The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-13
TALK IT Over.
Commercial Club Discusses the
Waterworks Question.
Special Committee Makes a Re-
port Of Protest.
NO FORMAL ACTION.
City Council viii Be Allowed to
Do as 1t PleaSes.
W. W. Webb, Insurance Agent,
O FORMAL ACTION.
W. W. Webb, Insurance Agent,
Attacks Water Service.

For the specific purpose of getting
an expression of opinion, the water
works question was brought up before
the Commercial club last night by
means of a statement from w. w.
Mills. E. H. Crosby, w. H. Davis, D. P.
Paxton and w. F. Jensen, a committee
of business men who met several days
ago to consider the matter. These
gentlemen do not wish to have it I'M
derstood that they presented a report,
but merely set forth the matter in an
arbitrary way so as to obtain the SEN
timent of the Commercial club with
regard to paying $62O,OOO for the plant,
which the city has agreed upon as a
purchasing price. The issue set forth
in the statement was that 100000 is
too much and that it should be pro-
tested against.
But the Commercial club took no
action. or anything that smacked of ii.
Beyond a single instance was there
anything but a conservative indicate
that it would be best under all circum-
stances to let the city attend to the
matter, especially inasmuch as City At
torney Spencer has implied that no
contract exists and that no compllca-
lions of any kind should be engender-
ed by action of parties other than the
governing bodies of the city.
Mention was also made in the state
ment that Topeka should enjoy the
lowest possible insurance rates, but
this phase of the question was not
touched upon. It is understood pretty
generally that to some extent the in
surance companies of this city are
taking advantage of some recent &C
currences and imposing heavy t1re
rates upon Topeka business men. An
expression from the Commercial club
that this city's fire protection Is I'M
paired would have carried weight ana
~, reIrT Txynr
willing to discuss the matter, let alone
take formal action upon it.
The report" or statement as the
committee wished to call it, follows
1t has been demonstrated in various
ways that the waterworks company is
not able to sustain the pressure stlpu-
lated in the ordinance granting the
company franchise. We, the business
men of the city of Topeka, feeling that
we do not have adequate fire protec-
ton, and, as the insurance companies
have increased our rates so that TINS
tax is a burden upon US, wish TO enter
our protest against the purchase of the
Waterworks plant at $52O,OCO until sucn
a time as the company puts the plant
into a condition to give the people the
service needed. We insist that the COM
pany continue its improvements and
additions to the plant, making frequent
tests until it can satisfy the insurance
| companies that Topeka has as good f1re
protection as any city of its class,
possible insurance rates.
w. w. Webb, who is in the insur-
ance business in this city, spoke at
length on the matter. He stated that
in his opinion the city of Topeka is
suffering an outrage so far as It's
water protection is concerned Some
thing ought to be done about 1t, he
said MIR. Johnson of Chicago, VINO
was here when the tests We're made
and is an expert on these things,
stated to me that inasmuch as
great deal of electricity is used in the
city the water pipes are electrolyzed.
He told me that if the pipes were ex-
anained small scales would be found,
which if Ioosened would show that the
pines are rotten. In that way Mr..
Johnson explains the different pres
sure records, lis pounds at the pump
ing station and As pounds down town.
He is sure that there are leaks some
place. His report is not completed.
but it will be shortly"
A few other expressions were heard,
but none of as drastic a nature as Mr..
Webb's The members of the Com
mercial club as a whole seemed con-
hdent that the city would take care
of the matter properly, and did not
wish to take any action which might
in any way entangle a final clearing
up of the whole matter. It probably
would be safe to say that those pres
ent last night thought that the city
should be very careful to know what
it is getting hold of before $625, 200
are paid out, but only in one instance
was such sentiment indicated by di
rect expression.