The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-30
FLOOD IN Topeka
Over Three Inches of Rainfall
Is Recorded.
The River Rises to a Height of
Is Feet.
PEOPLE WERE EXCITED
Gathered in Crowds Sunday on
Melan Bridge.
Citizens of North Topeka Wore
Much Alarmed.
CITY RAILWAY HURT.
Part of the Piles Are Washed
Out.
Structure is Wracked and Can't
Be Used.
False Work on Rock Island
Bridge Also Carried Away.
Citizens of North Topeka We're
Much Alarmed.
CITY RAILWAY HURT.
Structure is Wracked and Can't
Be Used.
False Work on Rock Island
Bridge Also Carried Away.

Total amount of rainfall in Topeka
from noon Saturday until Sunday
afternoon, 3 $40 inches.
This morning at 1880 o'clock the
government gauge on the second pier
of the Rock Island railroad bridge
registered Is feet of water in the Kaw
river. One hour later the water was
falling at the rate of one-half inch an
hour with prospects of a more rapid
decline during the day. Weather Di-
rector Thorp B. Jennings declared this
morning that all danger of flood is
now over, due not only to the fact
that the rainfall ceased yesterday
morning at O'Clock at Clay Center
and at o'clock yesterday afternoon
at Manhattan. but also because the
bulk of the big rain which has pre-
vailed over Kansas for the past three
days, fell south of the Kansas water
shed. and is being emptied into the
Missouri through the NeOshO and
Marias des Cygnes rivers. Only one
disquieting rumOr made itself felt this
morning and that could not be Veri-
fed. 1t was to the effect that a big
rise was coming down from the Solo
mon. Director Jennings made Stren-
uOus efforts to get the facts about it,
but was unable to do SO. Don't be-
lieve it, was his final conclusion, and
he is probably right.
But the KaW's rampage of the past
three days caused a great deal of wOr-
ry and some damage. At 1880 o'clock
on Saturday there was six feet of
water in the river. BY Sunday morn
ing at the same hour the water had
swollen to 10 feet. At o'clock Sun
day afternoon the gauge marked IA
feet, and was still rapidly rising. The
people of North Topeka became wor-
ried. BY o'clock another foot had
been added. The inhabitants uD on
the west end of North Topeka began
packing UP their household affairs
and moving into attics and upstairs.
Live stock, such as cattle and horses,
were brought to this side of the river,
or driven to higher ground on the
north side where they would be safe
from any immediate inundation. The
people in that district feared another
catastrophe such as they suffered a
year ago yesterday, namely, that the
river would back I'D on them from the
rear and again enguf their homes
without an opportunity of escape.
A great many staid up all night.
ready to get out at a moments notice.
Up to this morning people were on the
streets of the North side anxiOusly
awaiting tidingS of the river which was
mOmentariy approaching the top of
the bank on that side. At o. O'clOck the
river became stationary and with the
clearing skies the fears of the North
TOpekanS were alIayed With the fall
ing of the water after daybreak and
the reports of good weather further up
the state, the people of the North side
went back to their homes with some
assurance of no present danger.
The rainfall in Topeka since Saturday
was the heaviest of the year Since
that time the precipitation as register
ed by the government weather bureau
amounted to 3.5 inches and the bulk Of
almost approaching a cloudburst In
many places over the city the streets
were flooded, particularly so near the
Rock Island depot at First and Kansae
avenue. But South Topeka was the
worst sufferer in that regard. The
Shunganunga jumped its banks in sew
eral places and the backwater threaded
the Rullies and cutters throughout that
district. The creek was almost full tc
its banks. The heaviest overflow oc-
Cured at the fair grounds and farther
east close to Kansas avenue, where the
water was backed up as far as Eigh-
teenth street. Flooded cellars caused
the most damage. This morning the
Shunganunga is again rapidly falling
Almost any freShet Will set that stream
on rampage and the people living
near Its banks are usually on the look
out for trouble about this time of the
year and prepare for it The actual
damage therefore was practically in
significant.
City Railway Suffers.
The Topeka Street Railway company
suffered damage which will aggregat te
close to thousand dollars. The false
work from the Rock Island bridge far
ther up the river was carried out AND
jammed against the piers of the city
railway bridge with all the terrific
fore of the current. In three places
the street car bridge is bent until the
track looks more like snake than Z,
tangent. One set of piers was carried
cut entirely. Great masses of drift
wood are still lodged against the struc-
ture and the company has about fifty
men at work today trying to prevent
any further damage. All last night the
wrecking crews worked like Trojans
to save the bridge. Dynamite in great
quantities was used to break up the
driftwood. About II o'clock the work
was commenced and the intona tions
could be heard all over the city. Tnis
work without doubt saved the com
pany a great deal more damage.
Boats and spike hooks are beins
used today to clear away the debris
but it will probably be several days
before the task is accomplished. The
railway company does not expect tC
be able to use the bridge again fol
three weeks or a month. In severa
places the structure is weakened, and
Il is probable that about at least two
OF the spans Will have to be taken out