The Topeka state journal. [volume], December 18, 1908, LAST EDITION, Page 6, Image 6

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
THE TOPEKA DAILY STATE JOURNAL FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 18, 1908.
THE KAWCUT-OFF
As Supplemental Channel Dar
ing Great Floods
Approved by Government Engi
neers In Report Received.
CITY ENGINEER'S PLAN
Does Away "With Expensive Idea
Raising Melan Arch.
More in Line With Natural Solution.
The official government report on the
flood situation in the city of Topeka
was received at the office of Mayor
Green this morning and gave the com
plete plans and specifications of the
Ideas of the government engineers.
They conform with the condensed re
port given by City Engineer Rogers at
a council meeting long ago and elabor
ate on a few of the plans invented by
the city engineer.
The government engineers paid a
great compliment to Topeka's city en
gineer when they approved the plans
of the latter in constructing a supple
mentary channel for the Kaw and in
this manner preventing the terrible
destruction of the annual floods.
Not long ago City Engineer Rogers
gave out the information that the Kan
sas river could be dammed for an ov
erflow at the break of 1904 and an over
flow canal be constructed from this
break straight across the north end of
North Topeka and into the original bed
again. This big experiment looked
rather pipe dreamy to the city at first
on account of the apparent mammoth
cost but since the flood question has
received so much attention and has
brought out so many new phases the
idea has been given a serious thought
and to many it looks as though the un
dertaking will be carried out in the
near future.
A Natural Cutoff.
During the late floods Mr. Rogers has
noticed that the Kaw has taken a nat
ural flood course on the other side of
North Topeka. It broke through a half
mile west and followed a low piece of
ground straight east to the next bend
of the river. It is well known fact that
the velocity of a water course is the
most important factor in its disposal.
If the plans of Mr. Rogers were fol
lowed out the river would have a ve
locity four times the present current
and as much more water could be ac
commodated. It would be necessary to make a
concrete dam on the river at the point
of overflow. This dam should be high
enough to keep the water in the regu
lar bed at its normal stages and the
new channel would be a dry bed. When
the river rose to danger point the dam
would overflow and the surplus water
would be cut off at this place and fol-1
low the canal to the river again about
1 miles In length. The water would
have a bee line course through this ca
nal and would have no hindrances. In
other words where the regular river
bed is 3 miles in length the new Chan
nel would cut off over half of the flood
flow.
This proposition was approved in the
government report this morning but it
was hinted that it might be too ex
pensive. However, the government 'en
gineers did not know the land values
or the conditions of the cutoff. In
fact they are not supposed to know
these facts of, the case, it is not in their
Dusiness.
The land affected by the canal is not
valuable. It is low and uncultivated
and has always acted as a. mud hole
and water basin. When the river over
flowed during the flood this canal was
the natural course for it to follow ana
as a result every flood has made the
valley deeper and the land less valua
ble. To procure this land would b lit
tle trouble and little expense compared
with the expense of dredging the river,
raising the bridges, broadening the
channel and forming levees and.dikef.
Some have complained about the new
bridge system which would have to be
used to cover this overflow. It must be
remembered that only during great
floods would the channel be in use. The
rest of the time it would be a dy sink
and could be spanned easily by the two
bridges which be necessary. At Cen
tral avenue the old bridge which will
be removed some time this spring could
serve the purpose. The city and county
could buy ten bridges at the cost of
raising the Melan and condemning all
of the property in the bottoms and
near the river banks.
Wliat Bridge Elevation Means.
There are many reasons why the
government report which calls for the
raising and lengthening of all the
bridges across the Kaw, is entirely out
of the means of the city treasury.
If the Melan bridge be raised thirteen
feet, for instance, and lengthened 576
feet, it would be necessary to put all
of the manufacturing district near the
river, on a level with the river bank
itself. The Wolff packing house would
be down under the bridge and all of
the plants along the river would be out
of protection consideration.
Then take the Rock Island and feanta
Fe yards. If the Rock Island raised its
bridge thirteen feet and added on 670
feet the whole yards and terminals
would have to be raised and the grades
changed for miles. The stations them
selves would be under the level of tha
yards and to pull out the Rock Island
station would almost require a "push
er" and a freight train could not stop
near the yard limit without using every
bit of air in the cylinders.
The Union Pacific would be in the
same fix and millions of dollars would
be required to remedy the evil and
then another 1903 flood would probably
come along and destroy it all. As one
man said this morning: "It would take
a span from College Hill to the bluffs
to allow another 1903 flood, to pass un
der." The flood discharge in 1903 was
271.600 feet per second. The average
slope of the present river for 20 miles
is 1.1883 of a foot. This is not a very
strenuous slope and does not oaise any
waterfalls or steep inclines. The aver
age width of the bank line for twenty
miles, according to the government
statistics. Is 1027 feet. The average
width of the river is 927 feet. Taking
the figures in round numbers a width
of 1,000 feet and depth of 30.3 feet at a
velocity of 8.97 feet per second the new
flood height above low water would be
?K .1 feet and the levee height should be
three feet more' or 2S.3 feet. This will
ITive an idea of the tremendous task of
disposing of the water.
Government Survey Valuable.
A supplementary channel would have
to carry nearly as much again as now
passes under the Melan bridge but in
fir
r : 1 i ; . 1
w$ 1
A Suit
Like this cut stylish,
snappy, well tailored,
strictly all wool, in. brown,
green, stone and mineral
shades cassimers worst
ed and blue serges,
$15
In bargain stores the same
grades are displayed as
$25.00, $28.00 and $30.00
values for $20.00 special,
we save you
, $5.00
vr.y
V
Fine Fur
Caps
Plush Caps $1.50 to $3.00
$5.00
Dress Gloves
The $1.00 kind here
make a present you
will not be ashamed
to give.
Special Gift Box
Free.
Silk and Linen,
plain and initial
Handkerchiefs
12l2c to $1.00
Men's Neckwear
Wide or narrow shapes
in the beautiful iouv-t
in-hands.
Bargain stores show
them as 50c and 75c wi V
values for 29r ff'
special, here w-Jw
. . - v M--
Mufflers
In any shape, ,
shade, style "
and material,
50c to $5
Christmas Suspenders
In special souve
nir boxes. Presi
d e n t and other
makes. Shown
elsewhere as 50c
and 75c cut values
for 39c. 7Cr
Priced here
Solid Leather Suit Case, Regular Size, $4.00
Watch Us Grow.
Watch Our Business Methods Win.
C.OTHl5
Just Received
In today's ex
press from the
KNOX HAT
CO. their new
"Christmas
Numbers "
in Derby Hats.
$3.50
flood times not very much water is
able to pass under this bridge. A
whole lot more goes around it. The
government reports say that the new
channel would have to be 600 fee.t wide
and 27 feet deep with the banks care
fully revetted. This looks rathe? seri-
Now Is the Time to Buy Your Boy a
Christmas Present Stevens Ltttle Scont Rifle No. 14
No. 14. .22 Rim Fire, 18 Jnch Round Barrel,
weight 2 Vx lbs., sights open, rear and Ger
man silver knife edge front.
The simplest rifle made and has the "STEVENS ACCURACY" Shoots
the .22 long rifle It. F., .22 short, .22 long black or smokeless.
We will have-on sale Saturday morning 50 Rifles, some as cut that
can be used In thia country for rabbit, squirrel and target shooting, also
for farmers to shoot hogs when butchering. And will shoot anything
from a BB to a 22 lorg rifle shot. They will last a life time if taken care
of. Price $1.95 each. Smokeless Shot Gun Shells 50c per box.
Sporting Goods F. A. BAUMAN 215 Kansas Ave.
2Se Mm BJji
to
Santa Claus March, 15c
By Mail 16c
New
the
March for
Holidays
Come and hear these numbers.
' On Sale One Week
15c
a copy
By MaU
16c
VOCAIi
You're In the Right Church
but the Wrong Pew.
Bon Bon Buddy
Anv Old lace in Yankee
Land Is Good Enough for
Me.
In Mv Old Home.
Sheath Gown in Dark
Town.
It Looka Like a Big Night
ToniKht.
I Wish I Had a GirL
I Want Someone to Call Ma
Dearie.
Sweetheart Days.
Mandy Lane.
My Rosie Rambler.
Are You Sincere.
Sweet Nora Dare.
Pride of the Prairie. I
VOCAL
Don't Forget to Drop a Line
to Mother.
I'm Afraid to Come Home
in the Dark.
I I'sed to Be Afraid to Go
Home in the Dark, Now
I'm Afraid to Go Home at
All. Xew).
Daisies Won't Tell.
DreaminK.
Naughty Eyes.
I'd Rather Two Step Than
Waltz. Bill.
Meet Me in the Rose Time,
Rosie.
When I Marry You.
Rainbow.
School Days.
Over on the Jersey Side.
Dear Heart. -
VOCAL
There's No Moon Like the
Honey Moon.
Salome Jackson.
INSTRUMENTAL
Santa Claus March.
La Sorelia. Great hit.
Fluffy Ruffles. Rag.
Balo. New Rag.
Facination. Intermezzo.
Black and White. Rag.
Rainbow. Two Step.
Montezuma. Mt.rch.
Moon Winks. Popular.
Melodv of Love. Interme.
ChaDel in the Forest
On the Beautiful Rhine.
(Waltz.)
Fall'iner Waters.
Sunlterht Waltz. (Easy.)
E. B. GUILD MUSIC CO.
727
Kansas Ave.
Kranich & Bach, Story &. Clark, Hardman & Schiller Piano.
ous but nature has provided for prac
tically all of this and Topeka would
simply have to construct the bridges
and make a few alterations in the
depth. This would cost little compared
with the work on the main channel.
The government reports ret ived by
Mayor Green are very valuable to the
city. Engineer Rogers said this morn
ing: "We can use them to a great ad
vantage. They will give us bearings
on future work and although they are
very expensive plans and call for much
labor and sacrifice, the city appreciates
their value and correctness."
Their advice as to the construction
of levees was good. They said in pari:
"The levee should be eight feet wide
on top and should be sodded or revetted
on "the river slope. It should be three
feet above expected regulated flood.
The levee should extend up the rlve
to such a point where the correct flood
slope would strike the present ryrik
line. Width of the levee along the city
could be advantageously Increased for
driveway and other public uses."
Taken all in all the report of the gov
ernment engineers Is of great value to
the city and will be used for all future
reference and the base for future plans.
DROPPED DEAD ON STEPS
Monroe Brltton, & Plumber, Died of
Heart Disease While at Work.
Monroe Britton, a colored plumber in
the employ of the States Plumbing
company, dropped dead at 9:45 o'clock
this morning While working at 514 West
Sixth avenue. E. J. Cavenough who
was working on the same Job found
Britton and called Coroner Keith.
The body was removed to the under
taking establishment of Stonestreet &
Hamilton, where Dr. Keith held a po
mortem examination and found. t')it
the man had died of heart trouble. The
heart was much -enlarged and blood
vessels had broken. Britton had been
doing the heavy work of digging which
overtaxed his heart. He had been un
der the house working when Mr. Cav
enough was upstairs. As Cavenough
came down stairs he found the dead
man at the foot. Britton had evidently
become ill and sat down to rest on the
steps where he fell.
Mr. Britton leaves a widow and a
grown daughter. They came to Topeka
a number of years ago from Marshall
county, Tennessee. Since that time he
has worked for several of the plumbing
firms in the city, nearly Ave years with
Conklin & Gustafson. He had been
with his present employer but a mol'h.
The Sons and Daughters of Jacob, to
which xorganization Britton belongs,
wil conduct the funeral.
CENTRAL AVENUE BRIDGE
City and County KeacU Agreement for
Reconstruction.
RAMER'S
Delicious Chocolates
in Christmas Boxes
40c a Pound
We have a quantity of Ea
rner's genuine high grade deli
cious chocolates, with heavy
coatings and rich cream cen
ters. J
v- For the holiday trade we will
make a specialty on them at
the above low price. They are
assorted flavors and the boxes
. are decorated in true Christ
mas style.
The city public works committee,
composed of Councilmen C. E.
Jordan, W. G. Tandy and City En
gineer Rogers together with Mayor
Green met with the board of county
oommissioners at the court house this
morning and came together on a
nronosition that will be of great
benefit to the city of Topeka as well-
as Shawnee county. The meeting was
to consider the Central avenue bridge
question in North Topeka where the
dikes are being built at this time and
where the old bridge is practically
worthless for use when the dikes are
completed. ,
"The Central avenue bridge over
Soldier creek will be reconstructed as
soon as the plans and contracts can
be let," said the city engineer this
morning. "The county commission
ers have promised to pay half the cost
of construction and the city will pay
the rest."
Since the dikes have been in action
in North Topeka the drainage board
has confronted the city with another
Soldier creek problem. The dikes
will be seven feet In the air at the en
trance of the bridge and it
necessitates the raising of the bridge
and the pavement The city has
taken up the pavement at this point
and piled it to the side awaiting the
finishing of the dikes and the prob
lem of raising the bridge has brought
out the fact that a new structure is
absolutely necessary to span the big
trenches and reach the pavement. It
has been planned to make the bridge
almost twice as long and allow one
end to rest ori the dikes. The other
end will rest on the original bank.
The bridge in use at the present time
is out of date and to make matters
worse has the inverted trusses. These1
All the popular brands of ci
gars in holiday boxes at
$1.00 Per Box.
Brenker'sPharmacy
609 North Kansas Avenue.
;M JCl.
THE "CLASSIC"
Tke "CLASSIC"
A. new design la the famous
COMMUNITY
SILVER-
anc
Its simplicity, grace
Beauty justify its name.
Best eilver-platecl ware
made, as enown by U. S.
Government aasayer's test.
SHOWN ONLY HERE
W. A. L. THOMPSON
HARDWARE CO.
511-513 KANSAS AVENUE
trusses form a regular dam to the
water and floating debris.
At the meeting this morning the
city and county came together on
every detail of the bridge and decided
to place a new up to date modern
single span at this place. It will be
useful for every purpose. It will also
be straightened to conform with the
direction of Central avenue and the
ugly curve at this place will be a thing
of the past.
It is necessary that the work on the
bridge commence at once. The bridge
is used by the residents of a vast ter
ritory northwest of the city and if the
dikes are allowed to precede the work
on the bridge these people will find
it necessary to make a roundabout
tour of several miles before they can
cross the creek.
r
Pure Food Bakery
AS The State Journal of December J 4th
denounced competitors fake advertis
ing, we only wish to say one thing:
That the public that wishes to inspect our
shop will not come in contact with living
nor sleeping rooms. Facts are that a hall
way big enough for anybody connects shop
with store.
Yours for fair play,
French Bakery
823 Kansas Avenue
NEGRO IS HAXGED.
Pays Penalty fop Assault Cpon Young
White Girl.
Charlotte, N. C, Dec. 18. Will
Graham, .a negro, was hanged today
at Concord, K. C, for attempted
criminal assault upon a 16-year-old
white girl. The negro when arrested,
narrowly escaped lynching, 2,000 peo
ple, mostly mill workers, marching
upon the Concord jail, but he was
protected by several companies of the
national guard. ,
what Liver or Bowel medicine you
are u.ing, stop it now. Get a lOo
box week's treatment of CAS
CARETS today from your druggist
and learn how easily, naturally and
delightfully your liver can be made
to work, and your bowels move every
day. There's new life in every box.
CASCARETS are nature's helper.
You will aee the difference! ggj
CASCARETS loc a box for a week's
treatment, all drupgists. Biggest seller
in the world. Million boxes a month.
Christmas Trees
Green Rope, Ferns, Fancy
New Sorts Home - Grown
Healthy, vigorous, and the
right color to please.
HUBBARD'S
520 Kansas Avenue 520
Phone Independent- 42, Bell 15
Everybody reads the State Journal.
I
1