The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-08
County Commissioner Haynes
Talks About Floods.
Artificial Embankments Would
Have Prevented Overflow.
FROM SOLDIER CREEK.
Trouble Came From That Source
This Year.
Says People Can Well Afford to
Build Dykes.

1t is hoped by those who live in North
Topeka and have business interests
result in the taking of some steps to
prevent damage and danger to the
North side in the future.
1t is evident that a system of dykes
or levees would have kept the water
from flooding any part of North Topeka
this year. Whether they would pre-
vent such a flood as was experienced
in 1903 is questionable but a flood of
any less proportions than that of last
year could be kept back by dykes.
County Commissioner S. H. Haynes.
who lives in North Topeka. watched
the flood of this week and took special
note of the places where the water came
| from into North Topeka. Mr.. Haynes
] is certain that dykes would have kept
all the water out of North Topeka
Beginning a dyke near the Skinner
green house to Holman's addition, where
there is nigh ground, and extending the
dyke from Garfield park along Soldier
creek for certain distance would keep
all the water from Soldier creek from
coming into North Topeka said Mr..
Haynes. The first water of the flood
of last year and of this year came from
Soldier creek. BY beginning another
dyke at the Norris place a mile and
half west of North Topeka and a half
a mile east of the Updegraff farm and
running the dyke along the Union Pa
cific right of way down to the Kuehne
Picking Works the water that comes
through the low places from the river
would be stopped. Then another short
dyke between the B Street church and
the old stock yards would complete all
the dyl1ing necessary for the protection
of North Topeka.
ION this dyke, or Ievee, along the
Union Pacific right of way a macadam
road could be built and this would
m Ch00S-
ing this place for the dyke would be
placing it on the highest ground and
along the route taken last year during
the flood by people travelling between
MIXING would strengthen the dyke
against water and would make
straight, public drive. 1t might require
an act of the legislature to provide for
this work or private subscription.
such a dyke would stop flood
two feet less than we had last year
or a flood five or six feet higher than
we had this year 1t would be un-
a dyke. For the present so rods of
dyking between the old stock yards
and the B street church might do, as
that would have stopped the water
coming from the river this year"
Jonathan Thomas, who suffered a
severe loss during the flood last year
by the destruction of his North To-
peka lumber yard, is willing to give
of dykes for the protection of North
Topeka.
Mr.. Thomas appeared before the
board of county commissioners this
morning for the purpose of calling the
attention of the board to the needs of
protection for North Topeka. Mr.
Thomas secured an estimate from
Samuel Dolman that the building of
dykes eight feet high and "a feet wide
at the base would cost about $4,000 a
mile.
In addressing the board of commits
sioners Mr. Thomas said: what if
$4,000 a mile for dykes is a low esti-
mate and what if the total expendi-
ture should be $4,000. Last year the
flood was the cause of myself and the
insurance companies losing $4,000,
the Central Sash and Door factory
and the isurance companies lost $45.-
900, the Inter Ocean mill lost SIS, 900,
and there were other mills and bust
ness houses and factories, and the loss
the city. If the national government
and the state government will do
nothing for the protection of North
Topeka, are we going to give up
North Topeka and desert that part of
town. and can Shawnee county stop
and not build these dykes?
ut is an outrage against the citi-
zens of Shawnee county to sacrifice
50 much property every year and lose
it from the tax rolls. Look at the
mills and elevators and the manufac-
turing institutions. The planning mill
employs 125 men and the wooden mill
more than 100.
These people and the merchants
have gone back to North Topeka and
established business there. Grant
ed that dykes would cost $4,000 a
mile can we afford not to build them
Soon Shawnee county will be voting
$4,000 a mile to build the Frankfort
railroad and will we vote those bonds
and allow these floods to go on de-
stroying property in North Topeka
and demoralizing business there? Will
we sit still and let people move out?
If they do move out the real estate
and the buildings will be worth moth
ing for taxation.
1.-The people would not have come
out of North Topeka this year had it
not been for their experience during
the flood last year. Now we will
have a flood scare every year and the
people will move to the south side or
out of town. If an institution of a
bonafide kind wished to come here
and would employ 100 men we would
do d great deal to induce that institu-
ton to come. We have institutions in
North Topeka employing many men
and we must keep those concerns and
protect them against loss. 1t is vital
to the city that we keep them there. |
We cannot afford to wait another year
before we act"