The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-07
FILLED THE BILL.
Even Conditions Made BY Insurance
Companies are Fulfilled.

1.-THE old man won't dare to do it,"
mo, he won't make the test
Two insurance agents were talking
together. They had given Fire Mar
shall Wilmarth a dare. They dared
him to put both steam fire engines to
work. and then tap other hydrants
with streams giving direct pressure.
THAT will show UP the weakness
of the water system" said the insur-
ance men. I'VE can use it as an ar
gument against reducing the rates.
Chief Wilmarth took the dare. He
won. He gave a demonstration Tues
day afternoon of the effectiveness of
the Topeka water supply which was
a revelation 1t was also a vindica-
ton for Superintendent Jesse Shaw of
the Topeka Water company. Chief
WiImarth started his two new en-
gines pumping water from the two n.y.
drantS at Seventh and Quincy. He
started four streams of standard size
he coupled up two more streams at
Seventh and Kansas avenue, and the
direct pressure from the mains was
sufficient to throw water on top of the
National hotel-five stories.
IT knew we could do it told you
we could do it, exclaimed Jesse Shaw
enthusiastically. 81 have told 'em all
the time that we could have plenty of
pressure left, even after they take all
the water they want for their fire en-
gines. We could put two more lines
up there on Kansas avenue without
any trouble. We could keep up the
pressure high enough to do good
work.
Chief Wilmarth was much pleased
with the result. I'VE had plenty of
water for both engines, and good pres
sure left. We were throwing 1000
gallons of water a minute, and the
pressure at no time went below AZ
pounds That was the thing which
was to be established. We wanted
to find whether we could use both
engines and have adequate pressure
left We would have laid two more
lines for direct pressure, but for the
fact that we had 1000 feet down. and
did not like to take the risk of lay
ing out any more. Besides, we only
bought a little coal to try in the
engines, and the supply ran out be-
fore we had time to make a more ex-
tensive test"
superintendent Jesse Shaw was ask
ed whether the water company was
using the Harrison street pumps for
the test
No he said. eve are using only
one pump at the station west of town.
It is doing it all. We still have the
Harrison street station to fall back
on The fires are there, and so pounds
OF steam are on the boilers all the
time With IS pounds we can be-
gin to pump down there"
The Insurance men were undoubted-
ly surprised at the good showing. They
realized that with such fire protec-
ton as Topeka demonstrated it could
give, the high insurance rates would
have to be called off.
Charles E. Eldridge, of the Eldridge
Rating bureau, which issues the rates
used by all the insurance companies
in the trust. said 1.-THE engines GER
tainly did excellent work. They are
fine machines. The two streams
thrown by the direct pressure were
good. I am sorry that the fire mar
shall could not give us two or three
more streams from the hydrants."
John P. Ahrens, who was here to
superintend the test of the new en-
gines on behalf of the company. was
well pleased with the test He stated
that there was no lack of water to
supply the engines at the TUESDAYS
test, and that Topeka is now verv
well equipped to- ngnt fires. Mr..
Ahrens was paid the $500 due him
Tuesday. and left for Cincinnati at
once.