The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-10
declared war and investigation upon

declared war and investigation upon
the city officials.
the south side of the bridge, widen
the channel of the Kaw river, give adj
ditional waterway to the spring fresh
cts and protect their property is the
object of the people of North Topeka
who have had years of experience with
the treachercus river.
The bridge situation at the city hall
is in a mixed up condition Every
loop hole has trap hanging over the
entrance ready to fall at any time and
kill the whole proposition. There are
a number of exits for the city to take
but all of them have poor fire escapes.
Bids Exceeded Estimate.
At this time the city is readvertising
for bids on the plans and specifications
submitted by the city engineer some
time ago. The first ad for bids
brought out a number of answers and
these were opened at the council meet
ing Monday eight. 1t was found that
all of them were far above the estimate
submitted by City Engineer Fulton.
This means that the contract could not
be let. To let a contract over the esti-
mate of the city engineer would in
validate the bond issues and the city
could not sell the bonds.
According to the bridge men there
will be no bids under the estimate
made by the city engineer. They say
that the estimate is too low and If the
city waits for bids on these plans they
will never have the bridge built. And
it is impossible for the city engineer
to make new estimates because he
swore to those he made originally. 1t
would look as though he didn't know
what he was talking about if he with
drew his original estimate and made
new ones.
1t was the plan of the city officials
to make the new bridge extension
along the same lines as the present
bridge. It is of the Melan plan and is
one of the most beautiful as we'll as
most substantial in the country. The
bridge companies handling the Melan
patent say, however, that there is no
way to build the extension for the esti-
mate made by City . Engineer Eng Fulton
The city officials have found one
loop hole, but it is liable to cause con-
siderable unfavorable comment from
the people over the city. and should
not be adopted. The officials believe
other plans than the Melan. 1t would
make the extension of concrete and
steel but the arches would not be as
heavy and massive as they are at this
eral appearance of the bridge would
not be unified The main part of the
bridge would be of the heavy Melan
variety and the 150-foot extension Of
a different pattern.
The original bond issue was $4,000
This was voted by the people. In
making his estimates for $4,000 the
city engineer figured that it would cost
$1,000 to remove the dirt. He figured
that the county commissioners would
use the dirt on the~proposed south side
bikes. Originally it was figured that it
would cost about $4,000 to remove
this dirt from the locality: The dixie
matter is tied up in the courts and
another problem faces the officials.
Then there is still another hitch in
the affairs. The north side extension
of the Melan bridge was built for $24,-
600. 1t was the same as the one to
be built on this side. Still some of the
bids for the work on this side were as
high as $4,000, or twice as much as
the old extension. The old extension
was built two years ago when cement
was higher than it is at this time.
Where's the 'joker?'' That is what
the city officials are trying to discover.
1t is a perplexing situation and the
only answer that can be found is that
It is pretty hard to find scheme