The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-20

operating waterworks, whose experience
has been such as to qualify him to de-
termine what repairs, extensions or inn
provements, if any, are indispensable in
order to put the plant in condition to
furnish the people with an ample supply
of water and to afford sufficient fire pro-
lection, regard being had to future as
SAMUEL T. HOWE"
The resolution embodying the G. G.
Clemens idea was presented by E. E.
Roudebush, but was considered too rad
zeal for immediate adoption. 1t was:
Resolved, That We ask the mayor and
council of the city of Topeka to apply
to the United States court at once,
showing the facts and emergency and
Water company be required to restore
adequate fire pressure at once.
The report of the special committee
of the Commercial club was the first
thing to be presented to the club last
night and considerable discussion en-
sued over the provisions of the resolu-
ton offered in it. John R. Mulvane
made a motion to strike out the clause
advising the purchase of additional fire
engines, saying that in view of the
rehabilitation of the Harrison street
pumping station such a purchase was
not necessary. Michael Heery was the
first to oppose this. He said:
when the Topeka Water company
was given its franchise one of the pro-
visions was that there should be
standpipe erected so that at all times
there should fbe sufficient pressure IN
all parts of the city. At that time 1t
was agreed that the test should be an
ability to throw ten streams OF water
from nozzles one inch in Ciameters to
height of 100 feet. Is there anyone here
who believes that the water plant has
ever been able to meet such test? L
think not. was not at first in favor
of the purchase of the waterWorks but
the city has voted in favor of the pur-
chase and I think we ought to keep
our end of the contract. But before we
make the purchase we ought to see
that the pumping station is able TO
meet the test which the company
agreed to give. We don't even get suit
able pressure for domestic service on
the upper floors of our larger buildings:
There is not an even distribution OF
pressure. else there would be no such
terrific pressure in POtwin ana so III
tie force down town."
F. H Foster spoke of the unequal
ness of the pressure distribution. he
said that at his home in Potw1n the
water pressure was too strong most OF
the time. Residents of that portion OF
the town were annoyed by having their
water pipes burst from the pressure
While down town on the fourth floor
of the Stormont building, where he had
his office, it not unfrequently occurred
that there was no water in the faucets
of the wash basins.
w. A. s. Bird, F. H. Foster, T. J.
Anderson and others spoke upon the
of the erection of stand
pipe in or close to the city in order to
secure a proper distribution of the
citys water supply. Major Anderson
said:
1T is my. recollection that when the
waterworIzs franchise was granted 1t
was agreed that a standpipe should be
erected and land was bought near
Fifth and Buchanan streets for that
purpose That feature of the contract
was not carried out, I think, on ac-
count of the adoption of the use of d.
rect pressure pumps at the pumping
But it is evident that the dis
tribution of the water is not satisfac-
tory and 1 think we should have the
standpipe. 1t is the only way in which
we can secure an even distribution of
pressure or depend upon getting do
nestle service erE-fire pressure IN all
parts of the city at the same time. -
DOES THE WATER COMPANY
EARN. MONEY!
The question was brought up last
night whether the water plaEt is
paying institution or not. This. ques-
ton has never been satisfactorily an
swered and probably will not be until
the city Of Topeka takes over the con-
Germ and tries to run 1t on its own &C
count. In response to a query directed
at himself, City Attorney Spencer said:
II do not know what the earning ca
pacity of the waterworks is. You can't
go into the company's Office ana expect
to be shown the books of the company
There is nothing in the records of the
federal court to show. When President
Charles F. Street was first in consul
tation with Mayor Parker and myself
over the purchase of the water plant
we tried to get him to show what its
earning capacity was, and after many
evasions he finally agreed to show us
But he never did. The members OF
this club have never seen any state
ment of the earning capacity of the
plant because none has ever been
given out When Mr.. Street was here
a week or so ago and tried to persuade
us to sign a contract for the taking
over of the water plant, we again
urged him to make a statement of the
business of the company. He said that
the plant would pay US the interest on
the $3.50 900 of bonds which we agree
to give in exchange for the first mort
gage bonds, and would net a sum
nearly equal to that amount in addi-
ton or that we should have about
SOS, 900 a year income from the water
plant