The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-14
WANT FIRE STATION.
People in Southwestern Portion
of City Petition Council.

A petition is being circulated in the
southwestern part of the city asking
the city council to build a fire engine
house in that part of Topeka, locate a
small chemical engine there and two
men; also to install, as soon as possi-
bic, fire plugs at Thirteenth and Gar
field, Fifteenth and Garfield ana Six
teenth and College avenue.
This petition already has over fifty
s1gners, embracing all of the prominent
citizens in the College Hill section 1t
may be presented to the council We'd
nesday evening.
AT the present time, College Hill is
the most unprotected part of the city
to which the water mains have been
extended. There are no fire plugs there
owing to the dispute between the city
and the water company. There is alb
solutely no fire protection whatever. BY
the time the chemical engine could be
brought out from No. station or
headquarters. any ordinary building
would be entirely consumed.
Some of the residents in the west
part of town are said to be willing to
contribute some financial assistance
toward the erection of a small station
house and the purchase of a chemical
engine and horses. provided the city
council is willing to adopt the sugges-
lions offered.
I'VE know that it may be difficult to
secure favorable action from the city
COUNCIL, SAIQ one OIL lEe SlEHSTS OF the
petition today, but we know that we
never will get any fire protection UNI
less we ask for it Our people out here
are dead in earnest we want fire pro-
lection, and intend to have it. This
part of town has been building up more
rapidly than any other during the past
five years. We have three or four times
as many houses as we had a few years
ago. The time has come for the city
council to recognize this fact, and pro-
-f,cr
values.
Here at the end of the College ave-
nue. pavement are all the big Wash
burn college buildings, representing
upwards of 100000 in values There
are dozens of fine residences within
few blocks of the college, and yet the
entire district is at the mrecy of a fire.
A chemical engine would be of great
value, because by having it close at
hand. it could check any ordinary fire.
We could afford to wait few minutes
for the hose wagons to come out from
town if we had a chemical engine for
first aid. But the hose wagons might
as well stay down town unless we can
have two or three fire plugs put in on
the water main which was laid out to
the college two years ago..
1t is a matter of Importance to the
fire department to have a station near
er the southwest corner of town. 1t is
a terrible strain on the horses to make
the long run to the college A few
nights go a barn block north of the
college was set afire, and a fire alarm
turned in. When the chemical engine
arrived from headquarters after its run
of two miles. the horses were so nearly
tagged out that they could hardly drag
the heavy engine the last two blocks
Runs like this are what kill off the fire
department horses, and cause them TO
fall dead when going to fires.
The fire marshal and members of the
city council all realize the Importance
of a fire station in the southwest part
getting the money to buy the equip
ment After having spent $4,000 for
new steam fire engines, the city Will be
very reluctant to lay out any more
money for the Improvement of the fire
service. They may try to compromise
with the people in the anxious dis
trict'' by putting in fire plugs and letting
the engine house and chemical engine
go for a year or two.
The fact that both the west end of the
Third ward and west end of the Fifth
ward are interested in securing this
new engine house will help the PROPOSE
ton. It will tend to make both the
Fifth and Third ward councilmen
friendly, and that means four votes.
It is thought likely that if the city
council shows a friendly disposition
toward the project, the WashDurn col
lege authorities would donate site for
the new fire engine house. The college
owns a great many lots in that end of
town, which would be conveniently To-
Gated for the purpose. If the college
donates the land. and the citizens con-
tribute toward the expense of the en-
CINE house. it may be that the city
will decide that now is an opportune
time to make the improvement, which
is certain to be made sooner or later.