The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-07
Topeka HIT HARD.
Insurance Trust Report Is a
Severe Arrangement.
Water Pressure Belittled by
the Kansas Combine.
CARELESS OF FACTS.
Agents Go to Extreme Length
to Make Their Case.
CARELESS OF FACTS.
Conditions at the Water Plant
Are Misrepresented.

Charles E. EIdridge. of the Kansas
fire insurance inspection Office, today
made public the report of his COM
pany to the fire insurance concerns
concerning the recent test of water
pressure in Topeka:
To Subscribers-In reporting the stu
alton in Topeka as to the status of fire
protection. win advise that claims
having been made that an adequate
land sufficient water supply and pres
sure was available justffying the recall
of 20 per cent. advance over pub
lished rate estimates, advised by this
inspection Office, a test was arranged
for, which occurred on the morning of
May ?, 1904.
I regret the result of this test
makes 1t necessary to advise you of
the inadequacy of fire pressure to sue
cessfully cope with fires beyond the
incipient stage above the second floor.
Upon this condition it would seem
that one and two story buildings were
entitled to credit at this time, but in
consequence of the different height
buildings so adjoining and communi-
eating it seems entirely Impractical to
i advise discrimina ton of this sort.
Until such time test can be fur
n1Shed showing at least ten streams of
sufficient strength to handle fires in
| buildings of three, four and five stories
in height (the larger values in mer-
camille risks probably being in build
1ngs of this height the advance pre-
viously advised appears equitable, fair
and just.
DATA.
Prior to Alarm-Inspection as to con-
d1tlons at main pumping plant and re-
serve station at foot of Harrison re-
vealed test was anticipated and spe-
cial head of steam on, especially so as
to Harrison street station, the third
or reserve boiler being fired up and
pressure gauge of each of the three
! boilers recording 60 Tbs. at a. IN.
Thirty minutes prior to alarm hose
Co.'S and firemen with gum coats were
out in front of No. station quite
ready, all conditions tending to be
! most favorable for test.
Time of Alarm-No. % alarm was
turned in at 1857 and in the first ten
/ open at an average pressure of 1875
/ TBS. From 1921 to 1920 a. m. there
were eight streams the average pres
sure shown on private gauge and at
/ No fire station gauge was 43 10. the
/ lowest point registered being 80 lbs.
and the highest 40 Tbs. in the one hour
period covering the flow of eight
streams. The streams were very
muddy. During the above one hour
period, i. e. $3.50 the Harrison street
pumping station was turned in upon
general alarm, but the additional pres
sure being hardly perceptible, affect
ing the private gauge. but 4 to lbs.
Observation at the Main Pumping
Station-Large pump in operation and
100 TBS steam on each of the two boil
ers of the plant. Alarm received 500
a. m. and in ten minutes was making
"A revolutions which was practically
maintained throughout the test; this
pump is rated to deliver Eve million
gallons at 50 revolutions per minute
The requirements of this pump were so
severe during test it is doubtful if it
could stand the strain any great length
of time. 1t pounded badly and parts
of the machinery were looSened. AT
n 80 ~. "a a a T~T1n
the smaller of the two pumps at this
plant was turned in and almost i'm
mediately they lost the suction IN botn
pumps, this compelling a check on the
pumps to regain suction the pressure
in the next five minutes falling off
from 145 to lis lbs. At 9:45 the suction
was regained and the large pump
speeded up, leaving the smaller pump
turning over at two and half to three
revolutions. About $3.50 with only the
large pump running, water in the Doll
er gauges disappeared, proving that
this pump at Al revolutions was using
about all the steam that the boilers
could make; later the water was main
tanned without difficulty, the safety
valve on south boiler opening at llO,
showing there was plenty OF steam
available at that time.
During the test two men IN BOAT
were fishing for a gate in the wen
point system, which opened dlrecI TO
the river, in order to obtain a more
cordine to statement of the water
company officers on the ground, they
were not successful in finding the gate
The average pressure maintained dur
ING test was approximately lao
pounds excepting when the pressure
fell off subsequent to the starting of
the smaller pump and consequent loss
of suction.
The inability of the two pumps be
ing worked in unison for fire duty is
to be deplored and practically places
the city subject to one pump for fire
pressure. The most remarkable to
note is the enormous loss in pressure
due to some defect in the system or
friction between the pump station and
pounds The average pressure at
pumping station being 140 pounds and
en- gauge at No. fire station
pounds This difference is so marked
as to disclose a serious discrepancy in
Elevation of Eight streams=City
Engineer James McCabe measured the
elevation of the eight streams with a
level and turned in the following re-
Time. elevation of the stream, Ioca-
ton of hydrant in order named:
g:37-72. 7th and Monroe SITS.
9:51-7S.9S, 7th and Monroe SITS.
10:14-61.O4, 7th and Monroe SITS.
9:3O-54.25, 18th and Quincy SITS.
9:53-62.4 40, 18th and Quincy SITS.
10.12-52.45, 18th and Quincy SITS.
9.O3-37.10, 7th and Kansas ave.
9:12=25.37. It'll and Kansas ave.
9:2S-4S.41. 18th and Kansas ave.
9:29-5O.65. 18th and Kansas ave-
NOTE-The stream at corner of
Seventh and Monroe was delivered
from 1-inch nozzle. the other seven
from the regulation 1 IS inch nozzle.
A ten stream test was called for by
this officce, but was not obtained
Observations at Harrison Street
Pumping Station=At S:45 a.. m. all
three boilers had steam pressure of 6 0
q IL