The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-25
up GO THE RATES.
Continued from First Page.l

flames. By having the Harrison street
station in commission this condition
might be partially met, but what is
needed IS another reserve main to
town.
MERCHANTS HAVE A PLAN.
Some of the merchants of Topeka
who carry heavy insurance are talking
of the advisability of organizing local
branch of the National Mutual Fire In
Surance Association of Merchants. This
organization exists in many cities, and
is a strictly mutual concern, the mer-
chants paying in their premiums to
common fund.
A similar mutual insurance organiza-
ton exists among the lumbermen and
among the millers. The regular insur-
ance rates on these classes of risks are
very high, and it is claimed that under
the mutual plan the lumbermen and
millers get the benefit of rate about
80 per cent lower than standard insur-
ance company rates.
The advance of 20 per cent in all rates
will catch the merchants of the city
pretty hard, and they may resort to
the mutual plan to obtain relief.
A Topeka insurance man, however
expresses the opinion that such a plan
can not be adopted. He says:
In the first place. strictly mutual
fire concerns can not get a charter to
do business in Kansas. And in the
second place, this national mutual con-
Germ of merchants is not any more anX-
iouS to come into town where the
risk is great than any other insurance
company is.
CHIEF WILMARTH'S STATEMENT.
Fire Marshal G. 0. Wilmarth said
this morning: II have heard that an
increase in rates was to be made, but
not having received any official 1nfor-
nation that the advance is actually to
be put in, I am unable to express an
opinion in the matter.
IT am informed however, that there
is no fault found with the Topeka fire
department, which is of course what l
expected. The insurance men speak
very highly of our work, and agree that
we did all we could with the made
quate water pressure"
J. W. O'Neill, receiver of the Topeka
Water company, said today: Yes, the
increase is to be made. I understand
it is 20 per cent. Our water pressure
is now as good as it ever was"
"Will the water company be willing
to make any of the increases in ca
pacity recommended by the insurance
examiners?" was asked.
Mr.. O'Nein laughed at this question
and said:
DO you think we would be likely
to?"
The reporter was obliged to admit
that he didn't.
There were two small fires Wednes-
day evening" and at one of them the
pressure reached 124 pounds. the highest
point since the flood, and almost as high
as the company ever gave prior to the
flood At the other fire the maximum
pressure was 122 pounds. At neither
fire, however. was it necessary to use
water, and consequently there was no
drain and consequent reduction of pres
sure.
Mayor Bergundthal said today: I'm
sure of one thing today; that is, that
the water pressure was sufficient last
night. 1t was as high that it burst pipe
in my house, and the pipe was put in
brand new only a year or so ago. The
water spurted out of the broken pipe
like an artesian we'll and almost
drowned US out before 1 could shut it
off down in the cellar
The fire pressure at the two fires
Wednesday evening was as follows:
nj Q.0d