The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-02
THE WATER TEST.
The Fire Department Called on
This Morning
To Make Showing of What 1t
Can Do with
PRESENT FACILITIES
Throws Eight Streams an Aver
age of Over Fifty Feet.
Conditions as Good as or Better
Than "A Years Past.

The Topeka Water company made
fair showing this morning in the test
which the insurance agents wanted
made. before they would consider re-
voking the increase of 20 per cent in
the rates instituted after the Park
hurst-Davis fire.
Fire Marshal Wilnarth. stated that
the water force was sufficiently strong
to put out any fire in it's incipient
stage, in either the first, second or
third stories where the blaze could be
fought from the inside. He also stated
that the test this morning showed that
the force and volume of the streams
were just as great as in the big Palace
Clothing Store fire several years ago,
at which eight streams of good
strength were used.
Capt. Robinson of the fire depart
ment said that such pressure and sup
ply as were demonstrated this morn
ing would have been effective at the
Parkh fire.
In other words, today's test showed
that Topeka's fire department and wa
ter supply is not only in as good or
better condition for handling q big fire
as it was before the flood, but as good
Palace Clothing companys building, in
the very heart of the business district,
was destroyed, but the fire was con-
fined to the single building.
In other words, the insurance COM
panies are not warranted in maintain
ing the twenty per cent advance in
rates recently put in force.
The tests were made on Seventh
street. The fire department attached
a 30O-fOot hose to six hydrants, $50
foot hose to another, and 25O-foot
hose to another. The water was taken
from the hydrant on Jackson and
Seventh streets, from the four
hydrants at the intersection of Kansas
avenue and Seventh streets, from the
two hydrants on the west side of
Quincy street and Seventh, and from
Seventh. Fire Chief Wilmarth con-
Quoted the test on a schedule about
such as would be made by all the fire
department coming to the Topeka
transfer station in response to gen
eral alarm. Within 20 minutes the
eight streams were all in action, at
tracing a great many people who
We're tempted to loiter because of the
spectacular effect.
1t would be fair to say that the
streams averaged from 80 to SIS feet
The latter figure, Il says Chief VIII
marth. can be considered a fair fire
fighter. The city ordinance prescribes
that the test shall be made through a
50-fOot hose. Chief Wilmarth used
3OO-foOt hose. and this made ma
terial difference ir-the stream for the
pressure is reduced 10 pounds for
every 100 feet. The city ordinance
also demands that the stream shall
be 100 feet high. Through a 5O-foot
hose, the pressure and force shown
mighty close to the century mark.
The insurance men were out in
force this morning and they were
very emphatic in their statements
that the water supply and service is
below par. They were practically
unanimous upon this point. Some of
them suggested that they would be
willing to insure goods in the base
ment and on the first and second
floors at the regular rates, but that
the risk would cost more for stock on
higher floors.
Charles Eldridge, who regulates the
rates in the city said: 4 cannot say
that I will agree with suggestions made
by some of the insurance agents. I do
not like to talk about the matter but
the service is farcical. / am going to
make up report and shall embody in
in what I think of the matter. The
way the thing showed up this morning
does not" but Mr.. Eldridgc went
away with the sentence unfinished
shaking his head and telling the repor-
tiers to wait for his report.
w. H. Johnson, general inspector of
the National Underwriters ASsOcia ton
was in the city this morning. He viii
also make a report on the matter 70
his CrganiZa ton. Mr.. Johnson was for
el even years fire marshal of Philadel-
phla and IS an expert on such matters.
He absolutely refused to give an Oqin-
ion, also saying that he would an
nounce his ideas in his report.
As Good Now as Ever.
]. W. O'Neill, receiver of the water
company. did not want to talk about
the matter, but he did not spare the
insurance companies. They are al the
bottom of the matter" he said. 1T is
to their interest to keep up this high
rate of insurance. They were all out in
force this morning, and we knew moth
ing of the matter until just q few min
utes before the water was turned on.
This too is Monday morning and The
drain on the pipes was unusually heavy,
being washday at many of the homes.
But then we did just as they asked us
to do. The condition of the plant is just
as good now as ever
City Engineers Report.
City Engineer James McCabe meas
ured the elevation of the streams with
a level and turned in the following re-
port: