The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-11
NOTES OF THE RAIN

the Kansas free falr. A nunnDer OIL
carloads of cinders were washed from
the sidewalks running thru the
grounds. Secretary Phil Eastman is
making plans to have the walks re-
surfaced in time for the holding of the
fair next month.
The only trouble reported by the
Rock Island was a washout which oc-
CURED in the local yards near the foot
of Polk and Tyler streets between Z
and o'clock Wednesday night.
The bed was swept from the rails
for a distance of between fifty and
sixty feet, delaying passenger trains
Nos. 81 and SO for an hour or more.
Being in the yards, the damage was
REPAIRED as soon as the worst of the
rain was over.
The washout was caused by water
coming down Polk and Tyler streets
and also down the track from the
Beatrice Creamery company.
The Rock Island reports all trains
running on schedule today. This is
due to the fact that the rain did not
extend very far west Of Topeka.
A large part of the new brick side
walk laid a week ago along Bethany
campus on Eighth avenue was washed
out. The low part of the campus was
so flooded that a pipe line was laid to
drain the water to Eighth avenue at
Taylor street.
Considerable damage was done to
| the pavement which is being repaired
on Locust street, between Fourth and
Tenth. Much of the asphalt which
had been placed over the brick was
/ washed away.
The corner of Second and Chandler
streets was the center of a lake. Water
backed. up from this corner a block
| or more in each direction. At hardly
| any point in the city were the storm
! sewers adequate to handle the water.
There is no longer any shortage of
water for the fish in the Central park,
lakes. The lakes were turned into one
body of water and the one at the south
end of the park overflowed from all
sides, carrying away the cinder paths
and cutting deep bitches into the road
way leading to Sixteenth street The
driveway along the east side of the
park was also cut up into bitches. The
water buried the car tracks on Six
teenth street with dirt and cinders
and went racing south on Fillmore
street, which was a river from curb
to curb.
Rock Island officials say that it is
a hard job to get any of the company's
roadbed or right of way, but that
somebody down the Kaw river got part
of it Wednesday night when there was
a washout in the local yards.
The bank of Shunganunga creek be-
ing high at that point, Fourth street
from the creek to Klein street was a
lake during the night
]. o. Stevic reports that the force
of the high water tore away portion
of the foundation of his home, 1913
Central Park avenue. and then
promptly filled his basement
The water in the streets was so deep
in many places that motor cars be-
came stalled and traffic generally was
delayed. This was especially true in
Topeka where several blocks were
under water for a short time.
When West Fifth street, between
Jackson and Van Buren streets, was
turned into a river the water backed
up until it was a foot deep in the po-
lice and sheriff's garages. Two women,
who climbed into the police car to
keep from getting wet, were forced to
stay there until the water receded.
Water from the sewer, and from
seepage thru the wall near the eleva-
tor pit, covered the basement floor of
the Pelletier store, and made neces-
trade this forenoon. Practically no
goods were damaged as the water was
only about an inch deep on the floor.
The basement may be opened for bust
ness this afternoon. J. B. Walker.
manager of the store, said at noon.
Water in the sewers caused more or
less trouble for business establish
ments along Kansas avenue. The War
ren NJ. Crosby store reports that a
small amount of water managed to
reach the basement floor of the Jack
son street entrance, but that the Kan
sas avenue basement remained dry.
There was no water in the basement
of Crosby Brothers store.
High water at Ninth and Clay streets
: filled the basement of the John Page
home and several others in that vicin-
ity. Much of this kind of trouble has
been reported from various parts OF
the city.
The first squirt of rain between
and O'Clock caught the downtown
: workers and shoppers just as they
were ready to go home. Street cars
and taxicabs did a rushing business
and doorways. stairways and every
other nook that afforded shelter were
: jammed by persons who did not have
the nerve to venture even to the curl
: line. Employees Of many establish
, , ments remained indoors until after
o'clock. Drug stores and restaurant
I | were dlSO CIOWQtu u Inc llHllls w ACi
the street cars became tied up later II
the night, the taxicabs did a maximum
business, but even they had trouble
trying to navigate certain streets.
One resident in South Topeka saw
, so much water at one time that he ap.
pealed to the police for aid, declaring
his family was in danger. Rescuer.
sent to that locality found plenty oi
water but no homes in immediate
danger.
With all Of the other cars tied up
Albert Patten, manager of the stree
railway system, and Emmett Rowell
= superintendent, started out shortly
after 9 o'clock on an inspection triT
= on one Of the old hand brake cars
2 The officials would have had more
E luck with an ark. 1t was a grea
t trip. as it was, but it was impossible t.