The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-10

During the continuation of the pres
ent heated and dry term, citizens who
use lawn hose and sprinklers are re-
spectfully urged to Immediately close
their hydrants as soon as they are
aware that there is a fire. Such hyd-
rants should in no case be allowed to
run later than o'clock at night
(Signedl G. O. WILMARTH,
Fire Marshal.
The fire department was called for
two incendiary fires last night shortly
after midnight and the hose companies
were handicapped by lack Of pressure
The pumping station west of town re-
ported a pressure of 1s5 pounds, which
should give the fire hydrants IN the
city a pressure Of 100 pounds but in
stead the pressure was about rs or 80
pounds. The streams from the hose
MOBILES reached only to the roofs of the
story and a half barn while they should
throw a stream several times as high
The cutting down Of the fire pressure
is caused by the excessive use Of water.
Today the water company placed the
old pumping station at the foot of Har-
rison street into service to be used in
connection with the main pumping sta
ton in order to secure greater pres
sure in case of any emergency. A IRE
alarm signal bell has been placed In
the Harrison street pumping station
and at every alarm of fire the reserve
station pump will be brought into use
and water from the old well will be
forced into the city mains to increase
the pressure.
The most dangerous feature to con-
tend with during the present conditions
is that of incendiary fires. Within q
space of 20 minutes last night there
were three incendiary fires a few blocks
part.
favy rof,,7faz met % last ,,fghf
G. Compston, who lives south of the
home of 3. F. Criswen at 1101 Western
avenue, saw a small fire inside the lat
tice porch at the rear of the CrisWell
home. He ran to the fire and exiting
uished it with a pail of water. The
fire was started from a burning broom
that had been slipped under the door
of the porch into a corner of the lat
tice work The house Is owned by james
Brewer and while in course of con-
struction was set on fire November 1,
1900, and damaged to the extent of
about $500.
At 12:17 O'Clock the department was
called by telephone to 1923 Taylor street
to the story and a half barn owned
by Mrs E. s. Waddell and occupied by
J. r. McNary. the assistant county at
torney. The fire was started in the hay
NOW. The upper part of the barn was
badly burned but the fire was stopped
before the lower part was reached. The
a
Coughlin last fall and in the loft was
stored a quantity of fireworks. On No
vember 10 the barn was set on fire and
the department was called The fire.
works were ignited and several exDlo-
sions took place.
While working at the McNary fire
the hremen were notified Of a fire at
1245 Polk street in a barn owned by
Mrs. Mary Robinson. The barn was
unoccupied. The fire was started in
the hayn ow, and the upper part of the
barn was badly burned before the fire
was extinguished.
Since April L. 1900. there have been
5S lncend1ary nreS, and IA of them have
been in the part Of the city south of
Sixth avenue and west of Van Buren,
street. With so much water being
used. the lack of fire pressure and in
cendiary fires there is no telling what
may happen.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon the
pumping station of the water company
plant west of town was forcing water
through the mains at the rate of $780,
600 gallons a day, while the usual rate
is $500, 600 gallons a day. The increase /
in the water consumption is due to the
dry weather and the free use of water
for all purposes and especially for
watering lawns. On account OF the
present conditions and the danger in
case of fires Chief Wilmarth of the fire /
department and Supt. Jesse Shaw of
the water company have issued official
notices to the people about the use of
water.
In speaking Of the present conditions |
Chief Wilnarth said this morning. 1T |
is absolutely important that lawn |
sprinklers should be shut off immedi- /
ately when there is an alarm of fire, |
and the water should not be allowed |
to run on lawns after 8 o'clock at /
night During this heated and dry |
term this is absolutely necessary. |
Property owners must forego using 80 I
much water on their lawns in the in
terests OF the city There is ample (
ground to make the shutting of of 4
water necessary, and the people must /
see the danger. This dry season places
the city in jeopardy, as all woodwork 1
is dry. The roofs and sides of frame 4
buildings are like finder. The building I
of bonfires should be guarded against /
and every precautiOn should be taken /
to prevent fires, for if a fire starts in /
such dry weather no one knows what /
might result. For the good of the city /
the people should help the fire depart /
ment by lessening the danger of fires 4
as much as possible by using every /
Some of the conditions /
now exist in Topeka that caused the !
Jacksonville fire. make this as an /
people. If there had been a wind last
night during the two barn fires there
is no knowing what the result would
have been
Supt. Jesse shaw. of the water com
pany. said today: -All lawn sprinklers
should be shut or when there is a fire,
and no water should be used on lawns
after 3 O'Clock at night, in order that
the fire department may have all the
pressure needed"
This is one of the times when the
value OF the fire bell is proven As the
bell is now situated 1t is impossible to
hear it more than block or two from
the fire department headquarters, and
unless the people happen to hear the
fire whistle they do not know when
there is a fire.
Today the pump at the Harrison
street station is busy pumping the
water from the well. near the station,