The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-14

avenue would give a good idea of
practically all of the materials used
for sidewalk purposes. At a sugges-
ton of the city engineer and a favor
able report from the streets and walks
committee the sidewalks along To-
peka's petticoat lane will undergo a
complete change.
Tonight the city councilmen have
planned to bring their wives to the
weekly street naming battle. 1t is
hoped that the council chamber will
be crowded with citizens who have a
kick coming on the new propositions
suggested by the street naming COM
mittee. In fact, the council has been
worked up to such a pitch they would
be pleased to have every kicker in the
city present. The reason for all this
is that the council will settle once
and for all the useless trouble that has
befallen them in the last month. With
but one exception the original report
of the committee will be accepted and
without any help from sentimental
petitions and the like. City En-
gineer Rogers has suggested that the
police force be substituted for the
wives of the councilmen but his sug-
gestion was thought to be a cowardly
one by the brave Topeka aldermen.
Before the spring floods visit To-
peka it is hoped that all the bikes,
levees and extra channels will be in
condition to handle the surplus water.
At the present time the citizens of the
city are spending thousands of dollars
and the cutting of channels and creek
beds While the North Topeka drain
age board is busily engaged in protect
ing their end of the city the South To-
peka drainage board is preparing for
their defense of the spring freshets.
Likewise the East Siders are con-
structing their spillways and cut offs
in hopes that the excess water in their
districts will be managed.
The South Topeka drainage board
ward new scheme which will affect
a large part of the city. The
Shunganunga creek has always been
menace to South Topeka because of
its winding course and its low banks.
This crookedneSs of the creek has
been the main cause for such disas-
trous floods in this part of the city,
but not until this year has definite ac-
ton taken place. Not until this year
has the affected property looked good
enough to undertake any immediate
action. After a series of meetings and
threshing out of proposed plans the
South Topeka Drainage board has de-
cided that the only course for them to
follow Is to remodel the whole
Shunganunga in their part of the city
and make it flow as they want it. AS
a result plans were made to shorten
5000 feet of the channel in such a
manner that the water would only
have to flow 1000 feet. This can be
done by cutting new creek bed on
bee line from one bend to the other
commencing just east of Kansas ave-
nue. at the Santa Fe bridge. The
new channel will be commenced here
and carried straight to Jefferson
street. Then east to Twentieth street
and northeast to the foot of Jefferson
street in the Keith addition. This will
make the proposed channel east of the
bridge at which point a small levee
VIII be constructed on account of the
low banks. At a cost of twenty-five
South Siders will be $4,000 This
money Will be raised either bv spec-
lal assessment or bonds and the mat
ter has not been decided. Property
worth 100000 will be assessed for
the construction work
1t is thought that the work will
commence in the early spring and be
in time for the usual water
spouts If the bond system is used a
special election will be called, but the
drainage board rather favors the levy.
Whatever happens the half mile cut
VIII be made in the course of the
treacherous Shunganunga and another
mood problem in Topeka will come to
an abrupt end
The city clerk this morning gave out the
total bond issue for paving Locust street |
from the Shunganunga to Locust The |
TOTAL cost of this pavement was some
thing over $4,000 but 81 600 was paid in |
before the issue of the bonds.
Building permits issued lately: Bennett |
& Garrison. residence at 1854 Topeka ave |
nue., to cost 5000, E. Kempton, two story |
residence at 70l Madison, to cost $1,000; |
power house at 43 North Quincy to-cost |
IS 900. -
At minutes after u Sunday noon a |
-elephcNe alarm came to Station No 2 for
fire alleged to have been at Twelfth and |
Lane Nos. and responded but on ar
irving at the said corner in quick time
they found no fire or any signs of a fire
Another telephone call and the blaze was
Lane street. Here a shed crowded in be-
-ween a number of large barns and
houses was in flames and threatened the
whole block Two streams were turned |
IN the fire at once and it was extfng1Iish-
I'd with loss of about 800. Chief VIII
narth said this morning that 1t was a
lucky fire a few minutes start would
nave given 1t a foothold hard to over
come The shed adtoined a big barn
,wned by DR.. S. A. Boam and the whole
block was crowded with houses and
)arns. Last night at two minutes after 9
still alarm" was turned in at No i and
hose responded. A big pile of slack coal |
vas discovered burning fiercely where the
Inion Pacific tracks cross North Quincy
treet. 1t might be mentioned that a |
still alarm is an alarm turned in TO the |
imply orders out chemical or hose and
Loes not make any warning to the city.
these alarms are used in case of small
md safe fires.