The Topeka state journal., 1908-06-08

nected them with pumps, which were
also In stock. With these engines and
pumps they have. SO far, kept the cell
lars from filling, although the water
from the river stands foot deep at
the north wall.
BY connecting pump the Topeka
Ice & Fuel company is keeping the
water out of its elevator pit and ice
basement
Even though facing a possible rise
in the river which will inundate their
homes and spread devastation about
them, the residents Of North Topeka
were loyal to their part Of the city.
Posted on the window of the little
store of H L. Saunders, 910 North
Kansas avenue, which has been de-
serted for the time being is a sign
which reads: "Gone to high ground
but will come back to North Topeka
for 1t is our home. God bless our
home and yours"
At half past 9 o'clock this morning
there was not drop of water from
the Kaw river in North Topeka. A rise
of two and one-half to three feet was
necessary to run the river into the
town. The back water from Soldier
creek is running across Kansas avenue
at Morse street, five blocks north of the
fire station, and at Garfield street, next
to the park. There are depressions in
the avenue at these points and the
water seeped across the street at a
depth of about seven inches and found
its way over into the northwest part
Of town through all the low streets.
The back water surrounds Central
| avenue bridge on both sides of Soldier
creek and works it's way west several
blocks over the low places in the streets
and lots.
The water from the Soldier creek
has backed up and overfiowed slightly
on all the low streets on both sides OF
the avenue near the creek, and this
gives the impression that the river is
flowing through the town. This back
water is flowing west instead of east
as the river would flow if run through
the town.
The manholes of the sewer in the
| east part of town near the river have
been forced up and the water is run
ming in a small stream over sections
| OF the low streets in the east part OF
| the town near the river.
! The river is over all of the City
| park on this side and is running down
/ Crane street over Kansas avenue past
the Seymour poultry house at a depth
Of about three feet. The only
water on Kansas avenue on this side
is at Crane street. It flows dowr
past the Wolff packing plant and a.
| that point has reached nearly to the
| top Of the three foot platform.
\ nn he 81 trS< I.
| street car bridge the river creeps In
| close to the street, but Is not sc
threatening as it looks to be at this
point. 81
| The Government Records.
| At o'clock this morning the govern
ment Kansas avenue gauge registered
25.7 feet, which is Al feet above the
| flood stage Of the river which is PIG and
| is z feet below the high water mark
| during the flood of 1903.
During the high water of 1904 the
gauge recorded 25.7 feet. The high wa
ter of 1904 was due largely to the back
ing up of Soldier creek rather than to
| the Kaw river.
| The City park at noon was sur
rounded by water and all of it more OF
| less under water except the northeast
| corner near the Melan arch bridge
| The water was running across
Kansas avenue at Crane street, which
| is. the street just south of the City
| park, covering the street car tracks al
this crossing to a depth of over feet
| This point is low and many feet below
| the pavement at the entrance to the
| Melan arch bridge.
| The rise Of the river from to s
o'clock this morning was inches. The
rise from 8 to 9 O'Clock was only one
| inch, the rise from to 10 o'clock was
| 2 inches.
early Flood Conditions.
| Saturday afternoon and Saturday
night number of people in North
! Topeka began moving outtheir effects
| This was especially true of the piano
men who have sold instruments or
| the installment plan, and who, dur
ing the great flood of 1903 lost hun
| dreds of pianos on which only partia
payment had been made.
Sunday morning the exodus of peo-
pie and goods was going on, but MOI
to a very noticeable extent.
At 11:30 O'Clock Sunday morning
| Weather Observer Jennings gave ou
q bulletin based upon the authorit,
| Of Observer Connor who is given the
| responsibility of observing all of the
flood conditions from the mouth OF
the Kaw up to its source and to the
sources of it's principel tributaries
This bulletin stated that it was be-
| lieved the Kansas river would grad
| ually rise, but not exceed the govern.
ment readings at Topeka at 23.s
| which high mark it was stated woul6
| be reached some time Monday. OBJ
| server Connors gave his opinion ou
| that the reading of 23.S would be the
I maximum.
That indicated that the water would
then lust fill the banks of the Kansas