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

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

September 14, 1908

WATER IN THE FOUNTAIN.

Residents Near Fifteenth and Paseo

Amazed When They Saw It.

Scores of people on the Paseo yesterday afternoon stopped in amazement at Fifteenth street to admire the rainbow fountain, the rehabilitation of which was completed Saturday, and the water turned on for the first time yesterday. There is not much of the beautiful or artistic about the fountain, but twenty sprays of water sent from as many pipes afforded much delight to the children.

The sprays are arranged in a circle about the fountain, there being fifteen on the outer rim, four in the center and one on top, all throwing water toward the center.

The sun shining upon the water brings out the colors of the prism, hence the name, "rainbow fountain." This is the old cement pile, completed years ago, which, owing to a miscalculation on the architect's part, was never used. It was found that the quantity of water required to play the fountain would drain the water pipes in that section of the city. The pipes were recently replaced by smaller ones, and the fountain can be used, at least once in a while now without bankrupting the city or cutting off the water supply from the surrounding homes.

Labels: Fifteenth street, fountains, Paseo

May 26, 1908

FOUNTAIN MAY BE USED.

Costly Blunder May Yet Be Turned

to Some Account.

It is the intention of the board of parks commissioners to install a pumping engine in the Paseo bath house, and pump the water into the fountain at Paseo and Fifteenth streets. The excess water will be returned to the bath house, purified and aerated. At yesterday's meeing of the park board an extensively signed communication was received from the women residents of the vicinity of the fountain demanding that the water be turned into it. They said that in the present idle shape the "fountain, instead of being an ornament, is an eyesore."

The estimated cost of the pump is $1,500, and the board will decide at its next meeting if the scheme is practical.

Labels: bath house, Fifteenth street, fountains, Park board, Paseo

August 19, 1907

FOUNT FOR ANIMALS

DEDICATORY EXERCISES FOR

FIRST OF ITS KIND HERE.

FLOW OF WORDS AND WATER

ANIMALS IMBIBE WHILE GIFTED

ORATORS EXPOUND.

Fountain Given to Kansas City by

National Humane Alliance, of

New York, Begins Career

of Mercy Under Fa-

vorable Auspices.

During the dedication of the $1,500 granite horse and dog fountain at Fourth and Broadway yesterday afternoon, thirteen teams, nine horses in single harness and three dogs stopped, dipped their faces in the flowing water and drank deep. Frank Faxon, one of the speakers, kindly said:

"I am sorry there are no more horses and dogs present. I would like to ask them all to step up and have a drink with us."

Mr. Faxon was more generous than he thought, as he learned at the close of the exercises, when he and the other speakers and the audience rushed over to the fountain to get a drink. There are no cups on the fountain. It is strictly a place for birds, and four-footed beasts. President E. R. Weeks, of the Kansas City Humane Society, who wore a Panama hat, essayed to drink out of the rim of his headgear, mountain brook fashion, but most of the water ran down his shirt front. Mr. Faxon, Police Commissioner Elliot H. Jones, Mrs. L. O. Middleton and others looked on and declined to try to use the hat which Mr. Weeks proffered them.

The humans held a meeting around the fountain and argued the question of having cups chained there, but decided adversely.

"During a busy and hot work day," John Simmons, secretary of the Teamsters' union, said, "the teams line up from all directions awaiting their turns at the fountain. There is no chance for a man to get a drink. Besides, if there were cups, children who tried to drink might be trampled by the horses which rush to the fountain."

Nearly every department of city life was represented in the dedication exercises. E. R. Weeks was chariman, Hale H. Cook appeared for the school children, Mrs. L. O. Middleton for the T. T. U. F. M. Furgason carried a Judge Jules E. Guinotte proxy, George Hoffman spoke for the city hall, Father Dalton for the church people, Harry Walmsley apeared for the birds and Frank Faxon for "Old Dobbin."

No one had a word to say in condemnation of any bird or beast. The speakers tried to outdo each other in praise. Mr. Faxon said that a horse "was always faithful and kind," and Mr. Walmsley declared that the birds are symbols of the heavenly life." But Mr. Furgason, reading Judge Guinotte's speech, went then all one better when he quoted George Elliot as saying: "The more I associate with men, the more I like dogs."

In calling attention to the fact that the fountain dedicated yesterday was the first permanent one in the city, Mrs. Middleton recited the history of attempts made by various charities in past years to erect public drinking fountains. The most successful of these schemes was the setting in place of twelve ice water casks on downtown corners by the W. C. T. U. many years ago.

The beautiful piece of granite dedicated yesterday afternoon, which Thomas Wight, secretary of the Kansas City art commission, described as "a permanent bit of art and a forerunner of a new era in municipal life," was presented by the National Humane Alliance of New York. The purchase price came from a fund bequeathed by the late Herman Lee Ensign of New York, whose name is on a bronze plate on one side of the fountain. The Kansas City Humane Society and the city council were among those most instrumental in securing the gift for this city. The society hopes that other fountains may be erected on busy corners through gifts by local philanthropists.

Labels: animals, arts, Associated Charities, Commissioner Jones, Father Dalton, fountains, Frank Faxon, Humane Society