The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-08
North Side Nelus

board elected this year has already
carried out an extensive program of
improvement and flood protection.
Along Indian creek, an exceptionally
turbulent stream in flood time, the
channel had been cleared, levees built,
and the obseructions, to the rapid car
rying off of water, removed.
At the narrowest point the creek
bank has been cut away and the chan
rel widened. Several big rocks which
choked the bed of the stream have
been blasted out. Two light levees
protect the bank at particularly low
points. They are fitted with drain
pipes and floodgates. Brush and tim
Der have been removed from the chan
nell not only in the North Topeka
drainage district, but for mile below,
where such work was needed. Under
the old Lime Kiln bridge, two miles
northeast of town, excavation work
has widened the banks and cleared
greater waterway.
The notable work on Soldier creek
has been the digging of a big cut near
the Goodwin place, north OF hro. me
cut is 500 feet long, ninety feet Wlde
at the top, and thirty-two feet at the
normal water level While. work on
| the cut had to be suspended because
of wet weather, the channel was built
with so shaped a slope that the SWIFT
| flow of current is expected to wash IL
deeper than at present, and render
| further work on it at this time I'M
necessary.
| The big cut cost about $4,000. II
shortened the course OF Soldier Greer d
over half a mile, cut out a Dig peno,
and tends greatly to lessen the danger
of overflow at this point
| Under the Melan bridge, the drain
age board had the ground ploWed up
I before the present rainy weather, and
| it IS estimated that the river, in con-
| sequence, has washed out about two
feet of accumulated silt. A large
number of trees have been blown
down by the cyclone, and at present
lie across the channel of Soldier
creek. ]. B. Billiard, president of the
drainage board, expects to inspect the
work in a few days and it may be
| necessary to clear the waterway OIL
many of the fallen trees
Along Soldier creek near Holman
addition, the bank has been washed
away, and to remedy this over 100
loads of old brick and rubbish have
been dumped there.
The drainage board has decidedly
set a record in the amount of work
accomplished in a brief space of time
Every one is still talking about the
cyclone and the queer and fiendish
pranks it has played. Ray Smith, or
| the Silver Lake road, had a flock of
sheep. After the storm, one of them
was found impaled by timber which
had traversed the entire length of the
fanlmaPS body Other Sheep mad been
| cut almost in two.
Several cyclone victims were in
town with bandaged heads this morn
ing, recounting to interested groups of
listeners the havoc wrought to their
property.
Most of the farmers are protected to
some extent by cyclone insurance, and
the adjusters, it is said, are making
full allowance for the damage done.
According to James David, living on
the lower Silver Lake road, the quanti-
ty of debris and timber scattered in the
fields is such that in many cases cut
| ting crops until it is removed will be
| out of the question. The task of eff
fectively clearing this area presents a
| very hard problem, and a movement
is on foot to organize parties in Topeka
to help the farmers under the present
| trying conditions. David's house was
| smashed to kindling over his head,
and stone gave him a severe scalp
wound. With his family he had taken
| refuge in the cellar.
Many conflicting reports were afloat
today as to the death of Matt Mitch
ell, who lives seven miles northwest
of town. Thursday he was definitely
Elmont. Today his brother said that,
while he had not heard from Matt, he
had been assured that he was safe.
Social and Personal
Miss Elizabeth Campbell's Sunday
school class, the Cleaners, gave her a
surprise party this afternoon at her
home, 1011 North Jackson street.
| Thursday noon Miss Campbell gave a
luncheon for a few friends
Mrs. Leslie r. Stoker of Long
Beach left for her home today after
a months visit in North Topeka
Will Bartram is taking treatment in
a Kansas City hospital where he has
been confined for some time by ILL
ness. Bartram owns a farm near Ell
mont, and his was one of the only two
houses left standing by the tornado.
Mrs Bartram is with her husband
The North Topeka. Woodmen will
give a dance this evening at Barrett
hall after the regular program.
Mrs Frank Mccoy, 1857 North
Kansas avenue, entertained the Sun
day school class of Miss Iva Davis in