The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-22
Sentiment Among the Commits
siOners Is Strong for 1t.
Present Building Is Crowded
and the Roof Leaks.
VARIOUS SUGGESTIONS MADE
OF Plans to Relieve the Pres
ent Difficulties.
Only Thing That Appears Ger
tain Is an Elevator.

City officials are dissatisfied with
the present city hall. In the opinion
of the city fathers there are various
things which should be done to To-
peka's town hall. There is at present
no apparent unity of opinion as to just
what should be done. Suggestions
run all the way from merely INSTALL
ing an elevator to building an entirely
new structure.
Mayor House and all members of
the city commission, with the excep-
ton of w. G. Tandy, contend that
there is not enough room in the pres
ent city hall conveniently to quarter
those having offices there now, to say
nothing of places for two more new
offices in the near future. Mr.. Tandy.
city commissioner of streets, contends
that there is room enough for all in
the present building, but he also con-
tends that his particular department
is cramped and should be given more
commodiouS space.
Mr.. Tandy would solve the problem
by partitioning off the council cham
Der into small rooms to be used for
offices.
Fine" remarked w. L. Porter.
commissioner of parks and public
buildings, when told of Tandy's idea.
There was a suggestion of sarcasm
in his eXcla nation.
Where would he have the meet
ings of the commission held?" Porter
then inquired.
IAN architectural monstrosity!''
That is what Jay E. House. mayor.
styled the city hall, and Mr.. House
has made a study of architecture.
He says more room is needed and
that the addition of another story
might be a solution of the problem.
The Roof Leaks.
why not entirely new build
ing?" suggested w. H. WATSON, city
commissioner of finance, when ap-
preached upon the question of more
room in the City hall.
"Other cities, even much smaller
than Topeka, have city halls which
are not only commOdiouS, but which
are beautiful. I see no reason why
Topeka should not do as WE'LL
And to this Mayor House says
ditto"
w. L. Porter joins the cry for more
room in the city hall. He. too. thinks
the addition of another story may be
the right thing, but is not prepared to
declare himself without giving the
subject more study.
1t is for Porter to reach a decision
soon, for the roof of the present
building is in such condition that it
must soon be replaced with a new one.
After two years of attempts at patch
ing the old roof Porter was diSmayed
this morning when he saw how the
rains had found their way to new
plastering and papering recently done.
1T would be a poor investment to
put a new roof on the building and
then have to tear it off for the con-
struction of another story" remarked
Porter.
Frank M. Newland, city commits
sioner of water, has a suggestion.
1.-THE entire first floor of the City
hall should be used for offices. The
fire department should be moved en-
tirely away from the City hall and
placed in a station of it's own. Move
the fire department out and there will
be plenty of room in the City hall
Of course, if this were done, the city
would have to build a new building
for the fire department"
All agree that whether the City hall
remains only three stories or is run
up to four that an elevator should be
installed.
That elevator is going to be put in
this year, or I am going to know the
reason why declared w. L. Porter.