The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-02
BRIDGE PROBLEM.
Situation in Shawnee Is WOr-
rying Commissioners.
Will Start Repair Work on
Structures.
A BOND ELECTION?
Commissioners Have Power to
Call One Any Time.
Want People to Indicate Posi-
ton Before Taking Action.

The bridge problem in Shawnee
county has become a serious concern
of the county commissioners. This
county probably has more bridges to
build and repair than any other in the
state. Since the recent ice gorges work
ed their destruction the outlying dis
tricts are practically without cross
ings; for instance there is not Kaw
river crossing from the Melan bridge at
Topeka to the Bellevue bridge in Wa
baunsee county 40 miles west. Con-
tracts have been let. however, for the
repair of the Maple Hill, Valencia and
Willard bridges. On the Maple Hill
structure, $4,000 will be spent by virtue
of it being a joint structure for Shaw
nee and WabunSee counties and the
two counties therefore being allowed to
invest the limit of $4,000 each. Two con-
crete piers will replace four old tubulars
which were cut off. In the others the
old style of pier will have to be tenn
porarily replaced.
1t is the hope of the commissioners
by bond election to raise fund for
not only the building of new bridges
and repairing others but to begin the
task of filing in the space between
tubular piers with concrete, sharpnos-
irg them up stream, and thereby max
ing practically new substantial bridges
cut of all the old ones. The recent ice
lacks have demonstrated that the old
tubular piers will not Withstand ice or
even high water Several piers were
cut off as keen as if done with huge
knife If the bond issue is made 1t Is
in the river in Shawnee county and
thus save the enormous expense of re-
building the frail structures.
May Have Bond Election.
But before a bond election can be
lied The commissioners desire a pc
tition from the voters asking it.
They would have the power to call 1t
but prefer first to determine the public
wish. In order to feel the sentiment.
they have. therefore. by Ed ONeu act
ing as secretary. sent out hundreds OF
letters throughout the county. George
]. Lepper has already promised to bring
the matter before the Oakland Com
mercial club at its next meeting.
The letter which fully explains the
situation and the need of action fol-
lows:
Dear Sir-By an act of the legislature
of 1909, a previously enacted law, en-
towering boards of county commission
erS to eXpend, for the repairing and re-
construction of bridges, an amount
equal to the original cost, was repealed
This repealed law was known as the
repair act However. this same leg
islature did increase the amount a
county board could expend from 81 900
to $4,000 for bridge purposes without
first submitting the proposition to the
qualified electors of the county.
Not to discuss the wisdom or I'M
wisdom of the above restrictions, the
commissioners of this county are pro-
foundly impressed with the feeling that
Shawnee county is in sad predica-
ment with respect to it's river bridges
and others whose estimated cost is
over $4,000. After the recent ice gorges,
five Cf our six river bridges were
wrecked and damaged to such an ex-
tent that they will have to stand in
disuse except as we are able to make
temporary repairs within the maximum
of 81 1000.
Two important ones have been in this
condition since the 1903 flood and the
parts left standing are constantly de-