The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-13
TO MAKE IT WIDER
City Council Would Add Four
Spans to Melan Bridge.
Two on Each End of the Main
Structure.
FOR NEW FIRE STATION
One Will Be Built on the East
Side at Once.
Police Force to Be Divided Into
Classes.

table for the last few weeks but last
night the waste basket was emptied
and selecting from it the most impor-
tant key to the spring foods the city
council passed a resolution offered by
Alderman w. NJ. Van Ness which
read like this:
Resolved, That the mayor and city
council of the city of Topeka deem it
necessary for the best interests of said
city to build two fifty-foot spans at
each end of the MeIan bridge over
ports of the committee on public
works and the plans and specifications
therefore prepared by the city en-
gineer."
This is the first time that such a
momentou5 question has been placed
before the city council in such a quiet
and unaSSumed manner and passed
by this honorable body with such a
lack of display and fireworks But
it was passed and the plans will he
made at once. These new spans on
the Melan bridge have been discussed
through these columns for weeks at
time and it is unnecessary to ex-
plain them any more than that thew
will each be fifty feet long and will
extend 100 feet on each end of the
present structure. The river bed will
be widened and the banks cut from
above the city park to a point a few
1t is hoped that this will make the
river wide enough to carry on the
annual spring celebrations without
mountaineering the city to any great
extent The North Topeka drainage
board is working with zeal at their
bikes and "bunkers" and when they
heard of the council proceedings this
morning they at once set a date for a
meeting to decide on further improve
ments. The flood situation in Tone
ka has caused as much discussion
among the people as the street nam
ing propositions and with about the
same amount of feeling.
The district leaders just north of
the Washburn college athletic field
and west of College avenue in the Col
lage Place addition are DESTROYS of
becoming part of the city of Topeka.
They have had their petition before
the council before and it has success
fully ploughed its way through the
stormy waters of the streets and walks
committee and was presented to the
council last night. The people in this
district say that they want the water
gas, sewers and payements and the
only way to get it is to associate
themselves with the city. The report
of the streets and walks committee
to allow the foreign ers to come to
town was acted upon favorably by the
council and it is but a question of
work and time until the necessary
papers are made out for this purpose
The exact district as per application
runs as follows: Beginning on west
ern line of city on north line of Four
teenth at Seventeenth street and Bos-
we'll avenue, thence running west one
block to west line of Jewell avenue in
College Place addition thence south
on west line of Jewell to Seventh
street east to alley running north and
southwest of Boswell thence north on
Boswell to the place of beginning
There is only one objection to make
on the actions of the city councilmen
last night. Every time anyone would
make motion to pass a resolution
or anyone would introduce an ordin-
ance or if anything was acted upon
that would require publication as le-
would jump from his chair and ad-
wise that the matter be boiled ito
save the cost of publication" There
are two kinds of reading matter in
the newspaper-one that costs money
and one that doesn't.
The Topeka Cold Storage, Ice &
Fuel company asked the council not
for them to make few changes in
their contract with the city. Then
they suggested that it be advisable and
at the last council meeting they de-
manded that it be advisable. But the
judiciary committee turned them down
and they will have to accept the
original contract or be satisfied with
out any whatever. The company ask
ed for a special diSpensatfon or excuse
if they We're handicapped from fur
nishing the city coal when strike was
going on at the mines, or If there
should be a shortage of cars or a de-
| lay in delivery; also if fire or accident
caused them trouble. But the judi
ciary committee together with the city
council will make them stick to their
old guns.
The maintenance bond of Haskins &
| Ramsey for $13,410 was accepted by
| the mayor and council last night. 1t
| was a long burdensome affair and was
decorated and trimmed with the Gus
| tomary mutilating bunch of RESPONSE
| ble'' seals. But all this goes toward
| the future pavement maintenance and
| the city is directly and closely con-
cerned in these matters.
| Councilman Horn asked the mayor
/ and council for a leave of absence last
| night, saying that he wished to take a
! trip to Florida, and he could not come
/ back until the first of March His
| plea was listened to by the honorable
| body and was granted with the pro-
viso that he give the councilmen and
reporters banquet on the roof gar
porters were asked to keep this silent
and they will. Mr.. Horn has been
| serving as president of the council
/ and a new alderman Will nave 10 De
appointed. His discreetnesS and
| watchfulness as watchdog of the
| treasury will be missed by the city
| council and his leave of absence was
granted with reluctance.
| The city council decided to be on
| hand at the state house with their lit
| tie lobby during the session of the
state legislature and acting on a reso-
| luton offered by Councilman Jordan.
| the mayor will appoint a committee
| consisting of himself and two others