The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-21

ness houses along Kansas avenue and
stated that he had found thus far over
oO per cent of the business houses equip
ped with defective wiring. Before in
surance is writtenson these buildings
the owners viii ofscourse be notified by
the insurance inspection bureau of the
condlt1on obtaining and an opportunity
VIII be given for replacing the wiring
In a number of instances the owners
pay no attention to the report and
stand for the increase in risk rates This
presents good opportunity for a dan
gerous fire, and one threatening the ad-
Joining property.
The fire marshal endeavors to make
an examination of buildings as to their
compliance with the ordinances cover
ing Ire and safety but the matter of
electrical wiring in all it's phases cannot
be looked after properly by him in the
face of all the other multitudinous du-
tles Whleh devolVe upon him. In the
main, the business district is inspected
quite closely. Outside in the residence
district however this is suffered to lapse
on account of the lack of time as sta
ted.
Moreover, it is with the primary mo-
tive of bringing the inspection within
the scope of the law that such an or
d1nance has been proposed The fire
inspection bureau can call the attention
OF the owner of property to his defec-
tive wiring but with that their duty
ceases and they have no power what
ever to order change made and the
he does rather than to tear out the
wiring. With the present proposed or
dinance the inspector would have the
authority to order the wiring out and if
the owner persists in his course he is
made liable to arrest and fine.
The Edison company and the various
electrical construction companies in the
city who are engaged in the business of
wiring are heartily in favor of the en-
actment of some such a measure as pro-
posed so that any prospect of a fight
from that source is not to be consider
ed. The insurance agents of the city are
naturally all lined up in favor of the
provision.
The plan places the position under the
jurisdiction of the fire department to
be filled by appointment by the chief of
the department.. All the alterations,
changes or additions in electrical con-
structfon shall come under the duties
of such an inspector. The fees provide
for the collection of 81 for each arc
lamp, for each electric motor 81, for
from 1 to 10 lamps, 81, for from 2 to
25, incandescent lamps, $1.50, for from
26 to so incandescent lamps 81, for from
81 to 100 1ncandeScent lamps So for
each additional 100 or fraction Thereof So
and the same fee shall be collected for
inspecting installation of electrical
wires installed with a view of furnish
ing electrical current for such numbers
of lamps or more in which case no
charge will be made for inspection of
lamp fixtures or motors when connected
or put in service with such installation
of electric wires. Appeal may be made
had from an order or decision of the
electrical inspector to a board of three,
to consist of the chief of the fire de-
partment, chairman of public works
committee and the city engineer; and a
decision of such a board will be final
The salary attached to the position as
given in the draft of the ordinance
is 1000 a year, all fees collected in ex-
cess of such a sum are to be turned over
to the city treasurer. For a violation of
the provisions of the ordinance a fine is
provided for of from $40 to SIS.
The whole subject was vigorously
pushed among the business men today
and the majority of the councilmen
were made acquainted with the project
and solicited to aid in it's passage when
it shall be brought up formally for con-
SideratiOu