The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-20
Kiersted, Water Expert, Here
for Conference With City.
Says Topeka Must Go Over
River To Get Supply.
OFFICIALS ARE STILL IN DOUBT
Newland and Shaw Believe Elk.
pense Is Unnecessary.
Nothing to Reservoir Idea, the
Expert Declares.

Wynecoop Kiersted, former hy-
draulic engineer to the city of 10
peka, arrived here this morning and
spent the morning in looking over the
situation at the city pupming plant.
This afternoon at O'Clock there was
meeting held in the city building at
tended by all the members of the
board of commissioners and also En-
gineer G. f. Hopper and Wynecoop
Kiersted. 1t appears evident that
there has been a meeting called with
the idea of goin thoroly into the
water question with the view of doing
something of real value to improve the
water situation. .-t
Kiersted. when asked this morning
what he deemed most necessary to i'm
prove the water situation replied: II
still hold the same opinion expressed
in my first report. First, the actual
constant supply of water must be in
creased. To do this it will be abso-
lutely necessary to go over to the north
side of the river in order to get a
large enough supply. 1t never can be
| done by attempting to handle the
proposition from the south side of the
| river"
Kiersted has contended turnout his
entire connection with the city water
department that the supply of water
was not large enough: Nothing could
| be done of any particular value by
building reservoirs at a large expense
which at best would prove of only
| temporary relief in aiding the depart
ment thru a period of excessive strain
on the water supply, Kiersted says.
Recommended New Pumps.
Kiersted also recommended the ad-
! dition of the two low duty pumps. for
| the installation of which the city has
| contracted but Is still waiting. He did
not. however, assert that they would
solve the supply problem. The feat
ure OF the expected pumps is that
! they would be able to pick up L feet
| impossible to reach, with the present
pumping machinery.
Newland has commended and has
| been backed up by Superintendent
| Shaw, that it was unnecessary to go
across the river at a great expense
| which they assert would call for a
large and heavy bond issue, when the
| situation could be solved on this side
of the river. But Kiersted stands pat
| on the conviction that nothing can be
accomplished until the city water de-
| partment gets into action and goes
/ across the river.
| Kiersted asserted this morning in
an informal discussion in the office of
Commissioner Newland that in his be-
lief wells could be dug on the north
side of the river some eighty feet in
depth, which would supply from
| 1000 to 1900 gallons of water an
| hour.
Compares Funston Problems.
He then compared the situation
from an engineering standpoint with
conditions which confronted the au-
/ thorities in their endeavor to Civ e
Camp Funston a constant and ade-
quate supply of wafer. Attempts to
secure an adequate supply of water
on the south side of the river proved
of no avail But after trying out the
north side of the river it was found
that an adequate supply of water was
there If they went after it. They did.
and got it. Topeka is up against the
proposition of doing likewise, says
Kiersted.
Attic Engineer Hopper apparently
agrees that there is a chance of get
ting more water on the north side of
the river, he is not absolutely con-
WINGED as yet that it must be done
He suggested further that in lieu of
the tunnel suggested by Kiersted as a
means of bringing the water across
the river, that pipe line might be
Quilt over the river suspended from
concrete piers which could be done at
less expense. The bridge at this
point is not considered strong or heavy
enough to stand the strain of the ad-
ditional weight caused Ey the pipe
line. Kiersted does not favor this con-
struction for various reasons, among
which are the danger from the ele-
ments, high water and the possibility
of malicious tampering with the
equipment Kiersted did not make
any suggestions as to possible costs of
the various systems but left the infer
ence that the expense would not he
so great q was the expectation which
has become prevalent that it would lie
around 100000.