The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-18
WITH WET FEET
TOpekans Worked Roads in
Shawnee County Anyway.
Rain and Mud Didn't Scare Out
Local Enthusiasts.
ONE MAN CARRIED UMBRELLA
Carl BOlmar in His Office Shoes
and Panama Hat.
Palm Beach Suits and Motor
Cars All in a Middle.
ONE MAN CARRIED UMBRELLA

|
created an epidemic of cold feet among
| certain business men and state Of
ficials who had agreed to work on the
Shawnee county highways today, the
| threatening atmospheric conditions did
not make it necessary to postpone op-
erations.
| Topekans who reported for work
were serious in their intentions and
did not go out on the roads merely for
the fun they might get out of it. In
some instances with hands blistered,
side by side with day laborers, they
| toiled.
| While there were road gangs at
work at various points in the county
the Topekans centered their efforts
northeast of Topeka in Happy Hol-
low on the Meriden road and on the
temporary Golden Belt road near VAL
ley school house.
Machinery in Action.
Walter ]. Arnold, county engineer,
and l. w. Thompson, county high
way commissioner directed operations.
IeamS were furnished by farmers and
others and the county had some road
machinery in operation.
The road was widened in places and
needed fills were made. AT one dam
gerous stretch on the Meriden road
where there was an eight foot ditch at
the side of the road some grading was
done. The slope was towards the
ditch when operations started ~~~S it is
rather mystery why it is that ma
chimes haven't slid into the ditch on
wet days.
In the Gravel Pit.
Part of the volunteer gang was at
work in the gravel pit in SLEEPY Hol-
low
Some of the men were dressed for
the work, but others went out in or
binary business attire. Carl BOlmar,
State Journal artist donned khaki
trousers and black shirt but wore his
five dollar Panama hat and office
shoes. iii show up some of these
big fellows" he was heard to say be-
fore he left town. He carried an UNI
brella at the time, and some of the
men who heard the remark smiled.
But Bolmar did show up some of the
other fellows. He worked right
through the morning showers like a
hardened laborer.
DR.. F. j. Ernest, dressed in a Palm
Beach suit, worked by fits and starts
He was the official AK wielder for
the gang. and showed the old timers
how to use pick. Between ''breaths''
and the intervals were numerous
he jol1fed the workers.
j. Will Kelley, secretary of the
Commercial club, Alfred G. Maggie,
colonel for the Topeka forces; H.
s Putney, president Of the Topeka
among the prominent Topekans who
were ION the job.
Whiteker Brothers took a special
X,
ing two teams, and hauling out some
of the ma chinery and tools.
The county workers began opera
tions at o'clock but it was $3.50
before the full Topeka contingent
was on hand.
Among Those Present.
Among those who labored north
east of Topeka are the following: w.
A Stansfield. J. F. Boyd, Albert
Nagel, w. w. Webb, Fl. S. Putney,
J. Ernest, J. Will Kelley, L. w
Thompson, ]. w. Kull farmer; ]. T.
Jamison, farmer who provided a
team; Dinn!e Spots, gardener, and r.
B. Robertson. This does not include
the unemployed men,
1t is expected that the Golden Belt
road will be in better shape by the
end of this week than has been the
case at any time since the rains began.
Some coed work was done today on
the road between Valencia and Silver
Lake. Many teams were furnished by
farmers. The operations were in
charge of Bill Hansford, county road
foreman. Fills were made at sew
eral points where the read had been
washed out by recent high water.
On Burlingame Road.
There was road gang at Twenty
ninth street and the Burlingame road
Ieveling the highway at that point. An
other contingent worked south of
Twenty-first street as far as Mission
Grange hall.
That Topeka is prosperous is indi-
Gated by the fact that but few labor
ers were available for road work.
There have been times when an offer
of So a day would have attracted a
large number of workmen. Today it
was impossible to hire men to send out
on the Valencia Silver Lake road, and
it was necessary to telephone to Sill
yer Lake to say that the roadmen
would have to be employed at that
point.
Weather permitting the road oper
ationS in Shawnee county will be con-
tinued Thursday and those who
failed to do so, are requested to re-
port in the morning.
Dr. Ernest invited a Mrs. Judd, who
lives in the Happy Hollow neighbor-
hood, and who was interested in the
road work. to join the crowd. No"
she replied, but I'll tell you what 1
will do I'll have dinner ready for six
of the workers" DR.. Ernest was not
slow in accepting for himself and five
others.
The road workers are asked to re-
port Thursday morning at o'clock or
soon after at the Commerce building I
so that it will be possible to start work 1
by o'clock
Several business men Joined the |
force northeast of Topeka this after i
noon including Robert Stone, S. L. |
Courtney, E. L. Overton and George /
Godfrey Moore. A number of the /
workers came to town for dinner
tn lIAuE All TNAT0n