News Items from The Kansas City Journal ~ Old News That's New to You from Vintage Kansas City.com

January 31, 1910

HOW JUSTICE ROSS

MADE HIS FORTUNE.

DONOR OF MONEY TO MA-

HONEY CHILDREN WAS

ONCE A LAMPLIGHTER.

Formed Partnership With

John Mahoney Twenty-

Five Years Ago.

Justice Michael Ross, of Kansas City, who in the Wyandotte county, Kansas, probate court Saturday gave the children of his dead partner, John Maloney, $50,000, was born in Cincinnati, O., December 19, 1859. His father, Alexander Ross, came to Kansas City in 1866 to aid in the erection of the first gas plant the city had. In June a year later, the family followed him, coming from St. Louis by boat.

"The Missouri was full of boats in those days," said Justice Ross last night, "and was the principal means of navigation between here and St. Louis. Kansas City had a real wharf and it was a busy one."

Two brothers, William J. and James Ross, and a younger sister constituted the children at that time. James was drowned while swimming in the Missouri river in 1872.

"We attended a little frame public school down in the East Bottoms just opposite what was known as Mensing Island," said Justice Ross. "Later we went to Washington school which still stands at Independence avenue and Cherry street. A ward school education was as high as one could go in those days unless he went away, and that was all we received."

After the erection of the gas plant Justice Ross and his brother William secured positions as lamp lighters. It required them to get up at all hours of the night, according to the condition of the weather and the fullness of the moon, both to light and turn out the street lamps. After doing this work at night Justice Ross worked all day on an ice wagon for J. E. Sales. Later on he worked in the old Davis brick yard, which stood about where the Zenith mill now stands in the East Bottoms.

Justice Ross always had in view the day when he would go into business for himself -- be his own boss. With his savings and some help from his mother he started a little grocery and general store on the levee at First and Campbell streets in 1874. After a time his brother, William, was taken into partnership, but remained but a few years. The latter for several terms was a member of the city council.

BOUGHT OTHER STORES.

As the city began to grow away from the river, Justice Ross saw better opportunities and opened a grocery store at 1401-3 East Fifth street, at Lydia avenue, and later another at 1100-2 East Fifth street, at Troost avenue. These two stores were money makers and enabled him later to branch out along other lines.

In September, 1888, Justice Ross was married to Miss Bessie Egan. All of their children, seven boys and four girls, are living, the oldest daughter being away at school near Cincinnati, and the oldest boy at St. Mary's, Kas. Six of the nine children at home attend the Woodland school.

"I knew John Mahoney from the day he came here with the C. & A. railroad," Justice Ross said. "He was doing small jobs of grading in those days and his mother went with him over the country. They used to trade with us at the little store on the levee and when in town Mahoney and his mother stopped at our home."

It was almost twenty-five years ago that Mahoney and Ross went into partnership and the latter has been a silent partner ever since, Mahoney seeing to most of the details and looking after the work. Justice Ross also had other interests, such as tree planting, and planted the trees around the finest residences and along many of the prettiest boulevards. In speaking of some of the work done by himself and Mr. Mahoney, the justice said:

"We built all of the Southwest boulevard, also Fifteenth street, doing the grading work. Roanoke boulevard is another piece of our work, as was the ill-fated Cliff drive, where poor John and his wife met such a tragic fate. We did lots of work on the country roads in Jackson county and built almost all of the roads in Wyandotte county, besides many of the brick-paved streets.

LARGE CONTRACT WORK.

"We also did much work away from here, such as government work on the levee at New Orleans, county roads in Southern Indiana and railroad grading in Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Colorado. Mahoney was a man who made friends wherever he went. I just received a letter from Indiana asking if he and McGuire were the same men who were there asking for all particulars."

As Justice Ross's business ventures thrived he found it impossible to give the time required to his two grocery stores, and a few years ago he disposed of them. Previous to that, however, he had established the Missouri Carriage and Wagon works at 308-10 Broadway, which he still operates.

For many years he has been buying property and erecting modern flats thereon. He does not build flats to sell, but he keeps them for what they bring in. When Admiral boulevard was cut through at Virginia avenue, Justice Ross owned a big row of old flats immediately in the right of way. They are brick and their moving back was the biggest job of that kind ever done in this city. He made them modern and is erecting more flats near them.

The prettiest and most costly structure erected by Justice Ross is a flat building at Benton boulevard and St. John avenue, on a promontory overlooking the entire city. He owns forty or more pieces of improved property in the city.

In the fall of 1898 Michael Ross ran for justice of the peace on the Democratic ticket and was elected. Since then he has held the office for three terms, twelve years, winning each time with ease. He said last night, however, that he would not seek the office again. He intends to build a big home in the southern part of the city and he and Mrs. Ross will devote their time to their children. He now lives at 626 Troost avenue.

"John Mahoney almost decided to go to Jacksonville, Fla., with our party," said the Justice. "The ground was frozen and he could not work. But he was such a home-loving man he hated to leave his family, even for a day. I had a premonition when I left that something would happen. When I got the wire the first thing I thought of was his automobile. We did not get the particulars, however, until we got a paper at Memphis, and did not get full particulars and learn that McGuire was killed and the others hurt until we got The Journal at Paola, Kas.

Labels: business, Campbell street, East bottoms, grocers, history, Independence avenue, Justice Ross, New Orleans, politics, public works, real estate, schools, St Louis, Troost avenue, Utilities

January 23, 1910

BLASTING JARS BUILDINGS.

Tenants of Downtown Structures Feel

Shock of Dynamite Shots.

What seemed like distant earthquake shocks have been felt in all the buildings on both sides of Grand avenue, between Ninth and Thirteenth streets during the last few days, the concussions being due to dynamite blasting in the conduit trench on the east side of Grand avenue.

When a shot is fired in the trenches there is a very perceptible chug and lift in the floors of all the structures in this district, and especially is this noticeable in the basements and first floors of the big buildings. In the basement of the R. A. Long building the concussion is so severe that some of the apparatus in a barber shop there has been moved out of the place. Higher up in the building the shock is not felt so markedly.

Blasting has been going on for several days and is likely to continue for several more. The trench is but partially completed and at present the work is hindered by a vein of rock which has to be blasted out. It isn't at all probable that the blasting will damage any of the big steel buildings, but it is altogether possible for it to do some damage to some of the less substantial structures, it is said.

Labels: explosion, Grand avenue, public works, R A Long building

December 13, 1909

MUD IN THE SUPPLY

DUE TO LOW WATER.

LITTLE HOPE FOR RELIEF UN-

DER PRESENT CONDITIONS.

River Stage Drops Five Feet -- Slush

Ice Adds to Trouble -- Filter

Plant Badly Needed at

Quindaro Station.

"Good morning. Have you taken your mud bath?" were the greetings received yesterday by W. G. Goodwin, general superintendent of water works, from consumers who had been compelled to take their morning dips in a coating of mud and drink a muddy mixture at their tables and in their coffee.

"Yes," good-naturedly responded Goodwin, "I've been there and I expect to be repeating it so long as the river remains low and the pumps bring forth as much mud as water. The stage of the river at Quindaro station is four or five feet below the level recorded some days ago and the water is running with slush ice and also all kinds and assortments of debris.

"I do not look for clear water until conditions change, and there is some cessation in the consumption. In addition to keeping the pumps busy for days, delivering water at the rate of 39,000,000 gallons for twenty-four hours, to meet the demands, we were called upon to do the neighborly act for Kansas City, Kas., and make up a deficit in its ordinary supply.

"This meant an additional 3,000,000 gallons a day to our burden of production, and as a consequence the water had to be forced into the distributing pipes to the consumer from the river, without having time to have the solids precipitated by the customary treatment of lime and alum.

FILTERING PLANT NEEDED.

"But the condition of the water is no worse than it always has been when the river is low, and after a heavy snow storm. and what is more, I do not believe consumers will ever see much change in times like these unless the city installs a filtering plant."

Mr. Goodwin found it necessary yesterday as a source of protection to the water supply, to shut off the 3,000,000 gallons a day that Kansas City, Kas., has been getting.

"Superintendent Riley, of the Kansas City, Kas., plant told me that they could get along without our assistance, as he has about completed arrangements to have his own plant furnish all the water that is needed," said Mr. Goodwin.

Labels: Kansas City Kas, Missouri river, public works

December 12, 1909

CITY HALL CANARY KILLED.

"Elizabeth," Pet of Water Depart-

ment, Crushed by Door.

"Elizabeth," the canary that had a record of raising a family of eighteen birds since April 15 last, and which always attracted so much attention because it was given its freedom in the city hall offices of Tom Gregory, auditor of the water department, was accidentally killed yesterday. The little warbler was perched on top of a door when a sudden gust of wind closed the door. The bird was caught in the jam of the door case, and its life crushed out. Mr. Gregory and his office force are inconsolable.

Labels: accident, animals, city hall, death, public works

August 25, 1909

INCINERATING PLANT

THE ONLY SOLUTION.

Safe and Sanitary Way to

Dispose of Garbage.

"The time is at hand for this city to face the garbage problem and to face it in a safe and sanitary sort of way. In my opinion the proper solution lies not only in the collection of all refuse, but also in its final destruction. the city should be provided with an incinerating plant; indeed, it is now so large since the borders have been increased that we should have two such plants."

Dr. W. S. Wheeler, health commissioner, made this suggestion in the first annual report, which he read before the hospital and health board yesterday afternoon.

In discussing this subject Dr. Wheeler tells the board that J. I. Boyer contracted last December to remove garbage three times a day during the months between May and October and twice a day during the other months. The garbage was to be removed away from the city.

"Up to this date," the report states, "Mr. Boyer has not in any particular fulfilled his contract with the city, and, with his present equipment, he will not be able to do so. further, Mr. Boyer has had implicit instructions from your health commissioner that the government officials had warned our department that no more garbage should be dumped into the Missouri river, but Mr. Boyer has, purposely or otherwise, not heeded our protestations in this respect."

"PEST HOUSE FOR DISEASES."

Dr. Wheeler speaks of the workhouse as a "veritable pest house for all kinds of diseases." He blames the construction of the place for the unsanitary condition, and says "unfortunates are packed in cells like rats in holes." He suggests that the place be enlarged so that more cell room may be had, that sewer connections be made with each cell and that two wards be built where the attending physician may see that sick prisoners get humane treatment.

The commissioner next takes up the spit nuisance, tells of the ordinance passed concerning spitting in street cars, and says that education has done much to abate the nuisance.

In a long dissertation on "the house fly," he speaks of the diseases that are carried into homes by this insect. It is his opinion that typhoid fever and many intestinal troubles are spread by the fly.

He recommends the destruction of open vaults and that sewage should not be allowed to empty into adjacent streams, but should be destroyed completely. To keep the city in better condition he recommends more inspectors and a system by which tab may be kept on them to see that they work.

Labels: board of health, doctors, health, Missouri river, public works, typhoid, workhouse

August 18, 1909

BOARD FEARED A TRICK.

So a Valuable Land Gift to the City

Was Declined.

"Where is the brick? Dig deep and you will surely find a nicely plated one," observed R. L. Gregory, chairman, at yesterday's meeting of the board of public works, when a communication was read offering to deed that city a strip of water front land forty feet wide west from Broadway to the state line.

"It is too liberal a gift," suggested Lynn Brooks.

"Mark it most respectfully declined and mail it back to the bounteous giver," recommended Wallace Love.

This will be done. A man who is creating a levy within the boundaries so described made the proposition, but the board concluded that should it accept it would mean an expense incurred by the city to provide protection for the other fellow's property.

Labels: Broadway, public works, Robert Lee Gregory

August 2, 1909

MACADAM FOR PART

OF SANTA FE TRAIL.

WILL BE BETWEEN KANSAS

CITY AND OLATHE.

Board of Highway Commissioners of

Johnson County, Kas., Propose

to Expend $100,000 on

Improvement.

The Santa Fe trail, over half a century old, is soon to come into its own for the distance between Kansas City and Olathe, at least. Yesterday afternoon the board of highway commissioners of Johnson county, Kas., and some of the prominent citizens of Olathe, toured the road, which it is proposed to macadamize at a cost of about $100,000. A meeting of the highway commissioners will be held this morning at which the final steps toward deciding on this work will be taken.

The plan that will be presented for the approval of the board today is for a macadamized strip sixteen feet wide and a foot thick. The petition for the road was circulated by John W. Breyfogle under the law which was fathered by Senator George H. Hodges.

In the party yesterday were Senator George H. Hodges, Roy Murray, engineer; John W. Breyfogle, W. W. Fry and Harry King, a commissioner, in Senator Hodge's machine. In the other machine, owned by Will Lemon, were Robert Baker, chairman of the commissioners; B. F. Culley and J. M. Leonard.

The party took dinner at the Hotel Baltimore and discussed the road informally. All were enthusiastic for the road. Senator Hodge's machine sustained a badly punctured tire and he and his party returned to Olathe by way of the electric line.

The road will connect with Hudson avenue in the southwestern section of Kansas City. The town of Lenexa, Kas., has promised to assist and will macadamize the street which the road will touch in and out of that town. Olathe will macadamize to the road which under law cannot be built inside an incorporated city or town.

Labels: automobiles, Johnson county, Lenexa, Olathe, public works, Santa Fe Trail

July 7, 1909

PLANS A RIVERSIDE

DRIVE FOR THE BLUE.

BOULEVARDS AND PARKWAYS

ALONG BANKS.

If Bonds Are Voted Tuesday, Kess-

ler's Ideas of Beautifying the

Blue Valley Will Be

Considered.

Preparatory and unofficial sketches for the redeeming of the Blue river and its tracks, and the addition of boulevards and parkways on both sides of the stream from the Missouri river to Swope park, have been prepared by George E. Kessler, engineer and landscape architect, for the consideratoin of the park board.

To carry out the plans of beautifying the Blue valley will necessitate funds from a bond issue, and there is not much likelihood of the park board giving it serious consideration unless bonds to be voted next Tuesday carry. If the bonds are approved by the voters the board will go over the territory and determine the applicability of Mr. Kessler's suggestions.

"The beautifying of the Blue valley and making it accessible to the use of the public for boulevards and other pleasures is a big undertaking," said Mr. Kessler yesterday. "There are many propositions involved that will have to be figured out before any definite engineering plans can be settled. The natural possibilities are there, and I have some excellent ideas.

"I believe it is possible to increase the water area of the stream by the acquirement of 100 or more acres of land at the bend in the river at about Twenty-seventh street and the installation of a dam."

Labels: architects, Blue river, George Kessler, Park board, public works, real estate, Swope park, Twenty-seventh street

June 3, 1909

SPARROWS CAUSE DAMAGE.

Take Possession of Pump Station and

Must Be Screened Out.

Sparrows are costing Kansas City about $1,000 for wire screens. Whole colonies of them have taken charge of the upper works of the Turkey creek pumping station, working such havoc that the board of public works has had to advertise for plans and bids to keep the little pests out.

There are 150 great windows in the pump and boiler rooms and every one of these will have to be screened in with heavy half-inch mesh wire.

Labels: animals, public works

March 23, 1909

THEY'RE COMING BACK AGAIN.

"Sanitary" Trash Cans Will Decor-

ate Street Corners.

"Will the committee explain what good these cans are? They obstruct sidewalks; are not beautiful to look at, and when we had them before I could see no earthly use for them."

This is what Alderman George H. Edwards said in the upper house of the council last night when the streets and alleys committee recommended the passage of an ordinance giving permission to a company headed by Michael Pendergast, brother of the alderman, to encumber the sidewalks and street corners with trash cans.

"They are sanitary, ornamental and well gotten up; they are absolutely sanitary and can't be kicked over or blown over," was the recommendation furnished for the cans by Alderman Isaac Taylor.

"Also quite convenient for clerks to empty the contents of waste paper baskets into," piped Alderman Emmet O'Malley.

"The last cans were good things to throw trash at, but never into," observed Alderman Edwards.

The ordinance was passed, the only negative vote being filed by Edwards.

In the lower house the ordinance failed of passage under suspension of the rules, but the streets and alleys committee reported it out immediately. The required eight votes were on hand to make it a law, the only objections being Alderman Darius Brown and J. G. Lapp.

Labels: James Pendergast, Kansas City council, public works

March 12, 1909

GOODNESS GRACIOUS! IT'S

COMING BACK!

Indignant Citizens React to the Return of the Gilwee.

Labels: public works

March 11, 1909

AUTO EXPLODES CITY GAS.

Workman in Manhole Injured in an

Unusual Accident.

An automobile caused one of the most unusual accidents ever recorded in Kansas City, or any other city. The car was passing over an open manhole at Twelfth and Baltimore, where workmen were repairing a leaky gas main, when a spark from the machine caused the explosion of the gases issuing from the chamber.

There was a flash and a dull roar, and W. A. Thompson, 402 Main street, who was working in the hole, came staggering to the opening, his hair and eyebrows badly singed and his face and hands severely burned. Suffering intense pain, Thompson was carried into a nearby drug store for treatment and was later taken to emergency hospital.

The automobile that caused the explosion was not damaged.

Labels: accident, automobiles, Baltimore avenue, Main street, public works, Twelfth street

March 10, 1909

BLAMES ACT OF PROVIDENCE.

Barber Asphalt Company Still Inter-

poses Plea Touching Repairs.

Property owners on Eight street, between Santa Fe and Hickory, are going to have a conference with the attorney of the Barber Asphalt Paving company with a view to compromising with the company which has raised the point that the washing away of the asphalt in the flood of 1903 was "an act of God."

The company has all these years resisted restoration of the pavement, although it agreed to maintain it for ten years, always interposing when called upon to comply with its contract that it did not consider itself responsible for something over which it had no control.

The questions involved in the argument were thrashed out before the board of public works yesterday.

Labels: Eighth street, flood, Hickory street, public works, Santa Fe street

March 9, 1909

PLAN TO REVIVE "GILWEES."

Tin Trash Cans Again May Disfigure

Street Corners.

Are the "Gilwees" to be revived? "Gilwees" were the unsightly trash cans that imposed their undesirable presence on the public a few years ago, and bloomed and prospered until an indignant populace demanded their extermination.

Now come P. S. Burke, M. J. Pendergast and Shelton P. Stone to the council with an ordinance asking for a five years' permit to decorate the corners of the streets and center of blocks with trash cans. The upper house sent the ordinance to the sidewalk committee last night.
If the grantees are permitted to go into the trash can business they agree to keep their books on the square, and pay annually into the city 10 per cent of the gross revenues. Their revenues will be from attaching advertisements, to the cans, it being promised that no offensive "ads" will be tolerated.

Labels: Kansas City council, public works

March 4, 1909

WANTS MEN TO TRIM TREES.

City Forester Advocates Appointment

of Five or Six for This Purpose.

S. C. Woodson, city forester, is advocating the appointment of five or six men who are capable of properly trimming trees, in order to preserve the beauty and life of the trees planted on the street parkings. The $6,000 appropriation for his office is not sufficient to employ the required number of men, and numerous trees are suffering from improper trimming.

The city forester believes in the people purchasing their trees by private contract, but wants the forestry department to have the right of inspection of the trees and the supervision of the planting.

Permits will be issued by the city forester to those persons applying to him upon their showing that they have a contract for the trimming of trees in a specified place. General or blanket permits will not be issued by the department.

Labels: employment, public works

February 20, 1909

PASSENGER STATION A JOKE?

Back East They're Inclined to Make

Fun of Kansas City.

"Kansas City's promised union passenger station not only is a national issue, but a great joke in the East and South," observed R. H. Willilams of the board of public works, yesterday. Mr. Williams is just back from Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, and inall these places he says he was asked how Kansas City is coming along with its union passenger station.

"Last Friday I tendered my personal check drawn on a Kansas City bank in payment of my bill at the Waldorf in New York, and as I passed the check over to the clerk there was a merry twinkle in his eye as he remarked, 'This will be honored before the union passenger station is built, I presume."

Labels: New York, public works

February 20, 1909

NEW GARBAGE WAGONS HERE.

Public Display Made of First Install-

ment of Twelve.

"H. & H. B."

Twelve newly painted red wagons, bearing the foregoing inscription and driven by men dressed in white canvas clothes, attracted more than ordinary attention as they paraded through the street yesterday afternoon. Many guesses were made as to the meaning of the "H. & H. B.," but those who guessed that it meant "Hospital and Health Board" had it right. It was a parade of the first installment of about forty new wagons which will collect the garbage of the city. J. I. Boyer, the contractor, had charge of the wagons and, therefore, was the marshal of the day, the man who wears a red sash and rides a skittish horse. Mr. Boyer rode a red wagon yesterday, however.

Each wagon is equipped with a tank made of boiler steel in which there are no rivets and no chance for leakage. As fast as a wagon is loaded it will be driven to a spur track on the Belt Line railway, where the tank will be transferred to a waiting car and an empty tank put on the wagon in its place. The garbage is then hauled eight miles into the country. Each tank is thoroughly scalded before it is returned to the city, scalded before it is returned to the city.

"Garbage will be collected in the downtown district before 8 o'clock each morning, winter and summer," said Mr. Boyer yesterday. "In the residence districts there will be three collections a week in summer and two in winter." At present Mr. Boyer has been compelled to use some of the old-style wagons, but he is placing the new ones in commission as fast as possible. They are new in every respect. The steel tanks are built so that there can be no dropping of garbage along the way, and there are trap doors to keep the odor from escaping.

Labels: board of health, public works

December 19, 1908

GENERAL HOSPITAL IS

ALMOST INACCESSIBLE.

Roadway Is Muddy, Narrow and

Dangerous, Almost Impossible to

Traverse at Night.

The new general hospital is a great thing. The wards are large and airy, the sanitation is perfect, the nurses and doctors are first class and the facilities for treating emergency cases excellent -- in the emergency cases could reach the hospital. In other words, the matter with the new hospital is that it is almost inaccessible, especially after nightfall.

A complaint comes from the police. The ambulance from the Walnut street station takes a case or two to the hospital every night. Last night a man with a broken leg was taken there. The ambulance spent about a minute getting from Nineteenth and Main streets, the scene of the accident, to Twenty-first street and Gillham road. Then it took fifteen minutes to get the last 100 yards of the journey.

There are only two ways by which vehicles can get to the hospital. One was is by Twenty-fourth and Cherry streets, and the other is by the Gillham road entrance. The ambulance entered by the latter way, because it is closer and safer. There are no lights in the vicinity of the hospital and the whole hill is in darkness. The entrance is by a winding mud road and it is so narrow, twisting and dark that a policeman was compelled to walk in front of the horses to pick out the way and prevent the animals from falling in one of the many ditches. Meanwhile the man with the broken leg was suffering excruciating agony.

If the ambulance had gone around by the other entrance it would have been necessary to climb the Holmes street hill, which the horses are compelled to take at a walk. In either case the vehicle would be in danger of overturning several times.

"It seems strange to me," said a police officer last night, "that a couple of hundred dollars could not have been subtracted from the thousands that it took to build the hospital and used to make the place accessible. It is a strange anomaly to see a dozen doctors waiting inside the hospital in the operating room for the patient, who is meantime stuck in the mud outside and possibly dying for lack of attention.

"Within a block of the place is Gillham road, one of the finest thoroughfares to be found in the city, and half a dozen other streets that are kept in good condition. The new hospital has been built several months now and there has been plenty of time to build suitable approaches. I would like to know who to blame."

Labels: accident, general hospital, Gillham road, Holmes street, Main street, Nineteenth street, public works, Twenty-first street

November 30, 1908

FINDS MONEY IN STREETS.

Street Sweeper Who Keeps His Eyes

Open Picks Up Many Coins.

The street sweeper stooped down and picked up a coin from among the debris in the gutter.

"It pays to keep your eyes open," he said after the nickel had been safely stowed away. "We often find coins and lost articles in the street. Of course, should we find a pocketbook or article of value it would be our duty to turn it over to the department for identification, but who knows to whom a stray nickel, dime or quarter belongs, and we might just as well have it as anyone else. No, I haven't got rich off my findings from the gutters and it is not every day that I pick up even a nickel, but some folks would be surprised to know how much money is found in such a manner every day in Kansas City."

Labels: public works

November 27, 1908

WANTS DRINKING FOUNTAIN.

Humane Society Secretary Favors

One at the Junction.

To the Journal:
I am glad to see that the long talked of public comfort station seems in a fair way to become a certainty; also that a statue, or ornament of some kind will probably be placed at the Junction. This is a very favorable location for something of that kind, as it could be seen for several blocks from east, west and south. The ornament should, therefore, be imposing and significant.

In connection with the station and ornament there should also be placed in the vicinity of the Junction, and close on the sidewalk, a drinking fountain, for persons only, where the thirsty, at all times, day or night, might obtain a cool refreshing drink of pure water. This fountain should be placed so as to be accessible from the sidewalk, at proper distance from the station, and arranged so as to drain through it. The two fountains erected by the Humane Society, one at Fourth and Broadway, the other at the western terminus of our great intercity viaduct, are proving great conveniences for horses and dogs. Now let the city do as well for thirsty humans, as this seems a favorable opportunity. -- F. M. FURGASON, Secretary Humane Society

Labels: fountains, Humane Society, public works, statues, the Junction

November 24, 1908

KEEP TO RIGHT OF THE ROAD.

These Lights Will Warn Vehicle

Drivers on Entering Boulevards.

Ornamental Lamp Posts to be Located at

Street Intersections on Boulevards.

The park board has ordered thirty ornamental lamp posts to be installed at various points along the boulevards at intersections with streets for the purpose of regulating the operating of automobiles. The posts are of cast iron, of special make, and cost $10 each. They will be surmounted with red globes which will be illuminated at night with gas, and in daylight the color of the globe will serve as a beacon to vehicle users to keep to the right of the road.

Labels: automobiles, Park board, public works

November 22, 1908

WANTS THE PEOPLE TO VOTE.

Pendergast Favors Immediate Sub-

mission of Depot Ordinance.

"The Union passenger station and freight terminal franchise is distinctly a people's proposition and it should be put up to them for settlement without further delay," said Alderman James Pendergast, yesterday. "Individually I am ready to vote Monday night to put the ordinance up to the people on the decision of the utilities commission, the legal opinion of Attorney R. J. Ingraham, and as a recognition of the splendid work done by Mayor Crittenden and the council committee in connection with the routine details of the ordinance. I realize, and my associates in the council should also realize it, that their responsibility ceases when the routine negotiations have been completed and that the people are the final arbiters in the matter. A man who has lost confidence in the people, and questions their ability to act intelligently on this matter has no business being in control.

Labels: attorney, James Pendergast, Kansas City council, Mayor Crittenden, public works, railroad

November 20, 1908

WARNING BY ELECTRIC GONG.

Alarms to Be Placed at Prominent

Intersections.

Electric gongs are to be installed at Eleventh and main, Eleventh and Walnut and Eleventh and Grand avenue by the fire and water board. These will be operated from fire headquarters to warn crossing policemen and pedestrians of the approach of fire wagons

Labels: Eleventh street, Fire, Grand avenue, Main street, public works, Walnut Street

November 19, 1908

COMFORT STATION

AT THE JUNCTION.

CITY TO SPEND FIFTEEN THOU-

SAND DOLLARS THERE.

Opposition of Property Owners With-

drawn and Long Needed Neces-

sity Will Be Established.

Architects to Compete.

Fifteen thousand dollars will be spent by the city for a comfort station at the Junction. An ordinance authorizing the apportionment of the money will be introduced in the council Monday night. The work of the construction will be under the supervision of the board of public works.

J. M. Townley, A. P. Nichols and S. M. Williams of the civic improvement committee of the Manufacturers and Merchants' Association and J. A. Runyan, secretary, presented the matter to the board yesterday. The committee was supported in its recommendations by Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr. City Comptroller Gus Pearson said the funds could be provided.

Plans for the station were prepared during the Beardsley administration, but further progress was delayed on account of opposition from adjoining property owners. It is said this opposition has been withdrawn. The drawings that have been prepared were submitted to the board yesterday with the understanding that they will not have to be followed.

R. L. Gregory, chairman of the board, felt that on account of the importance of the utility, there should be some scope permitted for competition among architects in preparation of plans, and he favored the offering of a purse of $100 for the best design. The main adjuncts to the utility will be underground, and it is proposed to make the surface appearance as attractive as possible. The plans already in hand call for a tower of bronze fifteen feet high, to be illuminated at night by an immense gas burning torch located on the crown. There is a probability of this tower being made taller.

Just as soon as the council appropriates the money, the board will advertise for competitive bids for plans and construction. It is thought that by energetic action work on the station can be commenced in thirty days, and finished within sixty days.

Labels: Mayor Crittenden, public works, Robert Lee Gregory, the Junction

October 20, 1908

FAVORS STONE BLOCK PAVING.

R. L. Gregory Says It Wears Splen-

didly in Northern Cities.

Members of the board of public works returned yesterday from the Minneapolis and St. Paul, where they inspected street paving of Kettle Creek sandstone and creosoted wood block.

"These materials, to my mind, are the only practical and reliable kinds for street paving," said R. L. Gregory, president of the board, last night. "But they cost more than asphalt, and the question is, 'Will the taxpayers pay the difference?' Sandstone set on concrete base costs $2.75 a square yard, while creosoted block costs $3 a square yard. We saw pavements of these materials that have been laid ten or twelve years, and from their appearances they are as good as the day they were laid. After a few years of wear the sandstone looks like asphalt, and it is nearly as noiseless."

Labels: public works, Robert Lee Gregory

October 2, 1908

CRITTENDEN IS ASHAMED

OF K. C. WATERWORKS

AFTER SEEING OMAHA'S.

City Executive Upon His Return

from Attending Municipal Con-

vention Will Make Every Effort

to Secure New System.

"I intend to show the visiting delegates, mayors and other city officials who will arrive in this city tomorrow the best in Kansas City, but after seeing the Omaha waterworks, I am ashamed for them to go over our system and see that we are so far behind.

"Omaha has a sewer and water system which is much better than ours, and while Kansas City is far ahead of the Nebraska city on many things, we must admit that in the matter of water system and disposal of sewage they have us beaten. I am sorry that every citizen of this city cannot see the plants and the system which Omaha has. That would be a more forceful argument for a new water system here than anything else could possibly be," said Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., on his return from Omaha yesterday morning.

The mayor, upon his return from Omaha, where he has been in attendance upon the convention of the League of American Municipalities, gave out an interview to reporters in which he declared his regret that this city has not an adequate water system to display to the officials who will arrive here this morning to look over the city.

"Omaha," said Mayor Crittenden, "has one of the most elaborate systems I ever saw, and one of the like of which Kansas City should be the possessor. So far as concerns the finish of their plants, we do not care for such fine things, perhaps, for in that city society has dances in the water plants. The machinery is enameled, it is hand painted in some cases, especially the flywheels, but the point which struck me most forcibly was the fact that they have reservoirs there which hold 1,000,000 gallons of water. They have exactly the same conditions to meet regarding their river that we have, and the company which owns the water system recently spent $500,000 to put in a revetment like the one we are trying to get the government to put in.

"Their sewer system is a fine one, and so far in advance of that of Kansas City that it made me feel bad to look it over and then think of what we will have to do here before we are even in the same class with Omaha regarding the disposal of sewage.

"I believe we must have a water plant immediately which is adequate, and it seems to me that it is a matter which should be taken up at once."

Labels: Mayor Crittenden, Omaha, public works

September 16, 1908

WOULD DIVERT KAW'S CHANNEL.

Mayor Announces That It Can Be

Done at Cost of $10,000,000.

The old plan of diverting the channel of the Kaw river, advanced several times since it was outlined in the report of the Stickney board of engineers, is to be taken up by the Kaw river flood abatement congress. Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., at a meeting of the executive committee in the Commercial Club rooms yesterday, announced that Ira G. Hedrick had for some time been working on such a plan, and that it would cost about $10,000,000, the money, proposed by the mayor, to be collected by a tax on land and by contributions from the industries protected.

Mr. Hedrick will attend the next meeting and outline the plan in detail. Mr. J. Hedrick will also be called into consultation with an expert dyke engineer, to be employed by the congress at a cost of $1,000. The employing of such an engineer was recommended by E. R. Crutcher, chairman of the committee on engineering.

Labels: Commercial Club, Kaw river, Mayor Crittenden, public works

September 15, 1908

THEY WOULD LIGHT ELEVENTH.

Business Men Make Plans From Bal-

timore to McGee.

If the plans of the men representing the business houses on Eleventh street, between McGee street and Baltimore avenue, materialize, Eleveth street within those limits will be the mo st artistically lighted street in Kansas City. A committee of six of these business men met at the Hotel Baltimore last night and discussed the plans. They will meet again next Monday at 12:15 o'clock at the Hotel Baltimore when plans and bids will be submitted.

There being an absence of poles on Eleventh street, a different plan from that which obtains in other districts is necessitated. The committee is unanimous in the belief that there must be a uniformity in the lighting of htis street, and that the lights must be artistic. From the discussion last night it is probable that a combined light and pole will be secured at a cost of not less than $50 each. It is estimated that there should be no fewer than three lights on each side of the street.

These men were in the conference last night: C. C. Peters of Emery, Bird, Thayer & Co.,; H. C. Lambert, president of the German-American bank; D. M. Bone, secretary of the Business Mens's League; C. M. Boley, John D. Howe, secretary and treasurer of the Robert Keith Furniture Company, and J. W. Wagner.

Labels: Baltimore avenue, business, Eleventh street, Hotel Baltimore, hotels, public works

September 4, 1908

LIGHTS READY OCTOBER 1.

Merchants Will Pay for Extra Street

Illumination.

Lights and ornamental brackets to be used in the downtown street lighting projet have been selected, and the contract awarded to the Loewer Wire and Iron Company. The company was the lowest bidder and offered to furnish 325 bent iron brackets, place them on the trolley poles and wire them for $6 each. The lights will be ready for the merchants to use by October 1.

Letters were sent out yesterday to merchants on each block in the illuminating district, asking them to collect the money from the merchants on their block to pay for the lights. C. N. Boley, president of the Business Men's League, is attending to the collection from merchants.

Labels: business, public works

September 4, 1908

RIVER SCOUTS TO GO TODAY.

Expedition Will Examine the Mis-

souri as Far as Parkville.

Mayor Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr., members of the fire and water board, Captain E. H. Schultz, government engineer, and federal officials wthis morning will make a trip up the Missouri river as far as Parkville, Mo., to determine how much revetment work to the banks of the stream is necessary.

It is the belief of city officials that unless this work is done at once, eventually a new channel will be made by the river and the intakes of the water supply of both Kansas Citys will be shut off.

Labels: Mayor Crittenden, Missouri river, Parkville, public works

September 1, 1908

WILL RUSH NEW HOSPITAL.

Board of Public Works Agrees to

Help Architect Root.

"I could turn the new hospital over to the city in ten days if I were not continually annoyed by orders from the city hall," declared W. C. Root, one of the architects on the building. He visited the board of public works yesterday to straighten out some bills due contractors.

"This board will assist you. Tell us what you want us to do," suggested R. L Gregory, president.

"There ought to be a key rack made and installed, the gas company should be ordered to install meters and the furniture ought to be put in place," replied Mr. Root.

"If that is all, the secretary of the board will attend to it at once. You ought to be able to have the hospital ready for the new health and hospital board by the time the new charter becomes operative, September 3. Can you do it?"

"I guess so," answered the architect.

Labels: architects, hospitals, public works, Robert Lee Gregory

August 29, 1908

LABORERS WANT MORE MONEY.

Fire and Water Board Will Hear

Their Demand.

"Why didn't you come to the board thirty days ago and ask for a raise in wages and not wait until a new commission is to take over the control of the waterworks a week hence?" asked R. L. Gregory, president of the board of public works, yesterday of a delegation of waterworks laborers that asked that their pay be raised from $1.75 to $2 a day.

"We didn't suppose there was any hurry, that the campaign promises of both Crittenden and Gregory to raise our wages stood good for any old time," replied the spokesman of the party.

"I have no recollection of making any such declarations in the campaign," said Mr. Gregory, "but if I did you can bet I'll stand by them if there is any merit to your demands."

The proposal was passed up to the fire and water board, which will formally organize under the new charter next Thursday.

Labels: Mayor Crittenden, politics, public works, Robert Lee Gregory

August 18, 1908

WILL WATCH THE INSPECTORS.

City Engineer Has an Automobile for

Visiting Public Work.

To expedite keeping tab on inspectors from the engineering department on public work, an automobile is to be used, and every one of fifty men is to be located by a chart to be kept on file in the city engineer's office. The city is divided into districts, and every morning when an inspector is assigned his district will be pegged off on this chart. Black pins will indicate grading; blue, sidewalks; red, sewers; white pins paving, and other colors for curbing and other character of work.

At stated hours during the day, J. L. Darnell, city engineer, will go the rounds in an automobile to see if the inspectors are performing their duties properly.

Labels: automobiles, public works

July 1, 1908

NEW BURIAL RITE APPROVED.

Morticians Tire of Speculating in

Pauper Dead at $2.

"We have to pay our men $5 to go to St. George's hospital for a body at the dead of night and drive it to the cemetery for burial. Persons dying form smallpox must be buried at night. How many of you men would do it for $5?"

"I wouldn't do it for $6," replied R. L. Gregory, president of the board of public works.

This occurred at yesterday's meeting of the board when a representative of an undertaking establishment appeared to explain why the bid of burying the pauper dead hand had been raised from $2 to $5. He explained that in the past the burial of paupers had been a speculative proposition with undertakers. There is no money in it at $2, and the profits come in when very often relatives of impoverished deceased persons appear and give them a more expensive funeral.

"A grave costs $3; it takes fifty feet of lumber to make the box; that costs $1; then there is the excelsior for the upholstering, muslin for a shroud and material for a headboard; that counts up $1 more, making a total of $5 to bury a pauper," explained the undertaker.

It was decided to accept the new bids, $5 for burials an 75 cents for ambulance service to the several city hospitals.

Labels: hospitals, public works, Robert Lee Gregory, smallpox, undertakers

June 27, 1908

'BUSINESS BASIS'

MADE THEM SNICKER.

WATERWORKS EMPLOYES ARE

USED ONLY TO POLITICS.

LAUGHED IN

GREGORY'S FACE.

"PULL" BETTER THAN EFFICIEN-

CY IN HOLDING JOBS.

Board of Public Works Gets Busy.

Chief Engineer John F. Sickles

Suspended Pending an

Investigation.

The board of public works yesterday suspended John F. Sickles, chief engineer of Turkey creek water pumping station, for "insubordination and good of the service." Last Monday, it is claimed, he discharged twelve of the employes at the station without authority, and has otherwise demeaned himself in a manner not satisfactory to the board. No action was taken yesterday by the board in the cases of the twelve men removed by Sickles.

"We are going to put the water department on a business basis and establish an order of discipline if we have to fire every man in the department," said R. L. Gregory, president of the board. "There is to be no politics in the department under this administration, and that's got to be understood. Last Friday when we ha a lot of heads of the different branches of the service before us, and they were asked if it were not possible to conduct a municipal water plant on a business basis, they all, with one exception, snickered and said it was impossible. The impossibility they claimed was attributable to politics, so myself and associates, Lynn Banks, Wallace Love and R. H. Williams, made up our minds right there and then to wipe politics from the plant and conduct it s we do our private business affairs. It can be done, must be done and shall be done.

"The deplorable condition of the plant, and the lack of discipline is directly traceable to politics. There will be no more using of the waterworks by politicians to serve their selfish ends. Qualification, not politics, is the basis on which men will be employed in the future to conduct the affairs of the waterworks."

Lynn Banks said that in view of the insinuations that the present administration is trying to inject politics into the water department, the commercial and civic organizations should send delegations to inspect conditions as they exist at the two water pumping stations.

"I am certain they will fin some things that will refute the charge that we are playing politics," said Mr. Banks, "and what's more, they will be convinced that the water plant in the past has been badly handled."

It is the intention of the board to continue the weeding out process until it finds men who can hold their jobs through ability, and not through political influence. There are indications that other high officials are slated to go within the next few days.

Labels: politics, public works, Robert Lee Gregory

May 19, 1908

CITY FORESTER MUST WORK.

Unheard-Of Hardship Imposed on Of-

ficeholder by Council.

Unless the upper house changes its mind, the new city forester, Stephen C. Woodson, will have to do his own work. An ordinance was introduced last night to give him a foreman, at $2.50 per day.

"I do not suppose the forester has to go out himself and trim the trees," said Alderman Tillhof, "but I do expect that he will have to walk around and see that his men do the work."

"I rather think as you do," the president added.

The ordinance was thereupon referred to the finance committee, to be lost sight of.

Labels: Kansas City council, public works

May 16, 1908

BODY OF JOHN FAHEY IS

FOUND IN MISSOURI RIVER.

Farmer Near Sibley Discovered It

Thursday -- Missing Since

January 31.

The body of John Fahey, missing since January 31, was found in the Missouri river near Sibley, Mo., Thursday afternoon by a farmer, James Finn, while fishing. A Buckner undertaker was called to take charge of the body, and some of the stationary of the Kansas City waterworks department was found in a pocket. From this Fahey was quickly identified, as his disappearance became widely known about February 17, when to gratify the man's wife a waterworks trench at Twelfth and Main streets was re-excavated on the theory that workmen might have buried Fahey alive while he was inspecting the pipe connections on the work there the night he disappeared.

At midnight on the night of his disappearance he called up the waterworks department to say that he had just inspected the job, and the hole was ready to be filled. A gang of eight men was sent to do the work.

Sergeant M. E. Ryan, at police headquarters, a brother of Mrs. Fahey, went to Buckner yesterday and identified the corpse positively. There was 75 cents in the trousers' pockets. The body was taken to O'Donnell's undertaking rooms, and Deputy Coroner O. H. Parker held an autopsy. No marks of violence were found which, taken with the fact that he was not robbed, would seem to indicate that the man, either by accident or suicidal intent, got into the river.

There will be private funeral services at O'Donnell's undertaking rooms this morning at 10 o'clock, with burial in Mount St. Mary's cemetery.

Labels: Buckner, cemetery, death, Deputy Coroner Parker, drowning, farmers, Main street, missing, Missouri river, police headquarters, public works, Sibley, Twelfth street, undertakers

May 9, 1908

TO RETIRE SIX FIRE HORSES.

City Plans to Save Faithful Animals

From Strange Keepers.

Six horses, that have become decrepit in the service of the fire department, are to be put on the retired list. Chief Egner asked the board of public works yesterday to either sell the horses or trade them for a team that can do the work.

R. H. Williams of the board and President Gregory suggested that if the animals were still able to do ordinary work, they should be transferred to the street or water department. There they will get the care and consieration to which they have been accustomed.

Labels: animals, Fire, public works

May 2, 1908

THEY HAD BASEBALL FEVER.

Spring Malady Affected Many City

Hall Men Yesterday.

The baseball fever took possession of many heads of city hall departments and employes yesterday afternoon, and the malady extended to the board of public works. There was no meeting of the latter body. Next Tuesday the board is scheduled to meet.

During the early hours of the afternoon Mayor Crittenden, R. L. Gregory, president of the board of public works, a number of aldermen and officials sat in carriages and followed through the streets a band that announced the opening game of the baseball season here. "Wearing of the Green" was played as the procession started from the city hall.

Labels: city hall, Mayor Crittenden, music, public works, Robert Lee Gregory, sports

April 28, 1908

USELESS OFFICE ABOLISHED.

Superintendent of Repairs Cost

$2,500 a Year, Worth Nothing.

The first move toward carrying out Mayor Crittenden's campaign promises to conduct an economical administration was made by the council last night when an ordinance was passed abolishing the office of superintendent of repairs, adding the alleged "cares" of this office to the duties of superintendent of streets. This will save the taxpayers $2,500 a year, according to Alderman Pendergast.

Labels: James Pendergast, Mayor Crittenden, public works

April 26, 1908

HAS NO TIME FOR BUSINESS.

Mayor Crittenden Is Kept Busy by

Place Hunters.

"Another week of listening and no apparent reduction in the waiting list," wearily observed Mayor Crittenden as he closed his offices in the city hall last evening. In the lobby and the corridor reaching his private offices were lines of anxious men, and as the mayor departed he told them all to come back and see him Monday.

"I'll bet I'll get some relief after Monday night. I will then send a batch of nominations to the upper house, and if they are confirmed I'll have more time to give to other city business," said the mayor.

"Getting tired listening?" it was suggested.

"No, not tired, but I'm anxious to get down to work on many of the important issues that confront Kansas City, and it is my ambition to put them under way without any unnecessary delay," answered the mayor.

This week will develop a whole lot of changes in the city hall. Already new faces can be seen in most every department, but the real transformation will begin after the mayor sends to the upper house Monday night a batch of nominations and the board of public works swings the ax, beginning probably on Tuesday.

William Winsted filed a surety bond in the sum of $1,000 yesterday, and took the oath of office as sealer of weights and measures; Ed Winstanley qualified in the sum of $10,000 as city purchasing agent, and Meyer Wechsler deposited a surety company bond for $1,000 and entered upon his duties of market master.

Labels: city hall, Mayor Crittenden, politics, public works

April 11, 1908

BEDS FOR LONG SICK MEN.

Dr. Sanders Orders Seven Footers for

the General Hospital.

Four beds seven feet long are to be among the furnishings of the new general hospital.

"Very often we have patients at the hospital who are too long for the ordinary sized beds," explained City Physician Sanders to the board of public works yesterday while bids for furnishing the hospital were being considered. "A bed too small for a sick man is a handicap to his comfort and early recovery."

Labels: doctors, general hospital, public works

April 1, 1908

WHY HE'S OUT OF WORK.

Underpaid City Employe Gave Out an

Interview and Was Fired.

W. H. Applegate, a city employe, gave an interview to a reporter for The Journal last Sunday, in which he truthfully said that the city pays part of its Turkey creek pumping station employes only $1.75 a day. On Monday Applegate was discharged by S. Y. High, superintendent of the water department. It was said that Applegate had asked for three days off and had taken four. No other charges were made against him. Nobody denied that he had told the truth in the interview. Sometimes it's an unwise thing to tell the truth during a campaign. Anyway, Applegate told the truth and was discharged.

Applegate said yesterday that he had been singled out by certain persons for dismissal because he was working for an increase of wages for the men in the city's employ who are paid only $1.75 a day.

"A number of men in the city's employ were given a raise a short time ago," Mr. Applegate said last night. "I was requested by other men who receive only $1.75 a day to go out and work a few days for R. L. Gregory, candidate for speaker of the upper house. I spent four days at that work last week and when I returned to work I found a note notifying me of my dismissal. I went to see Mr. High and he told me that I was let out because I had stayed away from work one day more than I had asked for."

Labels: employment, Kansas City council, politics, public works, The Journal

March 28, 1908

WILL THEIR PAY BE RAISED?

Question City Employes Are Asking

Mayor Beardsley.

"If a public utilities commission will raise the salaries of private utility corporations, as is being asserted by political orators, I hope the same commission will have the power to do likewise to underpaid employes of the city," said W. H. Applegate, emoployed as a laborer at the Turkey creek water pumping station, yesterday.

"I have lived in Kansas City for forty years," he continued, "and have been employed as laborer for a number of years at Turkey creek water pumping station at $1.75 a day. This was the salary paid in 1891, and has never been raised, although the cost of living has advanced 40 per cent.

"Some months ago, with a delegation of laborers from the pumping station, we appealed to the board of public works for a slight increase in pay, but were refused. George Hoffmann, president of the board, said to us: "Boys, you have got an easy job and 365 days to work."

Labels: employment, laborer, Mayor Beardsley, public works, Utilities

March 13, 1908

ROCK ROADS WILL

REACH EVERY TOWN.

No More Mud-Isolated Hamlets.

Road contracts amounting to $55,604.65 were let by the county court yesterday. When these contracts are completed there will not be a town nor hamlet in Eastern Jackson county which is not touched by the web of rock roads.

There was talk yesterday that injunction proceedings would be brought against the court, but this only materialized in a warm protest from Atherton as to the location of a rock road to that town. Some wanted the road east of the Blue, others west. The court had listened to the arguments before on this measure and decided on the east route as the most beneficial.

The contract for the Hickman Mills road to Lee's Summit was let to Colyer Bros., the lowest bidders, at $19,917.44. This gap is three and three-fourths miles long.

Today the county court will go over the Blue Springs rod and make an inspection of work done under the contract. A few days ago a strong delegation from Tarsney appeared before the court and claimed that the contractors were not complying with the specifications. Two of the our miles of road remain to be built. The farmers claim that the macadam laid is not deep enough, the rolling light and everything short in measurement.

Labels: Atherton, Blue river, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, public works

February 24, 1908

SEARCH SEWERS

FOR JOHN FAYHEY

BELIEVING HIS BODY IS PROB-

ABLY HIDDEN THERE.

THE QUEST IS FRUITLESS

PARTY WALKS MILE THROUGH

A MAIN SEWER.

Wife of Missing Man Believes His Is

Still Alive -- She Thinks He

Has Been Injured and

Will Return.

Every manhole, every telephone cable conduit, every underground passageway, even the Walnut street sewer; every possible hiding place into which a body could be stowed, in the neighborhood of Twelfth and Main streets, was gone through yesterday by friends of John Fayhey, who disappeared from the knowledge of his fellow men three weeks ago. No trace of the body was found by the searchers. The search underground was as futile as the body hunt of previous Sundys through the outskirts of the city and in the trenches made by men in the water works department. Fayhey was last seen at 1 o'clock on the morning of February 1, with a party of drunken men, at the corner of Twelfth and Main streets. He was a foreman in the city water works department.

Jerry Ryan, engineer at the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company's plant at Twentieth and Walnut streets, was in charge of yesterday's explorations. Jerry is a brother of Police Sergeant Al Ryan and of Mrs. Fayhey. Others in the party were Patrick O'Conner and Tom Bryan, city firemen, and City Detectives Raftery and Halvey. Jerry Ryan, geared in hip rubber boots, entered every opening on Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Main and Walnut streets in the neighborhood of the spot where Fayhey was last seen. No trace of the body was found.

Then Ryan and O'Conner entered the Walnut street sewer at Thirteenth street and explored it south to where it empties into O. K. creek at Twenty-Second street. Ryan, who led the way, was provided with a safety lamp.

This lamp was carried to guard against sewer gas. It is a device imported from the coal mining district, and is valuable in that whenever it is carried into a cloud of sewer gas it is extinguished. O'Conner, who followed with a lantern, was enabled to tell, by watching Ryan and the safety light, where there was sewer gas ahead and to avoid walking into it with his lantern. Only one body of gas was met, but if the lantern had been carried into this an explosion would have resulted which probably would have killed both men. The detectivs and firemen walked along Walnut street and opened the manhole covers ahead of the two men who were walking in the sewer.

No trace of Fayhey's body or any other body was found in the sewer. Jerry Ryan said, when he came out:

"No body could lodge in that sewer. The water, although in no place over knee deep, runs with a very swift current, and would carry any body out into O K. creek. It was not necessary to explore the entire length of the sewer but I did that to make certain that Fayhey's body was not there."

When John Fayhey's wife was told last night at her home ot 1605 Olive street that the search through the sewer and the conduits had been fruitless, she only reiterated her former belief that her husband was still alive.

"I know his is not dead" she said. "I firmly believe that he has been hurt and will come home when he is able."

Police Seargeant Al Ryan, Mrs. Fayhey's brother, holds a different theory. He says:

"There is no doubt that Fayhey was killed, and that his body is concealed somewhere. We have searched Kansas City from center to circuference, above ground and under, but without result. We have telegraphed a description of Fayhey to every town down the river as far as St. Louis. I think that the men who made way with Fayhey were drunk and did not mean to kill him. I know, however, that they had an automobile with them and when they saw what they had done, they put the body into the car and took it away. Probably they threw it in the Missouri river.

"I know that Fayhey had no money to speak of on his person the night he disappeared and I believe that the men who were with him killed him in a drunken brawl without any reasonable motive. I expect that someone who knows all about the killing will come in one of these days and tell the story."

Labels: automobiles, Eleventh street, Main street, missing, Missouri river, Olive street, police, public works, Thirteenth street, Twelfth street, Twentieth street, Twenty-second street, Walnut Street

February 13, 1908

BOULEVARD TO KANSAS CITY.

Desire of the Independence Commer-

cial Club and Others.

Definite steps have been taken by the Commercial Club of Independence and the Maywood Improvement Club to secure a boulevard from Independence to Kansas City. A committee composed of members of both clubs was appointed to confer with the county court concerning the project. It is desired to have a boulevard starting west from Walnut street in Independence, through Maywood, which will come into this city on Fifteenth street just south of Mount Washington cemetery. This will necessitate the opening of a road three miles long between Maywood and Independence.

Labels: cemetery, Fifteenth street, Independence, Maywood, Mt. Washington, organizations, public works

February 8, 1908

SUING ON PLUMBERS'S BOND.

City Wants Martin & Keck to Make

Good a Judgment.

Suit for $1,246.50 against Martin & Keck, plumbers, and their bondsmen, the National Security Company, was brought in the circuit court yesterday by Kansas City. The plumbing firm, it is alleged, left an excavation in front of house number 2824 Olive street unguarded on January 8, 1906, so that Maud G. Norris drove a buggy into it, overturning the buggy and breaking her arm. She sued the city and last June got a verdict for $750 damages.

The city wants the plumbing company to pay this judgment and the incidental costs, because the company is under $1,500 bond, through the National Security Company, to the city to put the dirt back in excavations it digs in the streets or to barricade the excavations.

Labels: buggy, circuit court, Lawsuit, Olive street, public works

January 14, 1907

SEPTIC DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

Expert Will Be Employed to

Determine Cost to City.

The board of public works and Mayor Beardsley were in executive session several hours yesterday considering the steps to be taken to install a sseptic system of drainage throughtout the city. It was decided to at once communicate with experts, to learn the cost of a system capable of caring for the present and future needs of the city.

Labels: Mayor Beardsley, public works

December 18, 1907

SNOW CAUSES COLLAPSE.

Front of Fifteenth Street Building

Falls, but No One is Hurt.

The northwest quarter of a two-story brick flat at Fifteenth and Baltimore collapsed yesterday morning at 4:30. The building sits up on a high embankment which has ben made exceedingly dangerous on account of the grading which has been necessary in cutting Fifteenth street through to Baltimore avenue.

The foreman of the grading gang had ordered the building braced with wooden supports. This was done, but the sleet and snow of yesterday morning caused the props to slip. With the statys gone or useless the outer wall of the building fell into the street.

The house was occupied by two families at the time of the accident. Mrs. Lulu Kelley and her family lived on the ground floor and Charles O'Day lived upstairs with his wife and two children. O'Day and his wife had left their two children in charge of Mrs. O'Day's sisters while they themselves spent the night with a relative who was ill.

When the people in the flat were awakened by the shock of the collapse, they ran out into the back yard in their night clothes, and despite the snow and cold, did not dare return into the house until they had been satisfied that there was no further danger of collapse.

When the police arrived and found that no one was injured, they called in the fire deparment to inspect the part of the building which remained standing. The occupants were told that they might stay the rest of the night in the rear rooms of the house in safety. At the break of dawn they had all of their household goods packed and ready to move.

W. H. Hawkins, a building inspector, says that he had notified the tenants of the flat two weeks ago that their home was in a dangerous condition. He said the building would have to be torn down.

Labels: Baltimore avenue, Fifteenth street, public works, weather