The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-10
SAVED THE TREE.
Attempt Made to Destroy an His
tOric Elm.
It's Spreading Branches Cover
The Drive in Auburndale.
SPRANG TO RESCUE.
COunciImen Indignantly Voted
Down the Proposition.
Plat of Southwestern Route in
City Is Filed.

City Is Filed.
The mistake of a former city engi-
neer in giving a grade to the street
car company on Madison street between
Tenth and Eleventh streets, some five
years ago, before the street was paved,
will cost the city $35S. The petition of
the people living on that street to have
the car tracks lowered was acted upon
by the council some weeks ago by or
dering the street car company to lower
their tracks to grade. The company re-
sponded with a communication which
stated that they had been given their
present grade by the city engineer, but
that they would lower their tracks If
the city would pay the bill which they
estimated at 1892. The street and walks
committee looked the matter up and
discovered the record of the grade CIV
en- by the engineer. There was moth
ing to do but pay, at last nights ses-
sion of the council, so the city clerk
was instructed to advertise for bids for
the work under the estimate of the
city engineer that the job could be done
for $685.
Jordan's resolution to have the old
elm tree in The Drive at Auburndale
protest in the council. 1t was a bust
ness proposition versus sentiment and
the latter won by the knockout route,
as it should. Jordan declared that the
tree was so large that its spreading
branches cast shadow over Inc
Drive and thereby kept the sun from
drying out the mud. Stanley sprang
to his feet and spoke earnestly in be-
half of the tree. He declared that II
was a crime to cut down a shade tree
and that for his part he wanted to go
on record as opposed to any such act
of vandalism. General Hughes took up
the fight for the tree and after expatl-
ating on it's beauty and usefulness call
ed upon a resident of Auburndale who
was present to express his sentiments
in the matter. w. A. Hancock, the gen
tleman referred to, responded with
alacrity. He said: Gentlemen. there
will be a revolution in my ward If you
have that old elm tree cut down. For
many years before a house was oullt
on this townsite that tree STOOD there
a landmark for miles around. 1t IS the
pride of the Fifth ward. Men ana Wo-
men and little children of this city 1or
so years have found rest and pleasure
in its bountiful shade and love the tree
as an old and faithful friend. several
years ago a man who was mixture OIL
a Goth, a Hun and barbarian secur-
ed an order from some ben1ghted city
council to have this tree cut down. Inc
man, armed with his warrant ana an
ak approached the tree one day, but
before he had struck two blows at MS
victim he was surrounded by angry
residents of that vicinity, his ak taken
away from him and he was hustleo
away from the tree. He confided TO a
friend afterwards that he feared for
time he would be lynched. Gentlemen
that tree is the pride of the nelghpor-
hood and we will resist its destruction
by every possible effort.
BIakely spoke with feeling for this
tree and for all shade trees He would
rather see the road changed and
log made there than to have the
tree cut down. Hughes declared that
The Drive was 100 feet wide at TINS
point and there was not a bit of need
in sacrificing the tree. Jordan, as
last effort, spoke slightingly of the no
bile elm as a "Scrawny, 'ornery, Strag-
Cling specimen of a tree but the SEN
timental side of the councllmen mao
been touched and they voted down the
resolution aimed at the old tree. May
it stand 100 years longer. An ordln-
ance should be passed protecting shaoe
trees instead of one destroying theIh
Thees are the chief glory of this city
c. K. Holiday, for the Southwestern
railway, introduced maps ana pronleS
of the route of the proposed ROAD
through the city and asked the coun-
ell to approve them at the earliest pos
sible moment. They were referred TO
the street and walks committee ana the
citV engineer. A special meeting VI lHC
council will be held Wednesday night OF
this week to hear the report OF TINS
committee The maps show that the
road will enter the city at Bodies ana
Twenty-first streets. 1t proceeds east
on Twenty-third to Union street Where
it crosses Shunganunga creek anu
skirts the fair grounds to topeka ave
nue.. 1t proceeds in curve TO MOI
roe street and passes directly up TINS
street to the terminal depot between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets Local
members of the railway board who We're
present at council last night stated that
r T. Curnick treasurer of the con-
struction company, would be here next
Thursday and they wanted to have eV-
ervthing ready for him by that time
They expect work on the grade to be-
gin in the city next week.
The councilmen went on record last
night as opposed to the quality OF the
bread placed on the market by local
bakers 1t was branded as unhealthy,
soggy. half cooked, tough and full OF
alum to give it size and acid to give
it the proper weight under the ordln-
ance. They thought that one OF the
CRYING needs of the city was for home
made bread, pure and well cooked. 1t
all came about over a resolution which
asked permission for a widow woman
who sells the homemade article to
make loaves of less weight than the
full pound required by the ordinance.
The resolution was defeated for the
reason that the councilmen feared that