The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-04
TESTED.
New Fire Fighting Apparatus
Meets All Requirements.
Water L. Thrown the Height
of 175 Feet.
ARE NOT SATISFIED.
Men Watch Result
and Shake Heads.
Say Engines Are No Coed With
out Water.
ARE NOT SATISFIED.

| Topeka's new steam fire engines are
a success. They demonstrated that
fact by taking a stream of water out
of the fire plug at the ordinary pres
sure of from 20 to 25 pounds and
| throwing it at least $50 feet straight
up into the air.
They are also quick steamers. The
| Metropolitan was started with cold
water, and in five minutes had Is
pounds of steam. In six minutes it
commenced to throw stream of
water, and in eight minutes the steam
gauge registered 140 pounds. Starting
with hot water in the boiler, as will
be the case when the engine is in
service, this time will be cut down
by about four minutes. The water is
kept hot in the boiler by means of
automatic heaters sort of base
burner arrangement in the basement
of the fire station, connected with
hot water pipes which run to the
boilers.
The following tests were made this
morning at Seventh and Quincy
streets, in the presence of a big crowd
of spectators:
One 200 foot line of hose, u inch
nozzle.
one 200 foot line of hose. IL inch
nozzle.
Two 200 foot lines of hose. Is inch
Two 200 foot lines of hose siamesed
into 1 Is inch nozzle.
Two 200 foot lines of hose siamesed
into a 1 y inch nozzle.
Two 200 foot lines of hose siamesed
into Is inch nozzle.
Two 200 foot lines of hose siamesed
into 1 y inch nozzle.
The newly built Metropolitan engine
was tested first and it tossed the single
high into the air that it was hard to see
ditorium. With two lines of 1M inch
The two streams. which are the size used
in all regular work by the department
the top of the Columbian building ling
When the engine commenced to work
D With two str an siamesed into " inch
a big volume of water that it hangs to-
gether better than. the. rs inch stream.
magnificent column estimated by some
to be us feet high. No accurate measure
was by comparison with the AUDITORIUM
1t required four men to hold this
stream, and then they had nozzle fitted
torrent shot up Though the air higher
than any ordinary man could throw a
into a splendid plume of spray and re-
turn to earth.
siameze nozzles than TX inches. it was
found that the 4-inch connection to the
Migrant was not able to supply all the
stream, considerably over 100 feet high,
but John p. Ahrens, who was represent
said that it would have done a great deal
better with sufficient water.
This lack of sufficient water would have
been entirely obviated had the water COM
pany been notified to put on fire pres
sure but it was deemed best to make the
pressure on the mains.
Fire Marshal Wilmarth said this morn
1.-THE engines are doing fine work. They
are quick steamers and can throw all the
water they can get They have been
been blowing off all the time since they
really got down to work
Mayor Bergundttihaal said; This This suits
we can handle fires in the biggest build |
ings in town"
were present at the tests. They express
ed themselves as well satisfied. This cv-
ening the council will be asked to approve !
the bill for s4.7O0 which will be presented
as the cost of the two engines. There is
not likely to be any opposition ion to it.
Rating bureau. which controls fire insur- |
ance rates in Topeka, was among those |
who watched the test. He said;
THE engines are all right. but they |
can't do anything without water. That |
big engine sucked all the water out of
unless it gets enough water i
Charles F. Hardy, president of the Kan |
made an adverse report on the Topeka |
water works system, said;
Fire engines can't ted reduce insurance Isl ans,
with and there is not enough water to |
be had from these hydrants,
20 years ago, which has been completely |
did practically the same high |
grade work that was done by the new
engine.
HAS ANTS ENOUGH.