The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-05
Important Viaduct Information
Secured in Lincoln.
There Railroads Are Forced to
Build Them.
NO QUORUM THERE.
Council Committees Didn't
MateriaIize Last Night.
New Fire Station Wanted in
Southwest.

Councilman William Green and May
or Bergundthal brought back with
them from Lincoln some information
about viaducts which may result in the
defeat of the proposition to vote $15, 900
in bonds for the city's share of a $45-
900 viaduct across the Santa Fe tracks
mt Branner street.
They found that the Lincoln city
council few years ago passed an or
dinance requiring the Union Pacific
railway to build a viaduct 1000 feet
long across its tracks, and pay all the
cost Of erection and maintenance. The
railway fought the case up through the
supreme court, and it was decided that
the city had the right to require the
improvement to be made. Then a. COM
promise was reached with the company
by which the cost of construction was
paid by the railway companies, with
the understanding that the viaduct
should be maintained by the city.
Thereupon the city drew plans for
viaduct costing $4,000 and the whole
expense, together with $4,000 more for
damages, was paid by the railway.
The city of Lincoln found that the
expense OF maintenance would be
heavy, and it reSorted to new plan to
compel the railway to assume this ex-
pense. 1t passed another ordinance,
requiring the erection of another via
duct at another point. This brought
the railway to time, and another COM
promise was reached, by the terms OF
which the city waived its demand for
a second Viaduct and the company
agreed to assume forever the expense
of maintenance on the first viaduct
built.
If the city of Topeka has the right
10 compel the Santa Fe to build any
kind of a viaduct the city desires, and
to also assume the cost of maintenance,
it is highly probable that the council
will reject the present proposition for
the construction of a $4,000 viaduct to
be paid and maintained Jointly by the
city, the Santa Fe and the Street Rail-
way company
The streets and walks committee had
a meeting called for Friday night, but
the members failed to attend in suffi-
cient multitudes to produce quorum
The committee will meet at O'Clock
Monday night, just before the meeting
of the council.
No Ways and Means Meeting.
There was also an absence of q
quorum at the meeting of the ways and
means committee called for Friday |
night. Three members were present, |
and nothing was done The ways and |
means committee will not attempt to |
meet until after the next council meet !
ing, so that none of the important mat
tiers before the committee will be ready |
for the council Monday night.
Among the most important matters !
which are up before this committee for |
consideration are the following:
1. New fire station in the southwest |
part of the city.
. New pest house for smallpox |
patients.
3. New crematory plant for the dis |
position of the city's garbage and dead |
animals.
The new fire station was asked for a
long time ago by the people living in /
the Washburn college district, by !
means of a long petition. 1t is thought !
that the city can build such a station |
at small expense, as the land would |
probably be donated What the people /
out in that part of town want is |
chemical engine, to serve as some pro- |
lection while that part of the city is |
destitute of water service. Within the .
past year, a dozen or more buildings |
part of town, which might have been |
saved had there been some protection /
available. The run is 2 miles from fire /
department headquarters, and a mile or /
doubt that more fire protection is badly |
needed.
The new pest house and crematory |
are both recommended by the board of |
health, and are both needed. The pres /
ent pest house was not expected to be a |
permanent structure. and it is not what /
the city ought to have, especially in |
view of the recent indications of a con- |
tinuation of the smallpox epidemic.
OF course the garbage question is a |
serious one, and the Osborn company |
is simply taking care of the business |
because there is no one else able TO |
do so. 1t seems that the only way the /
city will ever be able to get this great |
problem settled is to take charge of the /
work itself
The difficulty is in all these PROPOSE |
tons to find the money to pay the cost. J
OF course, when the city buys the wa /
terWorks. it may have more revenue |
than it has now. but the city council
seems to be loath to accept a good |
money making proposition when it
comes along.
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