The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-01
MENNINGER Is FIRM.
Says He Will Continue to Advocate
Second Ward Sewer.

| DR.. c. F. Menninger, chairman of the
board of health. is not terrified by the
antf-sewer talk in the Second wadr.
| Regardless of what people dowr
there think of me, regardless OF my
professional practice, 1 feel that it is
my solemn duty as one of the health
officers of the city of Topeka, to urge
the construction of this sewer, says
| DR.. Menninger.
| What about this contention that g
dry sewer is not a good thing from a
sanitary standpoint" was asked.
Nothing in it; dry sewer is vastly
better than nothing. Every rain hush-
eS the sewer thoroughly, and the sewer
| is almost constantly receiving surface
drainage. What the Second ward needs
more than a sewer for night SOIL, Stops,
and such refuse, is a sewer Tor surface
drainage. Every unsewered portion of
the city needs a sewer, but the condi-
ton in the Second ward is especially
serious. The Sixth ward, for instance,
is a hilly locality, and storm water
drains off quickly. The Second ward,
on the other hand, lies very low, and
is the natural catch basin for all those
hills to the east. Those people do not
realize the situation or they would de-
mand a sewer. They do not know what
is for their best interests.
Look at the statistics for deaths in
the city of Topeka, and in any other
city, and you will find that the greatest
percentage of deaths is invariably
no sewer. Death means sickness. Sick
ness means expense for doctors, med1-
cine loss of time, and living expenses.
When the Second ward people say they
can not build a sewer because 1t is TOO
expensive, I say they can not afford to
do without a sewer because the expense
of sickness is greater than the expense
of a sewer. They say that to build a
sewer means confiscation of property.
That is all bosh. They made the same
talk over in North Topeka before that
sewer was, built. They say that 1T Will
cost the Second ward $40 lot to build
the sewer That is also a great mis-
take. The lots pay in proportion OF
their assessed value. The poor man
who owns a cheap lot will have a pro-
portionally small part of the expense
to bear. The we'll to do man, who owns
valuable property, will nave to bear
larger portion of the expense. Some of
those lots over in North Topeka only
had to pay 81 a year sewer tax.
.sThere is considerable talk about the
Santa Fe's position in this matter.
am free to say that I am responsible
for the withdrawal of the Santa FEES
name from the remonStrance- L Went 10
Mr. Nudge myself and told him that
he had heard only one side of the con-
troversy. I presented the other side to
him. I showed him the figures to prove
nv assertions. I convinced him that
the construction of the proposed sewer
would be of real benefit to the Santa
Fe shops, by decreasing the amount of
sickness among the Santa Fe snopmen
who comprise a large part of the pop
IIlat ton of the Second ward. After
had explained the matter fully to Mr..
Nudge he withdrew the Santa FEES
name from the remonstrance. That's
the way the Santa Fe stands on the
proposition"
DIR. Menninger will continue the fight
for the construction of the sewer.