The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-18
will Not Sign Petition Against
Second Ward Sewer.
Withdraws Total 1000 Lots
from the Remembrance.
CONGRATULATIONS
City Engineer McCabe Says
Outcome lis i'm Doubt.
Report Will Be Made at Next
Council Meeting.

Information has leaked out that thu
Santa Fie railway has taken it's namt
off the remonstrance against the Sec
ond ward sewer. 1t was obtained from
an authoritative source. City Engineer
McCabe was asked about the matter
He replied: 1.-The name of the Santa Fe
is still on this remonstrance and it is
being counted in against the sewer. II
shall go before the council that way
But the city engineers statement
does not mean that the Santa Fe's
name will not be taken off. That car
be done at the council meeting by Soma
representative of the railway. If the
count shows that the majority of the
property owners in the Second ware
are against the sewer, the railway
name will be taken off, and it repre-
SentS just 1000 lots, which, when with
to defeat the efforts of those who dc
not want the sewer put in.
Yet City Engineer McCabe stated this
morning that the demonstrating petit
ton is a big one and that the result is
entirely in doubt. 81 am unable to
say" he stated, what the outcome will
be. i am looking up the records of all
the SignerS and getting the count alb
sOlutely right, because it is going to be
close. That / can see now. 1t will take
every minute of my time to get things
in shape for report to the council at
its next meeting
ken it's name from the petition will be
a hard setback to those who object to
the sewer and will be distinct gain
to those who favor it. The remonstrat-
railroads signature was secured. But
about ten days ago several city officials
who favored the sewer awaited upon
the Santa Fe railroad and after a long
conference the officials determined to
take the name of the Santa Fe off the
petition and remain entirely neutral in
the fight Yet the position which the
board now assumes is practically in IA
VOr of the sewer.
According to the laws which govern
the building of sewers in municipal
ties of the first class, a majority of
the people who have properties abutting
the improvement can object to its
building and in that way kill the pro-
ject. Quite a number of the property
owners in the Second ward feel that
the construction of a sewer would in
crease their taxes too much and for
that reason have made UP the remon-
strating petition. City Engineer Nc
Cabe is verifying all the signatures and
the property which they own.
If those who favor the building OF
the sewer choose to do so they can
throw out the petition as it now stands,
for the simple reason that a great
many of those who signed, failed to
and addresses, leaving out entirely both
house and lot numbers. The city en-
gineer, however, is looking up all these
cases with a good deal of trouble and
waste of time just to give the obJect1nS
parties a, fair chance.
The city health department favors
the building of the sewer and has
urged it's construction both before the
council and among the people of the
ward. The building of the sewer has
practically been the question of the
hour with the Second ward people for
the last month. They have taken sides
- TO- In - of
the remonstrance has taken the form
Of a house to house petition.