The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-17
CITY HALL NEWS.
City Engineer Rodgers Makes
Important Suggestions.
City's Greatest Need Is New
Sewer in Business District.
GREEN GIVES FACTS.
Shows That Topeka Has Given
$4,000 to Memorial Bldg.
Other Items of Interest From
City Building.
GREEN GIVES FACTS

The notwithstanding and invaluable
annual report of John P. Rogers
CITY engineer, is out today and as an
annual message to the city Mr.. Rog-
ers makes two important suggestions
Gov +ta ba++arnnent of municipal con-
ditions in Topeka.
90 A new 36-inch sewer between
Kansas avenue and Jackson street anu
between Kansas avenue ana Quincy
street from Tenth avenue to the raw
river. Cd Some feasible methoo OIL
repairing the existing pavements IN
this city.
These are the two propositions that
are made in the annual report-aiiu
the two questions that must come up
ia the city officials some time IN the
near future. In his former Reports
Mr.. Rogers has always disclosed the
condition of the engineering problems
in Topeka and in almost every case
his suggestions have been lollo"eu
out by the administration
II have only pointed out two Oh the
most important and the immediate
necessities of the questions CONFRONT
ing the city at this time commented
the city engineer this morning. MS
sewer mentioned is an absolute neces-
sitv and must be met before all OF the
big modern buildings along these
streets are constructed. The repair
ing of the pavements is matter that
has always been a mighty problem
and it should be treated at once.
In discussing the sewer situation
along both sides of Kansas avenue
Mr.. Rogers was convinced that TINS
matter must be settled at once. Inc
present sewers were constructed
when Topeka was but a village. Ihey
are but 1 2 inches in diameter-Iar TOO
small for the amount OF wafer tney
must carry. Mr.. Rogers Is OF tns op pr,
ion that a 36-inch main from the rlV-
err to Ninth street and a 24-inch main
above this point is what the city
needs. At the present time the storm
water coming from the roofs OF the
business houses along Kansas avenue
drives down into the alleys ana runs 11n
the alley paving. The repairs on the
alley pavements alone during the last
ten years would amount to enough
money to make good Roadway on the
new sewer.
1t is planned to make this sewer
purposes. The present sewers are
overtaxed in caring for the domestic
work. They are utterly unable to
handle the storm water from the
streets and from the roofs of the
business houses. The old sewers were
town and they are not only too small
for the use at the present time but
they are in bad shape and are always
in need of repair. The excavations af-
ter heavy storm are always neces-
sary in order to relieve the congestion.
The old sewers are also inadequate
TO drain the elevator pits of the new
modern business buildings along Kan
sas avenue. They are not deep enough.
Five big modern buildings are now in
course of construction and they will
undoubtedly clog the old sewers until
IL will be impossible to make them do
the work. The new sewers would be
below the sidewalk grade line at least
ten feet.
The cost of constructing such sew
err would be very low when the rates
On this valuable property are taken
into consideration. But the construc-
ton of such a sewer is no longer con-
Z dered a luxury by the city engineer.
II is a necessity and must be accom-
plished within the next year.
There are a number of other valu-
tble points in the Rogers annual re-
port The total expenditures for pub