The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-04
APPEAL TO COUNCIL.
Petitions Asking That Better Fire
Pressure Be Secured.

Pressure Be Secured.
]. 3. Larimer presented to the city
council last night the petition signed by
Kansas avenue business men and other
large property owners, asking the coun-
Gil to call on Judge ]. c. Pollock for
assistance in bringing the water pres
sure in Topeka up TO the standard de-
manded by the insurance companies.
Topeka is paying increased fire
premiums amounting to $4,000 a year."
said Mr.. Larimer. Judge Pollock has
the power to order his receiver in charge
of the water company to make neces-
sary improvements to bring the water
supply and pressure up to the standard
required by the company's contract
with the city,
Gil that the proposed petition to Judge
Pollock was filled with dangerous pos
sibilities.
This is an important matter" said
Mr.. Spencer, land ought to receive at
tention- 1t may prove to be one of the
most important actions taken for a
/ long time. Now is the time for MEM
/ bers Of the council to express their
ideas on this great question You nave
pending a question of whether the city
will pay $500 GOO for this plant. 1t has
been the talk recently that the plant
has deteriorated; that water furnished
is not the right kind and not enough of
it. My. own opinion is that the city of
Topeka mas far outgrown the water
{
pacity of the pipes. If this be found to
/ be the case, 1t might be that a very
large sum of money will have to be
spent to put the plant in proper condi-
ton. You will find that you will have
to pay every dollar that is put into
these improvements, even if they cost
500, 900. There is no question in my
mind that if the city buys the plant it
| will have to pay whatever money has
| been spent in addition to the $500 .000.'
! In reply to these remarks Mr.. Larimer
said:
one of the expenditure of a large sum
| of money. The company has been paid
SIS, 900 a year by the city for long
term of years to furnish fire protection.
The company says it can furnish ade-
ouate protection. If they can let them
do it. All We want is to make the COM
pany fulfill it's contract with the city,.
Suppose we file our petition" said
! Mr.. Spencer. 1.-The water company Will
say its pressure is adequate. Thsu the
court will have to appoint some one to
| investigate. Suppose he finds that it
| will cost $50, 900 to put the plant in good
shape, what will the city do then?'
THE court has the matter in his own
hands, said Mr.. Larimer. Before he
makes any order L am confident that
he will consult the city's interests. We
want something done and done quick =
Some of the members of the council
thought that the matter should De re-
ferred to the waterwOrks committee
to refer it to this committee, with in
structions to report back
When the committee meets to consid-
er the matter an invitation will be ex-
tended to a committee of three from
the Commercial club to be present.
The petition and signers as present
ed to the council were as follows;
To the Mayor and Councilmen of the
City of Topeka, Kansas
Gentlemen:-We, the undersigned
property owners. taxpayers and citi-
zens, engaged in business and owners
of stocks and merchandise and business
houses in the city of Topeka, respect
fully and earnestly petition and re-
quest that you forthwith cause the
taken by which application shall be at
once made by the city of Topeka to
the circuit court of the United states
for the district of Kansas, first dtVis-
ion thereof, for judgment and order
of said court requiring the receiver OF
the Topeka Water company, appointed
and acting under the directions and by
the authority of said court, to forth
Topeka and to the inhabitants, tax
payers and citizens thereof, adequate
and sufficient pressure to protect our
property from being destroyed by fire.
We further represent that the water
pressure is not adequate and sufficient
to properly protect private and public
property in said city from destruction
]. c. Gordon, owner Copeland hotel
and eO1-3-5 Quincy.
Mary E. Sterne, owner 1924 Kan
sas avenue.
A. A. Hurd, owner S14-16-1s Kansas
avenue. 12OO-2-4-6-s Jackson, 1107-9-S4
Tyler. 1406-10 Topeka avenue.
Chas. j. Devlin.
M. L. Campbell, owner 935 Quincy.
Mrs II. L. Campbell, LOG to 16, West
Tenth.
H. L. Nudge.
Culver & Bailey, Hardware and own
ers. S2e Kansas avenue.
w. E. Culver.