The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-08
CONTRACT IS SIGNED.
New Fire Engine Won't Be
Ready for Three Months.

This afternoon shortly after l o'clock,
Mayor Bergundthal and John P.Ahrens,
representing respectively the city of
Topeka and the American Fire Engine
company, signed the contrat which
binds Topeka to buy a new steam en-
CINE, two automatic heaters and have
reconstructed the old Topeka fire en-
CINE.
with a Fox boiler This style of engine
is used exclusively in Chicago, and is
considered the most durable engine
made.
The engine is the largest size which
can be drawn by two horses. It weighs
1900 pounds, and can pump 800 gallons
a minute. The largest size engine is
known as the double extra, the next as
the extra No. 1, the next as the No. 1,
and the next as the No. 2. The No 2
is what Topeka has bought.
Fire Marshal G. o. Wilmarth, in
speaking of the new fire engines which
the city is to add to its equipment, said
today:
For the present we will keep only
the new engine in commission. The
rebuilt engine will be held in reserve.
The new engine will be kept at head
quarters. 1t will stand back of the
chemical engine, and my buggy will be
moved to a position in the center of
the building, from which position it
will make it's exit through the west
door,
Il don't know where we viii put the
rebuilt engine. There is no place for it
at present 1t may be that the city
will make some changes in some of the
engines house which will afford a space
for it. We will cross that bridge when
we come to it,
1T is my plan to equip both engines
with the automatic heaters. Thage
heaters are intended primarily to keep
about Is pounds of steam on the en-
CINE all the time, and save five min
utes' time in getting up pressure. The
automatic heater also saves the boilers
of the engine.
TT will be from 80 to 100 days, under
the contract, for the construction of
the new engines, and from 60 to 80 days
for the reconstruction of the old one.
The work will be done at Cincinnati.
The manufacturers think it may be
possible for them to deliver both en-
gines at the same time. The new en-
CINE will not have rubber tires I re-
allze that rubber tires are a good thing,
but they cost about $500 extra, and we
thought we would get along without
them.
1T will be necessary to put four men
on this engine. in order to handle the
additional work which will fall on the
hose company.
I'm all cases where we can get at a
cistern, we will pump water from the
ciStern, but when we are unable to get
a ciStern, and need extra pressure we
hydrantS. We will make our connec-
ton to the hydrant by a siamese and
if the pressure on the mains is good
We may be able to get a good supply
of water for the engine
John P. Ahrens, the representative OF
the American Fire Engine company
who made the deal with the city, said
today:
"If the city wants it, we are going tc
send here for temporary use a large
engine which we have in stock for such
cases. 1t is not a modern engine, but
I believe it will answer the needs OF
Topeka better than the No. engine
which we talked of sending here.
Topeka is obliged to adopt the fire
engine system. 1t might as well admit
it. The direct pressure system is no
reliable for a town of this size. Wha
Topeka needs now is to put in larger
connections and fire hydrants. A 4-incl
connection and 4-inch hydrant can no
supply water fast enough for an engin,
which delivers 800 gallons of water
| minute, as this engine does which To
peka has ordered. Of course the en-
! CINE will give better pressure, but i
: can not be run at full capacity unles
it has plenty of water.
The old engine here is a single pum1
!. iengine and when we rebuild it we vii
!, equip it with an air pump to keep tn
: air cylinder charged with air. This vii
: make it much more effective"