The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-12
CUT THE TREES.
Plan to Prevent the Overflow of
Smaller Streams.

The farmers who have land flooded
by the high water of Soldier, Waka-
rusa and Cross creeks are anxious that
some steps be taken to prevent such
| floods from these creeks and meetings
are being arranged for in the country
10 discuss the best plans for preventing
further floods.
The plan proposed, and which is be-
ing discussed by the farmers, is the
clearing of the trees and brush frUm
the banks of these creeks on both sides
for a distance of 100 feet back from the
creek banks. It is believed by many
that such clearing away of trees
would prevent serious floods in the fu-
ture- This belief is based on the fact
that each year when the creeks rise
and leave the banks that the ground
along the line of the creeks is soaked
and the roots of the large trees are
loosened- Then the force of the water
and drift against the trees forces them
over into the water and they are final
ly partially uprooted and left to form
a dam in the creek channels.
The cutting away of the banks also
uproots other trees which are carried
into the creek beds to lodge against OBJ
catch the earth and debris washed
against them. Such dams prevent the
waters from keeping the creek beds OPP
en- and clear and also prevent heavy
waters from washing the creek chan
nels deeper.
Those who advocate the clearing
away of the trees on each side of the
creek banks point for proof that their
theory is correct to the fact that years
ago the creeks did not overflow as they
do now and that the reason was that
when the trees were smaller they were
carried away by the water and did not
lodge and make trouble. The fact is
also asserted that the creek beds are
much shallower than they were years
ago which is caused by the dams form
ing
Those who advocate the clearings on
each side of the creek banks say that
if the waters of the creeks were not
INSTRUCTED that they would deepen and
widen the channel and would provide
large enough cnanne4s to carry away
the flood waters.
County Commissioner Harrison and
Haynes both b slieve that
the clearing away of the timber would
soon stop the noods from tue CREEKS.
Along the Wakarusa the timber is
thick and the trees have reached
great size said Commissioner Harri- |
son this morning. when these large
trees are washed out and tipped over
into the stream they soon form an al |
most solid dam by reason of the drift |
and earth piling against them This |
forces the water out over the banks |
and it also causes the creek beds to fill
and become Shallower. The WakaruSa |
has been up and out of its banks twice |
this year. This is unusual. l believe |
hat If the trees are cleared away from
he banks on both sides for suitable
distance that we will soon find less |
trouble from floods in the Wakarusa |
valley
A meeting of farmers who live along
upper Soldier creek will soon be held |
'Or the purpose of starting a concerted /
lction to clear away the trees. All the
and along the creeks is owned by indi-
RITUALS and the only way the clearfngs
an be made is by the concerted action
II all property owners to this end. Peo-
lie who own the land can not be COM
)eIled to cut the timber along the
ranks of the creek but as the floods af-
ect the owners of the land, as we'll as
he owners of land close by. it is hoped
hat some good will result from the ag-
tation. If the drifts which obStruct the
orce and flow of the water are cleared
way 1t is believed that the creeks will
radually straighten themselves by
eason OF the high waters finding new
hannels.
The farmers in the Soldier and
ross creek country and along the Kan
as river, near Topeka. are agftating
ew drainage laws to meet the difficult
les of this year and last. The law now
llows farmers to dixie and build ditch
s for the protection of their farms
rom surface water. bikes and bitches
lmost always carry the water to some
ther farm to do damage there and all
he farmers must either dixie or build
itches for their protection Just what
he farmers want in the way of a new
law is uncertain
'It is a knotty problem" said Com
missioner Haynes What helps one
armer injuries another. West of town
he water from Soldier creek stands on
Tiff Hawkins farm and runs from :
here, or did run. through North Tope-
a and still covers the road Mr.. Hawk
rs is willing, If he is given some help,
, dig a ditch to drain the water into
ne river. This would be all right now {
ut later when the river rises the water
-ould come from the river back Z
trough this ditch What works well at {
ne time doesn't at another time"