The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-11
THEY DUG bitches
North Topeka People Don't
Wait for Red Tape.
Force Digs Drain for MenOken
Chain of Lakes.
ANOTHER ON EAST SIDE
Santa Fe Embankment Is Cut
Without a Clash.
Result Is That North Topeka
Conditions Are Improved.
ANOTHER ON EAST SIDE

North Topeka sent two we'll organic
ed and perfectly orderly "mobs'' on
Saturday afternoon to do a little work
which was deemed necessary to the
welfare of the city.
One of the gang of avenging angels
took passage on a Union Pacific work
train, and Travelled about four miles
west of town, where it set to work with
picks and sovels, and in a couple of
hours dug a ditch feet wide and rs
feet long to allow the water from the
chain of Menoken flood lakes to run
out into the river, instead of being
forced to flow down through town to
find an exit. There were about 25 men
in this crowd, and after completing the
job, they all walked back to town.
Another expedition was made against
the Santa F'e track seast of town. The
Santa Fe had Allied to put in the box
culVert under its tracks to allow the
water to run through the embankment.
The only way to get the water out of
the east part of town, where it had
backed up from the creek, was to run
1T out through the embankment. So
the crowd of citizens shovelers cut the
enbankment, and the water rushed
through. The outlet allowed the water
to fall repidly, and in a short time the
streets were paSSable.
There were half a dozen Santa Fe
section men at the embankment when
the work was in progress, but no effort
was made to interfere with the citi-
zens' committee. The committee did it's
work quickly and went away. Later in
the afternoon, the Santa Fe sent out
a carload of box culverts, which were
put in place under the track.
When the gang of shovelers reached
the place west of town where their
ditch was to be cut, they found that
stakes had been set and levels fixed for
the drain. This was done the day be-
fore when Mayor Bergundthal and City
Engineer McCabe had gone out there
to examine the situation. OF course
Mr.. McCabe did not take the levels for
the use of the mob 1t was merely
done to ascertain whether such a ditch
would be practical.
When Mr.. McCabe and Mr.. Ber-
gundthal returned from their trip,
both reported that the ditch was prac-
teal. all right. but they did not either
of them know who would dig it. They
said it would not be the city, nor the
county, nor the railroad company, but
they seemed to think that it would be
dug, all the same. Evidently they had
reason for their belief.
One of the membres of the mob"
talked to State Journal reporter to-
day, his only condition being that his
name be not given.
I'VE had no leaders, said this man.
I'VE simply went out there to dig the
ditch, and we dug it. Nobody was re-
sponsible. This ditch is on private
land is owned by a nonresident. 1
do not know that there would have
been any objection to our digging
there, but we could not wait to see. 1t
had to be done at once. I won't give
the names of anybody who was with
the crowd. because we are not hunting
for notoriety.'
Another sink hole has come into ex-
istence in North Topeka since the flood.
The hole is at Park and Jackson, and is
about 80 feet across. Street Commissioner
Snyder caused the hole to be barricaded
and Will start in repairing the damage as
soon possible.
The hole is caused by the shifting quick
sand on which the sewer lays. The quick
sand has become impregnated with water
and has moved off, allowing the sewer
pipe to drop down a number of feet. This
has caused the earth to cave in on all
sides. 1t will be necessary to dig the
sewer up and pull the pipes out of the
sand with a block and tackle. After the
1903 flood it was necessary to dig up the
sewer at several places where it had
caved in
With the exception of one stopped sewer
in the rear of Mayor BergundthaIs resi-
dence, the sewers of North Topeka seem
to be in good shape and to be working
very Well.