The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-03
NO FIRE PLUGS.
Dry District to Have Water but
No Protection.
Company Says 1t Has No Agree
ment With City.
HUGHES rs RETICENT.
He Doesn't Know What Can Be
Done.
Manager Shaw Says Company
Awaits an Arrangement.
Thinks Question May Be Salts
factoriIy Adjusted.
HUGHES is RETICENT

There will be no IRE protection for
College hill or Washburn college as ii
result of the extension of the water
mains to that part OF town. The water
company refuses to put in fire plugs
until it reaches some agreement with
the city about the payment Of hydrant
rentals.
The College hill extension, somewhat
over half a mile in length, was COM
pleted Thursday night and the water
turned on All the people who have
made connections with the mains are
now able to use the city water But
as far as fire protection is concerned
College hill and the Washburn college
buildings are Just as far from help as
ever.
The original waterworks ordinance.
which is the basis upon which the city
has taken its stand in the WaterWorlxs
litigation, is in part as follows:
(After providing that the city shall
rent $50 fire hydrants at $50 each an
nual rental) The said company
agrees to erect, whenever directed by
said city, any additional hydrants said
city may require on said fifteen miles
or mains, at an annual rental OF $50
each; and in any future extensions Of
pipe, for every mile of such extension
the company is to erect ten hydrants,
for which the city shall pay the sum
of $500 per annum. and the same pro-
portiODate rate for any fraction there
of. with the privilege of having other
MIGRANTS erected on such mile Of ex-
tension.
When the number of hydrants. in
Guiding the original 49, shall reach the
nun Der of 800. all public fire hydrants
above this number shall be supplied by
said company without additional
rental; provided, that the city shall pay
the cost of said hydrants and connec-
tons and expenses of putting in the
same"
The city now has in use just 800 fire
hydrants, for which it pays the sum
Of $50 a year each
The water company makes its fight
squarely against the terms of the orig
inal ordinance. If the ordinance IS
valid. the company must put in fire
bydrants on the College hill extension,
rent free, the city paying only the cost
Of making the connections.
The water company has apparently
conceded the validity of the ordinance
by putting IN three hydrants in Potwin
In excess of the 800 limit, for which it
has never collected any rental from the
city
There is no doubt that the water
company VIII refuse to put in fire plugs
on its proposed Morris street extension
Of four blocks, which has been COM
menced. on the same ground that it re-
fuses to put them in on the College
hill extension.
Mayor Hughes and City Attorney
Spencer were very reticent about dis
cussing the matter this morning. They
both admitted that they had not heard
that the water company had any futen-
ton of refusing to put in fire hy7rants.
Does it look to any sensible person.
said the mayor, 'as though the COM
pany had a right to use our streets
and build its lines wherever it pleaseS
without rendering some equivalent to
the city at large as provided in the
ordinance2 OF course I don't want to
express an opinion IN the matter I'M
til have a chance to look into it. But
it is question which ought to be set
tied at once"
I'M efa nd
on the ground that it beat the city in
suit which it claims involved the points
at issue IN the present situation The
suit was brought in the district court
about FIVE years ago by the city to
compel the water company to extend
its mains. The water company won in
both the district court and supreme
court. As far as could be learned this
in this case regarding the requirement
on the water company to place
hydrants, rent free, when the extern
sions had already been made.
Jesse Shaw, manager of the water
company, made this statement this
morning in regard to the case:
THE water company viii not put in
fire hydranfS until some agreen ent is
reached with the city in regard to the
terms of the WaterWOrks ordinance.
OF course I can not speak for the re-
ceiver of the company Mr. CNeil All
I know is that ] WIS ordered to extend
the MAINS / was not ordered to put IN
any fire hydrants- Personally I do not
think there viii be any serious disa-
greement with the city about the mat
ter 7 think the fire plugs viii be put
in Since the trial of the main extern
sion suit the waterworks company has
not asserted its right. nor has the city
attempted to enforce any of its claims
The water company of its own accord
put in three MIGRANTS in POtWin. for
which no rental has been charged
rs not the water company. as a mat
ter of fact. trying to avoid the proyi-
siOns OF that original ordfnance7" was
asked.
Il suppose it might be so considered"
replied Mr. Shaw
"Win the water company bring this
matter before the councilE' asked the
reporter
II do not know what will be DONE"
replied Mr. Shaw
The Washburn college extension is
about 5000 feet, or over half q mile
long. Under the ordinance. about six
hydrants are required. This nun Der Of
hydrants it is thought would cover the
territory quite we'll
Mr. shaw says that the College hin
main is large enough to give plenty Of
pressure in case of fire.