The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-14
Chief WiImarth Is Inspecting
the Business Houses.
Looks After Electric Wiring in
Connection With Holidays.
PACKING BOX MENACE,
Alleys Piled High With Excel
siOr Filled Receptacles.
Motto of the Fire Department
Is Prevention

Chief Wilmarth, of the Topeka fire
department, is busily engaged in in
specting the larger business houses in
the city, condemning all improper wir-
ing and insisting that proper protection
be continually maintained for the pro-
lection of the crowding customers who
are doing their Christmas shopping at
this time.
This is a decided step in the right di-
rection and the discretion shown by the
aggressive fire chief will sooner or la
ter tell its story in the terms of safety
to human life and property.
At the present time the big stores in
the city are damned with customers
and business is being conducted in a
short manner In most of the stores OF
the city additional electric wiring has
been installed throughout the rooms,
edging in and out among flimsy decor
etions and inf1ammable materials. This
wiring is done on the spur of the mo-
anent and on account of the extra
Christmas decorations it is hidden by
the cloths and papers which go tow
ard effecting the holiday surroundings.
At this time of year the merchants
have more goods than at any other time
and the floor and shelf space is crowd
ed with regular food for fire. The aisles
of the stores are piled high with all
sorts of stock and the customers are
a bad fire can be imagined in such
place and the Topeka chief is watching
every move with vigilant hand. He
has under him several inspectors who
make visit to the business houses eV-
cry day and Investigate the conditions.
Chief Wilmarth said this morning
that he had found empty packing boxes
full of that ever dangerous excelsior
piled high in the alleys behind the
stores and in some cases piled in the
stores themselves A lighted match,
cigarette or the flame from decorat-
ing candle would play havoc with such
material.
Some of the most disastrous fires of
the country in the past few years have
been caused by carelessneSs in Christ
mas loaded stores where the excess
stock and the crowds made a terrible
condition of affairs for the hremen to
untangle. Chief Wilmarth says that at
the present time the Topeka stores are
in very good condition to meet such
danger and he hopes the merchants will
continue in the inspection with him.
However as the crowds grow in num-
bers and the stocks increase in size
the conditions are gradually growing
more dangerous and the inspection Will
have to be more strict. In several of
the big stores the fire chief has found
big boxes of excelsior piled near the
elevator shafts and the shafts them
selves decorated with light material
At its best an elevator shaft as a risky
fire trap and they are to be avoided.
In other places the chief has found the
boxes piled one and two stories in
height behind the stores offering
great inducement for the fire bugs
In all of the large cities of the coun-
try this daily inspection is being con-
Quoted by the fire chiefs and their as
sistants to the great advantage OF the
merchant as we'll as the buyers.
Fire Marshal Wilmarth said this
morning that the motto of the Topeka
fire department was prevention" 1t
is easier to stop a fire before it COM
rnences than after. This extra inspec-
ton does not in any way interfere with
the regular building inspection that is
continually progressing under the di-
rectorship of the fire marshal.