The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-18
KANSAS FLOODS.
The President Takes Action Re-
garding
distractions in the Kaw River
Causing Floods.
CHANNELS RESTORED.
District Attorney III. j. Bone to
Begin Suits.
reconstruct Bridges, Cut Away
Made Land.

&c .oiI' jan 18.-The president
- OIlteo states has taken a hand
III lne raw channel controversy.
AS d result of the appeal of the Kaw
e-ey uldinage board for assistance in
It's eHorts for the removal of ohstr,,c-
t1ons in the river Mr.. Roosevelt. -
directed the attorney general to have
suits started against all nerson. .,d
corporations responsible for those oh
structions within the corporate limits
OF Kansas City. Kan.
Going After EncroachmeDts
attorney General Bonaparte early this
WIZ instruct H. J. Bone, United
states olstrlct attorney for the Kansas
uistrlct' TO institute three suits. The
defendants will be at least twelve oar
pofations sustaining bridges; every
packing house and other corporation
that has been encroaching on the chan
uaIs. +iiui viz
President Roosevelt took action after
an investigation by the department of
JUSTICE Inc river conditions at Kan
Sas city, Kan, were brought to his at
tention by the drainage board early in
december. At that time w H DAN
1elS, president, and Fred Meyn It f.
meyers and G. A Woodcock, members
Of the board, came to Washington and
submitted the facts to Mr.. Roosevelt.
They were especially anxious that the
government intervene in the LITIGATION
resulting in the decree by Judge Pol
lock to which the board objected To
set aside this decree the board took an
appeal to the circuit court for the
Eighth judicial circuit, where it is now
pending. The decision on this appeal
VIII have no effect on the move insti-
tuted at the presidents direction.
Bridges Must Be Rebuilt.
i
the attorney general. After a confer
ence Mr.. Bonaparte placed the matter
In the hands of Andrew A. Richards
of Wellington. Kan, assistant to the
the board, through its attorney, l.. w.
Keplinger of Kansas City, Kan. sub
mitted detailed statement of the is
sues before the court and facts regard
ing the distractions in the river. This
statement was the basis for an investi-
cation. Mr.. Richards submitted his re-
port to the attorney general a few days
ago.
it to the White House. The reply of
the president was promptly received.
In his report Mr. Richards submitted
four recommendations:
First-That the war department com
pei the removal of all obstructions in
the river within it's jurisdiction.
Second-That the government COM
pei twelve corporations to reconstruct
llelr DrlQSeS according TO pans 10 De
approved by the secretary of war.
Third-That suits be started against
all who have encroached upon the
channel by filling from banks, this for
the purpose of restoring the river to its
original limits.
Fourth-That harbor lines be estab
lished under the direction Of the war
department, beyond which piers,
wharves or other distractions cannot
be built.
Elevate Twelve Bridges.
In connection with the recommendation
regarding the reconstruction of the bridges,
Mr.. Richards quoted from the report of
the board of army engineers June 80 1904
In this report the board went fully into
the damage caused by the floods of 1903.
1t stated that much of this damage was
due to the bridges and recommended that
the bridge companies be compelled to raise
the companies to do this was started. One
of these suits against the Chicago Great
Western, whose bridge is near the mouth
of the river, was dropped by order of the
acting attorney general, Milton D. Purdy.
Since then the bridges of the Kansas City
Belt Line company, the Stock Yards COM
pany and the Rock Island Railroad COM
panY have been reconstructed, and by an
souri, Pacific and the Union Pacific Rail-
road companies are to be reconstructed.
the other twelve companies to elevate
their bridges.
suits for encroachment will involve titles
to land within the harbor limits reclaimed
by the packing houses, by filling and
other artificial means. The extent of this
was set forth by the drain
age board in its statement to the depart |
ment of justice.
senator Curtis Connection.
In accordance with the plan to estab- |
lish harbor lines, Senator Curtis, a few
days ago, offered in the senate a joint |
resolution authorizing the secretary of
war to establish these lines. When he Of |
fered this resolution, Mr.. Curtis made |
no statement with reference to it's pur-
pose. 1t is believed that he offered it |
at the request of the chief of engineers |
and that its adoption will be recommended |
by the secretary of war.
That the Kaw river is a navigable |
stream, and consequently subject to the |
control and jurisdiction of the United |
States, has been several times legally |
Worlds Tour for John L.
New York, Jan. 1S.-John L. Sulli- |
van has started on a trip around the |