The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-26
SEWER OF CONCRETE.
City Engineer Rodgers Would Build
One ON South Side.
An egg shaped, concrete sewer.

| An egg shaped, concrete sewer
/ Inc nrst sewer of this character of
/ construction in Topeka is planned for
Martin-Dennis addition by John Rodg-
ers, city engineer.
The combination of an egg shaped
sewer and the use of concerto instead
OF tile is unusual for this part of the
| country.
Up until four years ago tile was used
| exclusively but the workings of the tile
/ trust which is boosting the price of
| tile every few days is the lever back
| OF the adoption of concrete in prefer
| ence to tile.
| Concrete will be from 40 to so per
| cent cheaper than tile said Mr.. Rodg-
quotation of tile is, it advances every
! little while. There is no question that
the manufacturers of tile have got to-
gether into a trust. Tile has gone up
| like everything within the last two
years and it wouldn't be safe to say
what the price will be in the future"
Some tile will be used in a portion of
the sewer, in the smaller laterals.
Wherever the diameter is Is inches or
over the concrete will take preference.
OF the 35 blocks approximately which
the new sewer will serve, IA blocks will
have sewer with a diameter of from
SO to 60 inches. All of the IA blocks will
be of solid concrete.
The main lateral will run down Nine
tenth street from Bolles to Union ave-
nues and connect on sewer district No.
Il, commonly known as the Filth WdrO
sewer, at Topeka avenue at Eighteenth
street From Nineteenth street and
Union avenue another main lateral for
stormwater will be constructed to con-
meet with Shunganunga creek. This
Will carry excess sewage from very
heavy rains and divert it into the creek.
The lateral on Nineteenth street will
be 36 inches in diameter and the storm
water lateral will be feet in dame
ter. The district served by the sewer
will extend from Bolles avenue on the
west to Union avenue on the east and
from Twentieth street on the south to
Fifteenth street on the north.
A rough sketch of the sewer has been
made but no effort has been attempt
ed to make plans and specifications in
any detail because no levels have been
run.
AS soon as the paving is we'll under
way, line of levels will be run over
the district and with these data the
plans will be prepared and an estimate
as to cost arrived at.
Special coIlapsible steel forms are
manufactured for the construction of
the concrete sewers. The contractors
rent the forms and erect one-half of
the excavation and the concrete is built
around it. Only one-half of the sewer
is there first. Then the forms are set
up for the upper half and this is
clamped down into place. The sewer
is then complete.
The sewers that serve Topeka now
are simply the ordinary round tile.
The egg shape is considered to offer
less friction to the flow Of sewage than
any other. Presumably it represents
the highest development of shape with
the smallest element of friction.
New York city four years ago let the
first contracts for sewers embodying
the above features They have given
considerable satisfaction there and no
reason can be offered why they
shouldn't serve all demands in To-
peka.
When the new sewer has been built
and with the water mains already now
in place. the southwest part of the city
that was two years ago without either, |
will have a better improvement than
many portions of the heart Of the city. |