The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-15
War OF WORDS
At Second "Dike'' Session of
Commissioners.
Many Protests From Residents
Of Drainage District.

The second session of the commits
sioners of Shawnee county for the
hearing of protests against the South
Side dixie was again we'll attended.
Jonathan Thomas proved the most dis
tinguished guest on this occasion. His
lots at the corner of Kansas avenue
and Second street were found to lie
just outside of the benefit boundary as
fixed by altitude of the proposed dixie.
''I had come prepared to kick" said
Mr.. Thomas, eff my lots had been in
cluded. Now, however, I have little
to say
But nevertheless he said a great
deal about the choking of the river.
To him it appeared that the lengthen-
ing of the Melan bridge is a joke in
asmuch as the land of the Wolff pack
ing plant will extent more than hun
dred feet into the river at a point just
below the south approach to the
bridge.
why" he added, don't the city
or somebody have the old piers of the
The securing process explained by the
engineers cannot have action when
these old piers stop all the debris which
comes down the river I should think
own expense for his protection alone
if the city would not do it. would,
if had that plant there"
Criticism for City Government.
Chairman Sims of the board then
told of the long. suspense the board
had one time when they had secured
a contractor of Rossville to come down
and pull up all the piles, bringing his
boats and all the machinery down with
him for but $25 pile and the city
kept refusing and finally let 1t drop.
Another item which came up con-
cerning the city's action was the fact
that the city had permitted the Elec-
trio Light company to take enough
r. Ir-s<1 IL foI, kro1 6exa
contracted for for a period of 27 years
to come to a saving to the electric
light company of a sum sufficient to
build the new addition to the bridge.
An Angry German.
But the real feature of the reception
today was the visit of Henry Heise,
German cigarmaker, who has some lots
down on Jefferson street. included in
the benefit district and upon which
of $1,000 was placed by the
viewers.
Are you that takes up these kick
ir gs?" was the question with which he
greeted the innocent member of the
board, "den l want to know who has
the right to make the assessments
Who is he? / want to sell him that
property 1 sell it 5000 less. I give it
to him $500 less. can't see how some
one can make my expenses for me.
am of age, am no minor. didn't have
4 guardian. My place is high and dry?
L
Then he was shown list of the
petitioners and they included the name
Of his wife. "Py Golly," he CALCULATED,
L am going right back to see my wife.
Who is it that gathers up these sigma
lures? Ny wife cam not read and
write English. Who is 1t that gathers
up those signatures?"
He was directed to w. C. Stephenson,
0ne of the viewers. and left in great
age to give him a threshing. Later
ne returned from looking for the peti-
ION and his wife's signature, declar-
ng he knew it was a forgery.
why" he said. this is worse than
he prohibitory law-one is nuisance,
and the other is a - nuisance.
want to wipe this out"
A great deal is being said about the
cost of the proposed dixie. More than
$4,000 of the cost is for earth embank
nent west of the Rock Island bridge
and through Rock Island property and
he road has agreed to stand practi-
,ally all that expense for the conces-
sion to route 1t as best to their inter
.sts but to the same workable end.
A strong point in favor of the more
expensive construction of the concrete
wall was made by Chairman F. B. Sims
n explanation of a protest. He said: |
But you must understand that the
oase of this wall is but 16 feet wide. |
Now for an earth dixie like that on the
north side bank, we would have to con-
lemn and pay for a width of land
through this district 62 feet wide for
4 base of the embankment. The cost
If this amount of land would be far
greater than the cost of building the
oetter concrete wall"