The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-16


nelghboring trees and telephone poles.
| City Engineer McCabe directed the OPP
| eratlons at this place. 81 do not know
whether 1 can save the bridge or not, =
he said "A good deal of brush and
three or four row botas are lodged
against the piling underneath. We must
remove these in some way, or they may
tear the bridge OUT
Street Commissioner Ramsey was ask
| ed Tor statement and said: Eight
] inches more of water will cause the
creek to break over the dyke at the
loot of Van Buren street. If this oc-
ours the water will run down Van
| Buren street and may cut across Cor
don and over on Kansas avenue as it
| did last year. We are working with
| might and main to strengthen up the
dyke. Everything will be all right un-
less the heavy rains continue and the
creek continues to rise. That is what
we are fearing. The creek has prac-
| tically been stationary from o'clock
| Friday night until noon today, fiuctu-
| ating both ways not more than i've or
six inches at q time. think that we
| will be able to check the water and
keep it from running up Van Buren
street, as conditions are now. There is
no immediate danger. The water is
running rapidly and since the river is
not very high and is carrying it off
rapidly, I believe that with a. cessation
of rainfall, the whole matter will be
quickly over with. We are, however,
preparing for any emergency. The
dykes are in good shape and at no
points are they leaking in North To-
pel6a. 1 believe we are all right"
The only inundation of North Topeka
proper which had occurred by noon was
short stretch of Central avenue just
north of the bridge, and a territory of
several acres Immediately west of the
bridge. This is low, hollow place, but
there are probably a half dozen resi-
dences located therein. Five of these are
,1eafo
their first floors are inundated few
inches. All of these five families have
moved out. Most of them left their
homes on Friday evening, when the
creek was seen to be very rapidly ris-
ing.
Between General avenue and the Kan
sas avenue bridge of Soldier creek, the
water has broken over the bank in sew
SO swift, that little chance of inundation
is given, most of the water being rapid
ly carried Off
The bridge on Kansas avenue is not
endangered in the least. 1t was still
fully ten feet above the water line at
noon. Very little brush and drift wood
is lodged against the piling. Though the
rush of the water is very swift, it show
ed no signs of giving away.
Garfield park is about One-th1rd under
water The creek takes a southeasterly
curve around the northeast corner of the
park. At this point the land is low and
inundation easily occurs. The water
line is close up to the foundation OF the
old Casino"
From that point on to the river the
water is still contained by the banks and
no flood appears at any point. From the
park to the mouth of the Soldier IS bul
short distance and the channel is clean
and we'll cut, and will carry an immense
amount of water.
Alarmed About Repairs.
The citizens of the north half of North
/ al, Il a
water escape under the Union Pacific
track near the Rock Island junction.
The backwater from Soldier creek broke
through the Union Pacific grade last
night, and washed out a hole six or
eight feet in depth and rod wide. This
allowed the overflow to get to the river,
which is several feet lower than Soldier
creek.
This morning the Union Pacific com
pany sent out a large force OF men TO
stop the break and fill up the escape.
The citizens north of the track declared
that the baekwater would flood them
unless it was allowed to escape. and
threatened to cut the Union Pacific en-
bankment in aother place if the chan
mel was stopped. City Engineer Nc
Cabe, who was busily engaged in trying
to hold the Soldier creek dyke at the
Central avenue bridge, was notified of
the stoppage of the escaping water, and
asked to stop the railroad from 4naking
the repairs.
Farmers Driven Out.
North and west of North Topeka is
where the overlooking water seems to
have the people most scared, although
no actual damage is yet recorded,
save the flooding of the lower floors in
a number of farm houses.
A report was circulated that on the
farm of Frank Berry, three miles
west of North Topeka, a great deal of
stock and considerable crops had been
destroyed. Mr.. Berry, with his
brother, owns the Berry grocery store
in North Topeka. He was asked to
tell about the matter and replied:
There is not a word of truth in it.
We haven't lost a thing. 1t is true
that the water is all about our place,
| but there are plenty of high and dry
the pasture just where they have al
ways been and are all right. Our
crops have not been damaged. My
son, Frank Berry, Joseph Lyle and
near me, have left their homes and
have sought higher ground. They
went up to Phi Adams farm. 1 think
they went together more for company
danger. We do not look for any diff
ficulty unless of course the rains
should continue and the river should
get high. But I believe that every
thing is all right"
Gathered Light Truck.
A good many farmers through the
inundated districts, who feared that
their garden vegetables might be
ruined, were busy gathering them yes
terday and as result the local COM
mission houses are we'll supplied with
cabbage and similar truck today. In
quite number of places on the north
side was this done. Vegetables are
easily ruined by floods, in fact are
| made almost worthless when covered
by dirty creek water. which may stand
over them for several days.
County Dixie Leaking.
The dixie built by the county on
John Horizons farm. northwest of the
| city about three miles, gave way
slightly this morning in one or two
places. But the principal difficulty
seemed to be that the embankment
was not long enough and that the
water is running into the land on both
ends. No damage is done, however.