The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-29
ON THE NORTH SIDE
e. H. Rudy Gives Valuable EX-
pert Advice About bikes.
Planting of willows Would Be
Effective, He Says.
TRIED FOR RAILROADS
Has Always Prevented Them
Being Washed Out.
COmmends Suggestion Made by
Samuel DOlman.
TRIED FOR RAILROADS

Samuel Dolman of Dolman & Son.
the contractors in charge of the North
Topeka flood protection dikes, has re-
ceived a letter from E. H. Rudy, su-
perintendent of the water supply de-
partment of the Lackawanna & west
ern Railroad company with head
quarters in Scranton, Pa. which en-
dorses Mr.. Dolman's plan for plant
ing willows on the dikes so that the
roots of the trees might form mat
and hold the earth together SO as TO
resist the action of the current against
the embankment. Mr.. Rudy says tnat
such a plan has been tried along the
banks of streams parallel with MS
railroad for the last fifteen years and
has proven very successful. He also
states that he has been keeping close
watch of the progress of the work on
the dikes as published in the Topeka
state Journal as he has property IN
terests in North Topeka.
service of the Rock Island according
to Mr.. Dolman, until in 1901, when
that road was transferred from the
management of R. R. Cable of Rock
cago, now of New York. The letter
follows:
Scranton, Pa, March 25-
Mr. Samuel Dolman,
North Topeka, Kan.
AS you are aware, I am the owner
of real estate in North Topeka. 1 am
reading the Daily Topeka Journal
and am keeping in close touch, as to
the construction of dykes in North
Topeka to prevent the river from ov-
erf1owing. I have noted several ar
ticles in the Journal as to the plant
ing of willows as protection of the
dykes during high water 1 noted al
so, where some objections have been
raised against the planting of the will
lows for this purpose 1 noted furth-
er, an article in the paper which you
had written, favoring the planting of
the willow as a protection of the en-
bankment. 1 wish to state here that
I heartily cooperate with your ideas,
as it Is surely one of the greatest pro-
tections for embankments that I have
ever seen. I have had about twenty
five years experience on railroads and
have seen a good many emban kments
washed out. 1 have also seen all kinds
of projections built to protect en-
bankments, such as ripraping with
rock, driving Of piles, etc. and there
has been nothing that has stood the
test as well as the planting of willows.
We have many streams along this
railroad, which parallel the tracks and
for this reason have had a good many
wash outs, but in every case where
they have planted willows, fifteen or
impossible for any flood to take out
the embankment. In my opinion, if |
the dykes there are planted with will
low trees, which is much cheaper |
IMAM rlprdpplnS WIN ROCK, WnlIe dur
ing the first few years the protection |
might not be SO very much, yet |
guarantee that in five or ten years
there will be a protection there which |
will be ten fold better than riprap-
ping, or piles, or even a concrete wall !
While I do not want to make any |
suggestions as to what shall be done, |
not being a resident of North Topeka, |
vet 1 expect to be at some future time |
1 simply want this letter to bear out |
your statement in the journal as to |
the advisability of planting willow |
trees along the dykes as a means OF |
protection to the enbankment
Yours truly,
2. H. RUDY. |
Considerable complaint is being
made by those in charge of the dixie
work that small boys and others are |
tearing up the earth of the dikes and |
wearing paths along the sides. 1t is !
said that in time If such actions are |
continued 1t will have a tendency to |
weaken the dikes.
People should not dig holes in the
dikes for amusement said Mr.. Sam |
Dolman this morning. There ought |
to be an ordinance passed by the city |
making it a fine of $5 for any one to |
ha fn