The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-26
TWO BOND ISSUES
People Will Decide About Them
at Fall Election.
Bridge Extension.
OTHER FORSIX BRIDGES
These WOnid Be of Steel Across
the Shunganunga.
Viaduct Proposition Will Be
Submitted Later.
OTHER FORSIX BRIDGE

| It was decided by the council Tues
day night that two bond propositions.
both on one ballot, shall be submitted
to the voters of Topeka at the general
election on Nov. 8. The two propo-
sitions are as follows:
Shall the city vote $4,000 in 5 per
cent bonds to build two new spans
at the north end of the melan bridge:
Shall the city vote $1O.4OO in per
cent bonds to build five new bridges
across Shunganunga and Wards
creek?
The proposition to vote bonds for
the proposed Branner street viaduct
will go over to some later time. The
council got into serious tangle over
the V1aduct proposition and decided
to postpone the whole business for
future consideration.
There was a spicy debate on the
question of submitting the proposition
to vote bonds for five new bridges.
DR.. H. w. Roby was there and
made a speech in favor of submitting
the proposition. He said:
UNLESS the council submits this
proposition well as the melan prop
osition, can assure you that we will
get out and fight that melan propo-
sition and beat it. We won't stand
aside for the melan bridge repairs
when all we ask is $4,000, and they
want $4,000"
This brought forth a sharp speech
from Councilman Ryder. He said in
part: you people can go ahead and
kill the Melan bridge proposition if
you want to. If you have to be
bought to keep you from killing it,
say kill it. The repairs on the Melan
bridge are something the whole of the
city of Topeka is interested in, and it
ought to stand alone. 1t should not
be burdened with lot of other things
which have no relation to it,"
City Attorney Spencer ironed out
some of the wrinkles by stating that
under no circumstances would the
Melan proposition and the other
bridges be included in blanket issue;
that each proposition would be sub
mitted separately, SO that voters can
vote for one, both or neither as they
prefer.
1t has been serious question
whether the commissioner of elections
would have to prove separate ballots,
poll books and ballot boxes for the
male and female vote on each propo-
sition. Under the advice of the city
attorney. the council instructed the
election commissioner to provide only
one set of poll books and ballot boxes
for the bond election, and to print
both of the bond propositions on the
same ballot. In the past it has been
the custom to submit each bond prop
osition on separate ballot.
The five bridges which are included
in the omnibus bill'' are as follows:
Steel bridge across the Shunga-
nunga at Kansas avenue, to cost 3d.
400; steel bridge across the Shunga-
nunga at Twentieth and Van Buren, to
cost $4,000; steel bridge across the
Shunganunga at Chandler to cost So
600; steel bridge across Wards creek
at Park avenue, to cost $500; steel
bridge across Wards creek at Willow
avenue to cost $500.
Two of these bridges are in the
Fifth ward, two in the Sixth and one
in the Second. 1t is expected that the
vote of these three wards will combine
in sufficient strength to carry the "om-
nibus bill'' through.
There was some talk of building a
concrete bridge across the 'Shunga-
nunga at Kansas avenue at a cost of
$4,000, but the council turned this
down. The bonds for the five bridges
will run for 20 years
Viaduct Must Wait.
During the past few days, the city
railway officials had changed their or
iginal plan for submitting the proposed
viaduct bonds at a special election, and
they were hoping to run it in with the
other bond questions at the general
election. But the council turned down
this idea last night.
City Attorney Spencer told the coun-
Gil that in his opinion and that of A.
A Hurd of the Santa Fe, the people
whose property would be damaged BY
the construction of the viaduct would
have no recourse at law for damages
to their property, because the grade on
Branner street has never been legally
esta blished. All the city would have to
do to escape paying damages would De
to establish the viaduct grade as the
legal grade of the street, according to
MI. Spencer. Then the people living
down under the approaches would have
to fill up their loN to grade. This
would mean in some instances, filling
in about 20 feet. a manifestly absurd
The property would be
practically ruined.
Numerous property owners in the
were present, and regis
tered vigorous protest. They did not
object to the viaduct, but they wanted
protection for their hoEnes.
Attorney T. F. Doran, of the city
said he did not agree Wfeh !
Spencer and Hurd; he /
thought the property holders could col
lect damages. He thought that the !
section in the ordinance providing that
damages should be paid equally by the
Santa Fe, the city railway and the
city, would protect the property hold |
ers 'T give it to you as my private !
opinion, however, he said, that the
bonds will not carry, anyway" This |
seems to be the opinion of good many |
other people around the city hall.
The council finally decided to send /
the whole matter back to the streets /
cHrn f0r Asthma and HaV Fever