The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-14
New Sewer System Creates De-
mand From East Side.
Unless They Get 1t Their Money
Will Be Wasted.
FRANK NEWLAND is In DOUBT
He Does Not See How Exten.
SiOns Can Be Made.
1t Will Cost a Lot of Money,
He Declares.

When the East side sewer is COM
pleted twenty-one miles of mains will
have been constructed. Most of this
is in territory which is now without
city water service. The sewers will be
of little use without water. To extend
the water service will call for the ex-
penditure of a large sum of money on
the part of the water department.
Frank M. New1and, city commits
sioner of water and lighting, was
asked what arrangements the water
department is making to meet the de-
mands which will be made from the
East side. Mr.. Newland replied that
he had been working on plans where
by he would make recommendation
that the rates for water for all parts
of the city be reduced and that he had
not had time to give attention to the
East side problem.
ITO build all those water mains in
the East side will take a lot of money"
he said.
HAS the department enough money
on hand to pay for the extensions ?"
was asked.
That's a question: he replied.
That's a question, but whats the
answer" was urged.
well, / can't tell"
''Is there enough to do one-tenth of
the work which will be demanded?"
81 cannot answer that 1 do not
know how many extensions will be de-
L
will cost, nor how much money we will
have on hand. But it will cost the
water department a lot of money. A
lot of money will have to be spent be-
have to wait to get back the money it
invests. 1 do not see yet how it can
be DONE" said the commissioner of
water and lighting.
Looks Like Trouble.
well, will you not be in rather
or 1x4 SgiT ne
people of the East side that the water
department cannot make the extern
sions they want because it has not the
money, while you at the same time
recommend a reduction in water rates
for those who are now getting the
service ?' he was asked and his an
swer was about something else.
He thought maybe the state board
of health might order the extensions
made and benefit district created
and the cost taxed against those in the
district, but he did not see how this
could be done because there is no law
for such a course.
The law provides that the city shall
make extensions whenever the proper
ty owners petition for the same and
furnish bond guaranteeing that the
receipts from water used will amount
in two years to 10 per cent of the cost
of installing the mains. This is the
method which has been followed gen.
orally throughout the city.
NoWlanO mas d pldH 10 eliminate Tie
cost of installing some mains by per-
hitting a few of the people to connect
their outside toilets with the flow
lines of the fluSh-tanks of the sewer
system. These flow-lines belong to
the sewer system and not to the water
department, and are only large enough
to meet the demands of the flush
tanks.
What Tandy Says.
When w. G. Tandy, the only other
Iaor raft 1ifx ice
the city, was told of this plan he said
Somebody else besides Mr.. Newland
will have something to say before that
is done. If one person is permitted to
connect with a flow-line, then others
would demand the same privilege and
probably get it. Then when four or
five houses were connected to one lit
tie line, they would not be able to get
enough water and there would be a
roar about the water pressure and
| later there would be bigger roar
when the sewers began to smell be-
cause the flush tanks were not get
ting enough water.
Reduce the water rates while a
part of the city cannot get water be-
! cause there is not enough money to
make the extensions" exclaimed
| Tandy.
II think the other members of the
commission will take a hand before
anything like that is done. There al.
ready has been too much politlca
| campaigning at the expense of public
| funds in the water department, and sc
! far as 1 am concerned, there will no
! be any reduction in water rates unit
I the plant is out of debt and every
part of the city wanting water service
! gets it.
Instead of spending his time fig
/ uring out plan to reduce water rates
i Newland should be preparing to NEE
1 conditions which anyone can see are
| coming in the East side. The people
| water, and they are entitled to it anC
i are demanding it now, and whenevel
they meet the requirements by peti
/ tioning for the water and furnishing
4 a bond, it is up to the city to give i
| to them and it is up to Newland tt
j Icran1z how 11rlnera the time comes ,,