, un-
healthy looking puddles. In places be-
tween Central avenue and the Rock Is
land right of way between st. John
stret and the city limits water stands
from four to eighteen feet in depth in
holes left by the receding inundation.
Not only does the situation greatly con-
cern the residents Of North Topeka and
the street department. but it is the oc-
casion of great annoyance to the farm
ers living north of town who depend
upon Topeka for their supplies.
West of town, along the path of the
north current the water stands upon
hundreds of acres of farming land or
cuts them off from approach The own
ers of this land are very anxious that
+ dyking be done. west of town where the
north channel leaves the main river
+ This place is near the Updegraff farm
three miles from the west city limits
f The stoppage of this current is regarded
+ as one OF the most important things te
be done. It's accomplishment rests
j largely with the county commissioners
From the farmers north of town has
/ come an offer of assistance in accom-
plishing the big task Of stopping the
water draining North Topeka and op-
Nening some of the streets. They are be
coming impatient at the delay.
The ca pable anagement of the street
7 department by Street Commission q
+ SNYDER has already done wonders toware
I clearing way for travel in North To
pel1a No other street commissioner
4 was ever confronted with problems oi
equal difficulty His force has beer
greatly augmented and his men have
worked uncomplainingly at the mos
I Wearying sort of tasks Kansas avenue
/ has been opened and the farmers hvlne
east of Soldier creek are able to gel
through The opening of the streets fol
/ the farmers on the west side must now
I be taken care of.
With this in view the ditching OF the
water which obstructs the work has
been commenced. A small ditch giving
an outlet for a large amount of the
standing water was dug Thursdas
morning. However. as the source of tht
water on the west side of town has moi
! been cut off its value is small just now
/ Today Commissioner Snyder made the
4 examination of the drainage possibilities
in the locality between Kansas avenue
and Central avenue. A long wide pone
covers a large area north of st Johf
street and must be drained off both fol
the sake of sanitary conditions and FOL
the opening of the streets.
/ Work on q drainage ditch emptylns
into Soldier creek at the Central avenue
/ bridge is expected to be commenced thi:
/ afternoon With a three foot ditch 1t /:
believed that large amount of standing
water can be carried off in the next two
/ davs 1t is very probable that some
+ bridge work will be necessary in th'
! opening of Tyler. Harrison and Topeka
/ avenues. Tyler street Will be the frs
/ street to be opened while it is not un
+ likely that the filing of the other tW'
4 will be postponed until more importan
matters elsewhere can be attended to-
Garfield park will take but little at
tention to restore it to its origina
greenness. It was not deeply flooded
and the grass upon it suffered but litth
and fresh The park is very largel,
patronized by farmers who tie thei
teanls in the shade while they conn
over to the south side afoot Consider
able mud has lodged in the band stane
-.