The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-06
WIRING is BAD.
Mr.. EIdridge Thinks It Menace to
Auditorium

The electric wiring in the Auditorium is
in bad shape and demands immediate at
tention.
Charles E. Eldridge manager of the
Kansas fire inspection office, will make a
! thorough inspection of the wiring next
week and furnish q full report on his find
ings to City Engineer McCabe.
Mr.. Eldridge was requested to make
the inspection by the city engineer, who,
after preliminary examina ton, decided
that the councils attention should be i'm
mediateIy turned to the matter. Assist
ant City Engineer viii King made an in
spection of the wiring in the ceiling and
underneath the flooring of the Auditorium
and discovered that the wiring was in inn
mediate need OF attention. In the ceiling
where the wiring to the electric lights has
been placed the insulation in several in
stances has, through abrasion, been re-
moved, Offering an opportunity for short
circutting and dangerous fire Under
meath the flooring there is a perfect net
at various times, and though a great
portion of it is now Dead it still offers a
menace to the building. The wires run
out to the poles in the rear OF the build
ing, and If. through accident, live wire
should fall across the wires the old net
work under the floor would INN ediately
be endowed with life. The wiring has
been put in for a number of special occa-
sions in the past several years, and, like
put in, without regard to risks which
might be incurred. The insulation is off
strung in close proximity to piping. In
the front of the building and to the rear
the network is more pronounced. 1ele-
phone wires as well a electric light wires
are intermingled. subsequently the tenn
porary wires have been cut Off, but, as
stated, are provocative Of great risk. Mr..
Eldridge stated today that, in his Opin-
ion, all of the dead wiring should be re-
moved and that imm ediately. With the
presence of q. pipe organ in the Auditorium
a loss by fire would be doubly regrettable.
At the time the wiring was put into the
building no inspection was made and 1t
is very probable that numerous changes
will have to be made in the permanent
wiring The cost to the city will not be
of much moment in comparison to the
loss which might be incurred. A code will
be furnished the city engineer and this,
together with the report, will be the data
Electric code is the code which the in
surance companies have adopted as en-
bodying the requirements of the insur
ance companies with regard to the install
lation of electric wiring and apparatus.
1t is very probable that the motor which
is now being placed in the basement of
the Auditorium to furnish motive power
for the pipe organ will have to give way
for q motor built on more approved plans
The National Board of Fire Underwriters
The risk on the latter is reduced and the
rate of insurance is consequently lower
by 10 per cent. Other features in cOnnec-
ton with the wiring to the motor viii
probably come in for a recommendation
In addition number of the wires which
lead in from the outside which are
under the stage and which are now in
use are not sufficiently insulated. They
have the weather proof insulation in use
for outside wiring, but this is not heavy
iOr work.
The whole matter will be brought before
the next session of the council, which oc-
ours on the 18th day of January