The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-24
PAY,GET NO SEWER
Sixth Ward People Are Up In
Arms.
Evidence That They We're Vic
Tins of Graft
COMING TO SURFACE.
Even Fifth Ward Scandal May
Be Surpassed.
City Officials Are COnductinp
COMING TO SURFACE.
City Officials Are CONDUCTING
An Investigation.

were assessed to pay for the Sixth
1 ward sewer. 5sE
| Property owners will storm the city
| council on September asking for an
investigation into the construction of
| the Sixth ward sewer claiming that
n1sconstruction entered into that sew
eT.
E. D. McKeever has been engaged to
represent the property owners. They
| Will ask that the council Immediately
| institute inquiry, to their complaints.
| One of the main items that enters in,
| is that the sewer was changed from the
way it was originally planned cutting
out four blocks or more of sewer. AS
first planned 1t is stated that line
was to run down Buchanan street from
Huntoon to Seventh street. There was
some complaint because the sewer
would probably be constructed to run
down along the parking, between Tenth
and Eighth avenues due to the fact that
there is no alley in that area. The
property owners were asked to waive
their rights to a sewer, which was
done, and the sewer was constructed
down Lincoln street.
But there are number of lots facing
Buchanan street between Eighth and
Tenth avenues which do not run
through to Lincoln street. They had no
they constructed a private one and yet
they were assessed in full.
Judge Foote was assessed 1892, Chas.
Bower who fronts on Tenth avenue was
west, known as the McKeever tract,
was assessed for $274.56.
These assessments figure in the COM
plant. The claim is also made that
the city paid for four blocks of sewer
which it did not get. That by con-
structing the sewer on Lincoln street in
stead of Buchanan the contractors did
not have to go so far east and saved
themselves that amount of extra con-
tract work. However, this does not
seem to be we'll founded. The contrac-
tors were paid by the lineal foot, and
a leSsening in the number of nneal feet
would cut down the cost approximately.
The contract was not let on lump
sum.
There is no question but what the
property owners can come in and secure
the money back for the assessment
which was enormously placed on them"
said the mayor. They can bring ac-
ton even If they have paid in a part
of it. They cannot be taxed for some
thing they never got.
These charges of raising the sewer
would seem to- -substantiate the claim
made by McCabe, that 1t had been the
custom of the city engineers of Topeka
for years to raise the sewers without 4
consulting the mayor or council. In this
way McCabe would have something of
defense. OF course the city engineers
never had any authority to make any
raises of that kind from the city coun-
ellis in the past"
From the way things looks, this bids
1dlr 10 De WORSE lIle1dl the l1ln WdIQ
sewer charges, said John Rogers, city
engineer. Il have not looked into it
deeply but it begins to look worse. The
talk of a grand jury investigation has
got the boys all scared"
F. G. Dreaming, city attorney. made
the investigation into the Sixth ward
sewer. I'VE worked until five O'Clock
last evening and did not succeed in COW
ering much ground but from what we
did findh it looks pretty bad said he.
That he will be able to make explana-
lions in full in court which will clear
away the charges that he entered into
fraud the city is the declaration made
by James McCabe, former city engineer.
Il wanted to make reply In the be-
ginning to the charges but l took the
the newspapers. I thought that it would
be a good thing to let the people know
both sides of the question and l knew
I could explain but 1 accepted the ad-
newspape said McCabe yesterday af- |
ternoon. 81 think since that 1 made a |
mistake in accepting the advice. l had
some counter charges ready to be hled
with the council but I thought now
since had kept quiet for this length of
time / would let the whole thing rest |
and let my defense develop in court
A claim is now made that the Sixth
ward sewer which was constructed to |
drain the western portion of the city
bounded by Sixth avenue on the north, |
Pine street on the west and on the east
by the alley between Lincoln and Lane
streets was also raised away above the
plans as first made. There is no critic |
ism offered that the sewer does not give |
adequate servic.
1t is said tn greatest raise amounted |
to SIS feet on the east side of Garfield |
street, on Tenth street to the alley pc
tween Arch and Garfield streets ana
south in this alley to Munson avenue
The plans called for a depth of 1852 and
f6n 11fr Tnff i'm II
the claim made based on charts OF the
city engineer.
The next biggest variation is shown to
be on Tenth avenue from the alley be-
tween Garfield and Morris to the east !
side of Garfield street, Where the pan
was POT feet and the actual construc-
ton was 1897 feet Otner cildtioils are
made as follows:
In the alley between Eighth and Tenth |
avenues and between Morris avenue and
Spruce street plans calling for 1915 feet, |
construction 1888 IT.
and Spruce street, depth as planned S.S5 |
feet, construction 7-S9 feet.
On Tenth avenue and Spruce street |
tn aIley between Spruce and Pine street, |
denfh as planned, 1871 feet, depth con
on Seventh street from the alley be- !
tween Lane and West streets to the |
depth planned 1916 feet, constructed |
II. 40 feet.
In alley north of Eighth from Lane |
west to alley between Lane and West |
streets, sewer planned at 15.9 feet deep, |
constructed at &c feet.
On Lincoln street between Ninth and |
Tenth avenue, depth planned 17.6 feet, |
constructed 1913 feet.
In alley between West and Horne |
streets. depth planned 1888 feet. con- |
structed 7.75 feet.
On Tenth avenue from Spruce to alley. |
depth planned 22.12 feet, constructed
II. 81 feet deep