The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-28
CITY HALL NEWS.
A Broken Water Main Causes
More Trouble.
Weakens Pressure But Supply
Isn't Cut Off.
MIR. OWENS DENIES.
Says That His Milk Wasn't
Watered.
Mayor Green Hears From His
Christmas Card.

Topeka is on the verge of taking an
other first prize. Never in the history
of a modern city has the water depart
ment complained because the pressure
was too great and the fire department
did not need all of the immense amount
of pressure forced through the water
mains. During small fire at the home
of Shirley S. French, s1404 North Quincy
in North Topeka Sunday morning a big
water main out near the city pumping
station was broken on account of the
excess pressure pumped in response to
the fire alarm. This is, the second time
this has happened and fortunately the
fire was a small one Sunday and the
fire was extinguished by the chemical
engines from departments No. 1 and
No. 2.
The break in the water mains occur
red about $3.50 o'clock Sunday morning
and for fifteen minutes the water sup
ply in many parts of the city was not
sufficient to force water in the second
story of a house. On college hill no
water could be obtained at all for al
most a half hour. The break occurred
not one hundred feet from the pump
ing station and was due to the failure
of a joint of the connections to with
stand the pressure. 1t was very for
tunate that the break happened at this
place because the employees in the sta
ton saw the oncoming flood at once
and they shut off the valves connected
with this main before the failure could
last any longer. The water poured in
a huge stream from the break and
flooded the whole territory in the
vicinity of the building. The pressure
in the city dropped to less than twenty
pounds at once and not until the en-
changed the course of the water was
the original pressure renewed. The fire
department became. aware of the break
at once and the chemical engine from
the headquarters was ordered out to
assist the chemical from the North
Topeka department. The fire was
brought under control in no time ana
the low water pressure had little to do
with the fire. --.,-
The connection where the mains
broke is just at the point where the old
mains and the new mains nave -peen
built together. This is naturally a
feared for a number of weeks. Today !
the water running into the city is not |
affected by the accident and no incon- |
venience to the water patrons VIII re-
AT the water department this morn
ing it is said, that the water pres
sure is too high when the fire
alarm is turned ins Just as soon as
the pumping station get the t1re alarm
they start the pumps at a furious rate
and a terrific momentum of water |
rushes through the mains, The mains |
are new but they. were not supposed to
get such a sudden shock. Those who
claim to know gave out the informa-
ton this morning that the pressure
Sunday morning would have thrown
FIVE streams of water over the Nadohal |
hotel with ease. The question is-does
the fire department need such pres
sure for their work? The pressure may
be all right with the old pipes where |
the friction reduced it when it reached |
the cftv but the new mains are a |
line and the pressure comes
right from the pumps A few more OF |
those locomotive pressures and Topeka |
will have new kind of a flood.
City Treasurer Hale is back from the |
sick bed and was greeted by a $4,000 |
present from the county treasurer. The |
second $4,000 inStailment came today |
and will be distributed among the city
funds as follows: