The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-13
NORTH SIDE NEWS
Kansas River a Deep and Wide
\ Stream in Early Days.
As High All Seasons Formerly
as Recently.
--- ---ss --se
WATER WAS CLEAR.
Cultivation of the Land Causes
Present Condition.
III. H. BARS elayed Trip From
Chicago.

While speaking about the present
high stage of the river, Charles S.
Saum of S37 Kansas avenue, said
that when he first came to Kansas
about forty years ago, the river gen
orally carried as much water for
months at a time as it has the past
few days, and nothing was thought
about IT..
when he first came to this state
from Illinois," said Mr.. Saun, ''the
Kansas river carried as much water
the past few days. We did not call it
flood then. In the early days very
seldom sand bars could be seen and
there was plenty of swimming water
there was more water in the river
then it was never muddy. but of a
clear blue A person could see al
most down to the bottom.
This condition may have been due
TO the fact that there were few towns
along the banks and accordingly few
sewers to drain into the water. Then
also the land along the river bottom
was. not cultivated.
Since this cultivation has been go
ng on I think the soil has been
ashed down into the stream and
elped to give the water its present
muddy color as well as to fill up the
river bed.
Another cause for the soils wash
ing away, 1 think is the cutting down
of trees along the bank. OF course
the roots of the trees held the earth
together. AS soon as they were cut
down the bank was 1Oosened and
washed down, thus making the bed
shallow.
II have also noticed that there are
fewer Islands in the river now than
in the early days. These islands were
heavily timbered, but when the trees
were cut down the high water washed
the banks away. l seem to remem-
Der when the waterworks engine
stood on an island
H. H. Bair of 1915 Quincy street,
returned Monday afternoon from a
visit in Chicago On account of the
way home for three days and three
nights. travelling over -927 miles and
on five different railroads.
Il left Chicago 10 a. m. Friday, on
that road I took the Chicago & Alton
to Glasco, Mo-. little town on the
Mississippi river. We couldn't cross
the river as the water was over the
bridge. so we Went to Louisiana, MO
At that place transferred to the
Burlington and. on that railroad
reached St. Louis Sunday morning.
A little later I started for Kansas City
on the Missouri Pacific, arriving there
Monday morning. arrived here
Monday afternoon at 4:SO p. m. on
the Santa Fe just fifty-three hours Ia
ter than I.wouId have been if I had
made the regular time from Chicago
to Topeka
Part of the time we ran out of
drinking water. The passengers
helped keep up the supply by procur-
ing water at small stations. At some
of these small towns we would go
quite a distance from the depot be-
fore we could find wells.
"After the drinking water tanks
were filled, whoever wished to wash
would pour a bucket of water in the
wash basin, let it run out when he
was through and the next one who
wanted to wash did likewise and so
on. However, in spite of these incon--
veniences and delays all of the pas
sengers and train crews were good
natured and we became acquainted
and had a jolly time"