The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-08
THE FLOOD OF 1908.

Topeka, or that prosperous portion
Of 1t more popularity known as North
Topeka. is now In the throes Of an
other flood. For some days past the
treacherous Kaw swelled into tur-
bulent torrent by unusual volumes of
water from its many tributaries to
overflow its banks and wreak such
havoc as It has done in times past.
There was q strong. well-founded
hope that a food OF serious proper
lions would not occur. The continued
heavy rains, however, to the immed-
late west Of this city during Saturday
and early Sunday poured into the
Kaw such an immense amount of
water that itsfffckle banks at this point
were unable to Withstand it. And
they have crumbled away on the north
shore of the river during the morning
hours with the result that North To-
peka is inundated. Its streets are
running like small rivers, its inhabi-
tants, or most OF them, have been
driven from their homes to the
higher places on the south side Of the
river and a rather grave condition OF
affairs confronts the people Of the
whole city.
But the flood, which Is raging now.
will not prove nearly as serious and
disastrous as did the great one of five
years ago. OF this there can be no
doubt. Everyone is agreed on II, even
II the water gets as high as 1t did on
that not-to-be-forgotten occasion. And
1t is not expected that the water will
get that high. The people were better
prepared for this flood than they were
the previous one. They had ample
warning Of the possibility Of its COM
ing. They had suffered terrible ex-
periences which made them heed the
warning this time. So when the
waters began their rush through the
streets, slow at first but increasing IN
intensity, almost everybody without
exception in the flood area was pre-
pared to meet the condition that they
knew would confront them. Most OF
those whose homes were on the fowesv
levels of the locality that was bound
to be affected if any part of it was,
had moved their household goods to
higher and safer ground. Those on
the higher levels of the flood zone had
moved their belongings to the upper
stories of their houses and places or
business and are we'll prepared to
Withstand the water siege which will
prevail for not longer than a few days,
at most, in the opinion of men who are
best qualified to form judgments on
the subject.
Because of these activities in prepar-
ing fer the flood the damage it will do
will be- a minimum as compared to
what was done by the flood of 1908
when the people refused to pay any
attention to the warnings given them
and we're caught, many of them, like
so many rats in a trap. Because of
the preparedness Of the people there
have fortunately been no sensational
and terrifying incidents to the flood as
there was to the one OF 1903 1t Is not
believed that a single life has been en-
dangered and there is no reason now
why any should be.
AS in the flood times of the past,
the sufferers Of today have received
prompt help and assistance from their
more fortunate neighbors and the suf-
fering that is caused by the flood, while
serious in many instances to a degree,
will be as nothing when compared with
the conditions which prevailed five
years ago. Yeoman service has been
done by the city authorities, in fact by
all the people Of the city, in helping
the North siders to reach places of
safety before the water broke in on
their homes and such relief as needed
in every way. shape and manner, will
be promptly forthcoming.
In a time like this when mems souls
and bodies are sorely tried, criticism is
not in its best place. 1t must be said,
however. that If the county commits
sioners had done as we'll as did the city
authorities in extending the levee along
river and beyond the big bend there. it
is possible that the stream would not
have broken this morning from its
bank where it did and the North To-
peka flood of 1908 would not have
amounted to a 1.-THE of what it has.
That this distressing situation which
has again developed in our city is be-
ing and will be met with fortitude
there is not the shadow of a doubt.
The temper of Topekans, and those of
the North side in particular, has been
tried before by a far more serious
flood. 1t has been found to be as true
and sturdy as the finest of steel The
people will rebound from the calamity
which has overwhelmed them for the
time being with the liveliness of a
bouncing ball. A newer and greater
North Topeka will rise again. And