The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-11
At Last Social Survey Pays To-
peka . Little Compliment.
Supply Is Liberal and It Is Free
From Contamination.
|SANTA FE IN IN EMERGENCY
Always . Reserve Source In
Case of . City Accident.
Suggestions ON Maintenance Of
Pipe Line 1T WaterwOrks.

The city public health survey under
the direction Of Franz Schneider fin
ally admits that there is something
good in this world besides the theories
advanced through the voluminous
closely typed sheets Of suggestions for
the cleanliness and sanitation Of the
capital city. The report on the con-
dition Of Topeka's water supply. as
given to the State Journal today. in
dicates that there is a bright spot In
this horribly managed" city of ours.
Mr.. Schneider kindly lets down the
bars to Topeka as a drinking water
center.
ply:
opments exist in Topeka-that of the
Santa Fee railroad and that of the mu-
nicipality. Both supplies are taken
from dug and driven wells located on
the south bank of the Kansas river.
and the two systems have a connection
which permits pumping from one to
the other at times of emergency. Be-
cause of this connection, and the cor
ton Of Santa Fe water in the city
mains. both systems were inspected
during the survey and both waters
were examined.
THE municipal supply is obtained
from 4S small driven wells and three
edge of the river, short distance
above the city. The small wells. which
ordinarily contribute about 40 per
cent Of the supply, were located when
driven in the low land on the bank;
they are now, owing to a change in the
river bed. entirely under water at an
times These wells are from 20 to 36
feet in depth. are to inches in
diameter. and are connected by a sue
ton line to the pumps and SO directly
with the mains in the city.
The large dug wells, contributing
about sixty per cent of the supply,
are three in number, two so feet in
diameter and one OF 48 feet. These
wells penetrate successive layers Of
sand, loan, blue clay and quicksand,
and finally take their water from a
stratum OF coarse sand and gravel.
The walls are of brick to the level Of
the ground, are continued then in
concrete to above flood level, finally
supporting suitable wooden roofs. En-
tering one Of the wells for inspection,
the water was seen to be making it's
way under the wall on the uphill side
Chat farthest from the riyer) - it. Il
pumped as the case may be, into one
of the other wells or directly into the
mains to the city.
Good Sanitary Quality.
Goth city wells systems apparently
tap the same water-bearing stratum,
and to secure water which appears
to be Of excellent sanitary quality,
analyses made during the survey
failed to disclose any trace whatever
of pollution. Accordingly there is
reason to believe that the city had Sc
cured water from the underflow wa
ter, which probably comes a very con-
siderable distance. and so is safe from
contamination. The city is indeed
fortunate to secure such an abundant
and satisfactory supply at so little eff
fort
Some criticism may properly be
made Of the older (driven) wells.
Covered with river water at all times,
they afford an opportunity for con-
tamination from breaks in the suction
line. Such breaks are bound to occur,
the supply from these wells being
shut off at the time Of the survey
for this very reason. The properly
protected dug wells now in use are
the more commendable type, and fu-