The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-15
SHIFT THE BLAME.
City Council Steer Clear of Gar
bage Question.
Plans and Estimates Disappear
by Mysterious Means.
RECORDS WE'RE LOST.
Council Committee Transferred
Them Without Authority.
People Voted for Garbage Plant
and Want 1t.

Following the statements made by
the State Journal last evening that the
city of Topeka was badly in need of a
garbage crematory and that the plans
and specifications had been ordered by
the council, voted for by the people and
expected by them, a conference of city
officials was held at the city hall this
morning and for three hours an at
tempt was made to find out what had
become Of the crematory proposition
and what could be done to relieve the
present unsanitary condition in the
city.
Records were dug up from their hid
ing place, blue prints were brushed off
and examined and committee reports
and resolutions Of all kinds were fished
out of he mass of city literature. 1t
was finally decided that the reason the
city of Topeka does not have a garbage
plant today is because the committee on
public improvements. consisting OF
Chairman Drew. COuncilmen Tandy and
Jordan. had failed to make their Or
dered report to the council following
their Instructors to obtain the specifi-
cations from this body.
1t was also found that many months
ago Mayor Green appointed commit
tee of the following men: Councilmen
Tandy, Jordan, Miller, Blakely, Stanley
a site for the plant. AS far as the
records go to show. this committee has
never turned over its hand to find a
site and has made no report what
ever to the council. 1t was FOLLOWING
the report of this committee and the
committee on public improvements that
made way for the fulfllment of the
garbage plant proposition.
The people of Topeka voted for the
erection of a garbage crematory, the
tor;d ncj0 nd he Fill
more street bridge, all at once on Aug
Ust "a 1909. Following this election the
city council has failed to make any sat
isfactory arrangements for the erection
and maintenance of this plant, which
is sorely needed at this time and is alb
city.
cremat ory-and 1t should be built al
once said City Physician Hogeboom
this afternoon. 1.-THE garbage is piline
UP all over town and the only relief is
the new plant
Other physicians and citizens in To
peka have Civ IN out the same sent1-
n1ent and the matter has been made
public question in the public places, al
public gatherings and on the street.
The garbage proposition was t1rSi
thought of by Councilman Fraser and
his ideas were published in the State
Journal early last summer. At first
some of the councilmen. together with
Mayor Green, thought that it was toe
expensive a matter and could hardly
be handled at this time. However, the
| idea was formulated and Councilman
| Fraser received the help of several OF
| the members of the city council and
worked out his plans in such a manner
| that the public became interested and
| finally voted for them.
The plans and specifications were FIRST
presented to the city council on Aug
ust and approved. Then on August
| "a the people voted for the proposition
However, someone found that stone
| III the foundation did not set just right
| or a brick should be substituted fol
| piece of cement and it was all fired
back to the city engineer. Back an6
| forth it has gone ever since and the