The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-19
If Practicable Commercial Club
Will Push Project.
Hugh Cooper, the Famous En-.
gineer, VIII Be Consulted.
MAY COMPLETE THE dixie
Engineer Will Examine South
Side Dixie and Report.
Factory Aid Plan Will Be
Started i'm Few Days.

Inc Qamm1ng OF the kaW river IN the
vicinity of Topeka and the completion
of the. South side dixie are two pro-
jects that. will receive the immediate
attention of the Commercial club.
Hugh Cooper. who is the engineer in
charge of the work of constructing the
great dam across the Mississippi river
at Keokuk, Ia, will be consulted by
J. Will Kelley. secretary of the club,
within a week or ten days relative to
the cost of making a thorough survey
to ascertain whether or not a dam
across the Kaw to furnish power for
industrial concerns would be a paying
venture. Secretary Kelley will go to
Keokuk in connection with the fac
tory aid plan of the Commercial club,
but will kill two birds with one
stone, so to speak.
H. Won Schon, the famous engineer
of Detroit, Mich, it will be remem-
tions in the spring of 1911, reported
at a meeting of the Commercial club
members that a dam across the kaw
would be a practical proposition.
Secretary Kelley said today: There
has been talk of citizens recently rela-
tive to the construction of a dam
across the Kaw. Owing to the state
ment which H. Won Schon made in
the spring of 1911 when he was here
that it would be necessary to have an
when the river is low, and the fact
that of the long dry spells of 1871 and
1912, the plan has seem ii impracti
cable.
Consult an Expert.
However, a good many o1dtime resi-
dents believe that the maintenance of
a dam would be feasible. For this rea-
son we have decided to consult an eX-
pert engineer within a few days to
ascertain what it will cost to have a
l. T
Iowa, within short time 1 expect to
talk with Hugh Cooper, one of the
greatest, if not the greatest, hydro
engineers in the country. I will find
out what it will cost to have him come
here"
Congress has granted permission to
construct dam across the Kansas
river at or near Topeka.
AS to the dixie proposition. 1t is
felt by many business men that in
case of a flood conditions would be
worse than were there no dixie at all
providing that some action is not
taken. On account of the fact that
there are no flood gates the water
would back up from the river and
there would be no outlet for the sur
face water coming from as far to the
southwest as the Washburn college |
district This condition would be con-
ducive to the breaking out and spread |
ing of disease.
Dixie Committee Appointed.
A special committee of the Com |
mercial club has been appointed to |
investigate the dixie problem. A bill |
was passed by the legislature which |
would permit of a bond issue to pay
for the completion of the dixie.
In speaking of the dixie proposition |
Secretary Kelley said today: I'VE |
shall probably have a survey made to
see if the South side dixie will stand |
the test. Some persons seem to think
that gravel and sand will permit the |
water to soak through as is the case
on the North side. We shall probably |
thorough investigation of conditions |
and give his opinion.
Not even the most sanguine advo- |
Gates of the completion of the dixie |
would advocate spending more money |
if the dixie will not turn the water. If |
it is found on the other hand that the |
dixie will turn water then the Com |
mercial club will exert every effort in /
the direction of pushing the dixie to |
The men appointed on the special |
dixie committee are: w. H. Davis, E. |
H. Crosby, C. P. Adams, c. G. Blakely |
and John r. Mulvane-
Factory Aid Plan.
The factory aid plan will be put into |
operation within the next few days. |
Five per cent of the amount sub |
scribed will be called for. 1t is under |
stood that the fund is a subscription |
credit and not a cash fund, except |
that per cent of the subscriptions |
cent creates what is called the cash |
guarantee fund and is only to be used /
in case of any loss sustained by the |
bureau, in which case the cash will be |
ment levied against the subscribers to
replenish the cash guarantee fund to
the amount of the per cent which
shall always be on hand.