The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-19
MAY HOLD 1T UP.
New Aerial Ladder Truck Not
Yet Paid For.

VIII the city refuse to pay the Fire
Extinguisher Manufacturing company
$4,122. the price of the new aerial truck,
because of the defective chain link which
cost Captain Robinson a broken arm
Tuesday?
Some of the councilmen say that par
ties have come to them and protested
against the payment of the money until
the company pays to Captain Robinson
damages for the injury which he Sus-
tanned As yet the company has not
claimed its money. and the money IS
all ready for it whenever it wants It.
The council has ordered the money PAID,
and unless some acton is taken to re-
peal this order, the company can get its
money by asking for it.
Chief Wilmarth said today that he
had heard 1t said that some of the
councilmen were opposed to paying for
the truck but did not know whether
councilmen feel like that they ought
to come out and say so,' commented the
chief.
1t is now claimed by the manufac-
affirmed by CHIEF Wilmarth- that the
direct cause OF the break in the chain
was the fact that the line oe hose which
was hanging to the aerial ladder be
came entangled with the ladder when
the fly was being lowered, and that as
six or seven men were turning the
crank below. they pulled the chain in
two. It is not denied that there was
defective link in the chain. but it Is
claimed that this link would not have
broken when it did lad not the hose
become entangled
When Hardy Mitchell, the representa-
tive of the Fire Extinguisher company,
was asked in regard to the matter to-
day, he said:
I'VE propose to take care of Captain
Robinson, and satisfy him fully before
and L am confident that ne IS disposed
to be perfectly fair with us. He will
not be out anything for his expenses re-
sultlng from the injury. Robinson Is
an old friend of my fathers, and we
are going to see to it that he is well
taken care of. There won't be any
claim for damages against the city, if
that is what the councilmen are afraid
of.
In regard to the pay for the truck, I
will simply say that we don't want our
money until the chief and the city Off
Gals are thoroughly satisfied that the
truck is all right. We guarantee every
part of that truck, and we don't place
any limit on the guarantee. We want
to sell this city apparatus in the future.
and it will pay US to see to it that the
city gets good value for its money.
The city has accepted the truck and
ordered it be paid for. I could go and
get my money any time / want it. But
l don't propose to get it until everything
is perfectly satisfactory to the CITY,"
Captain Robinson is reported to be
recovering from his injury in good
shape. No new injuries have developed,
and it seems to be only a question of
time until the arm is mended as good
as ever. Robinson will of course be re-
tanned on the city payroll under full
pay until such time as he is able to 90
back to work. This is customary in al
cases where fremen are hurt while on
duty
Chief Wilmarth said today: Mr.
Mitchell is acting in a very square and
gentlemanly manner. about this. and I
do not think. there is much real Disco
sition to refuse to Day for. the truck
Just because OF this one defect, which
we fortunately discovered when we did
we should not condemn the whole az
paratus. OF course ! am here to pro-
tect the city's interests. and I would
not advocate paving for this truck I'M
less I believed it to be all right The
question of whether or not Mr.. Mitch
ell is inclined to pay Captain Robinson
ell himself must talk about.
The truck was tested again Tuesday
afternoon and this afternoon.
when the hose caught the ladder" said
Mr.: Mitchell today. lone. of three things
had to happen. Either the seven men at
the crank would break the double strength
rope which fastened the hose to the lad
der, or they would pull section of cot
ton hose in two, a thing which is almost
impossible to do. or the chain would nave
to give way; As there was a defective
link in the chain it was what gave. Take
it. all around, ii was fortunate that the ac-
cident happened when it did instead of
sometime when several men were on the
It is believed that there is not enough
sentiment in favor of holding up payment
on the truck to justify calling a special
meeting of the council. and the probability
is that Captain Robinson will release the
company from any liability for damage