The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-19

The principal items which caused
the large estimate in the fire depart
ment last year were the purchase of a
new steamer, the rebuilding of the old,
the purchase of additional horses for
the new equipment and the alteration
of the stalls at fire department head
steamers. The cost of the new steam
er and the rebuilding of the old
amounted in the estimate at $500.
The cost of the horses is given at $500.
These items account for the principal
excess of the estimate of 1904 over
1906. The repairs for the telegraph
alarm system also figure less this year.
The estimate for new. equipment this
year includes the purchase of new
hose at a cost of $3.50 and new hose
wagon costing SAP. This is prac-
tically the whole of the new equipment
purchased for this year.
The estimate for the salary of the
department shows a balance in favor
estimate for 1905 is $34,131.16; for
| 1904 it was given as $32,4S4.83. The
| increase comes in the additional num-
Der of men who are now carried to
man the new equipment at department
headquarters.
Street Commissioner Ramsey bases
| his estimate for saving $4,000 in his
department upon the cutting down in
| the size of his force. He is endeavor-
| ing to take care of the streets with a
| force of about 35 men, thus hoping to
| cut down the expense by $4,000. The
| entire saving of that department is
shown to be by the returned estimate
| upon the matter of wages alone.
By figuring on a saving of $500 in the
| coal bills at the electric light plant and
an additional saving of some $500 upon
the item of repairs, superintendent
| Goodrich of the electric light plant
| trusts to effect radical saving. The
! estimate for coal in 1904 showed 81, ,20(
as a probable expenditure, for 1905 it is
| reduced to $500. Repairs for 1904 were
! given as about 81, ,112, this year at 81, 800
| other small items make the total say
| ing one of 81 2S9.94.
City Engineer McCabe believes thai
| his department can be run on about
| 81, ,331. so below the estimate he returned
last year. The principal reason why
he thinks this can be done is tha
| the Eighth street, bridge, which cos
| upwards of $1,000, was erected last veal
| and this item of extraordinary expense
| does not confront the department thi:
year, though one of sewer inspection
| representing upwards of 81, 800 does. 4
| saving in this expense of about $500 anC
in the apolishment of the Office of as
sistant sidewalk inspector which repre-
sents an additional saving of $4OO, ac
counts for most of the total saving.
1 The estimate for publication charges
for printing the council proceedings il
the official city paper for the ensuini
year, given by City Clerk SquireS. Show'
a probable saving of $400. The salary o
one of the deputy city clerks was rails
ed 800, so that the total saving for tn
year measures about $500.
| Food Inspector Cilfillan desires t
know why his official salary has beel
cut down when there is no ordinanc
existing authorizing the reduction. TIL
salary specified by the only avai1abl
ordinance shows a salary of SIS pc
month. Gilfillan is now getting $66.6f
On the basis of the former salary h
turns in an estimate of $926.50 for tn
expenditures of his department, this ex
penditure is S76.50 in excess of that o
last year.
The sanitary department returns al
estimate $613.39 greater than that o
the former administration. This
however, includes the extraordinar-
iexpense which might be incurred Il