The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-03


covered with q good floor Of concrete
and cement. An outdoor cezspo0l should
be provided until sewerage can be had
A water closet should be put in the bath
room for the convenience of the men
and properly connected with the cess
pool; new main floor should be laid
similar to that IN station No. ,, with the
addition of a screened catch basin direct
ly under each horse, properly connected
with the drainage. Station No IS the
headquarters, in rear Of The city build
ing The fire marshal. assistant fire
marshal. nine men and one substitute are
here, with hose wagon, chemical engine.
steam engine. hose carriage, five
horses and two extra horses
The building and room are Who'll
~ Inadequate and not appropriate
for the headquarters fire station, and
it Is difficult to see how the de-
partment can adapt itself to such guar
tiers and do the effective service which it
performs.
.sThe ventilation IS very bad ana the
sanitary condition is still worse. Noxious
fumes from the horses stalls constantly
permeate the entire station, including
the sleeping apartments Of the men.
The department and service have en-
rirely oufgrown this station AZ 81 only
fifty feet square on the alley end Of the
lots, with Inadequate room, no yard IN
sufficient light and air, and no oppor-
tunity 10 improve these defects in IT'S
sibly be done, this station should be re-
moved TO suitable ground Of its own and
a building erected that would urnIsn
adequate room and com port with the
growth, needs and dignity of this pro-
gressive city. Station Number Three,
at 312 Jefferson street, ~ TWO story
brick building. and having bee a re-
Gently repaired is IN better condition
than either 0f tS9e other two mentioned
Here are stationed nine men and one
der truck. and four horses. The truclz
and ladders are not such AS the depart
ment should have. They are antlq uated
and might be ample for small town
with low buildings, but fires are liable 20
occur in our city where they would he
entirely inadequate, and IN which their
use might result, ia dire disaster.
as soon as it can he done, new ladders
and new truck should be procured,
which would add greatly to the efficiency
Of our fire department
''Siation mo. Four. at Sl3 Clay street, is
the new frame building recently con-
structed. Here are three men and one
substitute, with hose wagon an0 Two
horses
II find at some Of the stations the force
Of men is so short that when called out
~ a fire no one belonging to the fire ser
vice is left i'll charge of the station, butt
outside persons not in the employ Of
the fire service are permitted TO room
and sleep there in order to- leave scne-
one To care for the property during the
absence Of the fremen. l think that IS
wrong, and that no person not employed
in the department should be perInitte1t0
room, lodge or stay around the lire sta
ton Enough substitutes or second class
fremen ought to be kept 80 that some
one in the employ Of the department and
responsible to the city would at all times
be in charge Of the property and station.
III find that from Two % five tons Of
loose prairie hay is Kept stored "a the
second story Of each of the stations eot-
gerous thing ais Ks attested by the char
red walls inside the hay room st station
No. ,, just in the rear oil the city builds
ing. No such am invitation for q disas-
trous fire would be tOIerated in amy other
business building in the city. Certain
IS the city ought to follow the example
which it requires from all its
business citizens. This should be prac-
tically remedied by the use Of baled hay
and keeping it stored some distance away.
and have small quantities delivered daily
or every second day at each station. The
additional expense would be quite incou-
siderable when compared With the diff
ference Of risk from fire and cost of ill.,
surance.
Permit me to suggest. subj ect of course
to correction whenever ina error, and with
all due respect for the officers and men
of this valuable department. THAT with
the cramped condition oi the city finances
ii might be better for the men themselves.
for the horses and for the service gen-
orally, if less money should be expended
for salaries and more used for the health
comfort and protection of the men and
horses. More men could be employed.
more substitutes and sec0nd-class hremen
could he kept ia the service
50 that more absence could Tie
allowed to the regular men as 4 relief
from that constant STRATA which is SO
wearing and must result eventually IA
breaking them down Oh destroying some
Of their faculties. More horses should
be kept, So that each horse in turn might
have am occasional day off duty t0 stretch
or roll in some lot or pasture, for tile best
service and wear cannot be had from an
animal kept constantly under the strain
Of alb expected alarm
Il find from the fire marshaFs report
that twelve hundred feet of new hose
must be soon procured. alsa that 1870 new
poles must soon be set for the telegraph
service Of the department 1 would sug-
gest that wherever it can be done. and
especially in laying new floors, that
screened catch basin be put I'D each stall
IN such q way and connected with the
sewer 50 as to carry OF st once all Stops
and prevent the stable ndors which can
hardly be avoiQed IN any other way.
IN early all the city buildings and
their yards and fences, where they have
any, show q want of care not at an III
keeping with the good name of our city
All yards belonging with city buildings
should dc inclosed with suitable fences,
and all city buildings should be kept ia
good repair and we'll painted ia some
suitable and uniform color for their
preservation. and NJ THAT they might be
readily recognized as city. property
II make these suggestions well know
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