The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-23
MAIN is BROKEN.
Gas Company Finds Bad Break
in Big Pipe.
Evidently Cause OF Seventh
Street Explosions.
MANY OTHER LEAKS.
Service Pipes Rotten Rush.
es Forth.
Company Admits Old Mains Are
in Use.
MANY OTHER LEAKS.

in Use.
While hunting for leaks in the gas
mains in the vicinity of Seventh and
jackson streets this morning employees
Of the Consumers Light. Heat &
Power company heard a roaring, rum
bling sound, accompanied by sutto-
eating odor and before they could re-
move the dirt covering the source OF
the noise, a volcano of dirt and dust
rose from the trenches, following by
a swish and volume of natural gas.
Upon closer investigation it was
found that a large three-inch main
connecting the lead mains on Jackson
street and Kansas avenue was broken
square in two the one section falling
about two inches below the other. 1t
was estimated that enough gas was
escaping from this pipe in day to
furnish several buildings.
Seventh street between Kansas ave
nue. and Jackson street today is mass
of excavations and piled paving ma
terials and dirt. 1t has been found
that practically every service pipe
along this street is rotted out and the
gas has undoubtedly been escaping for
some time.
In some places the holes in the
pipes were large enough to stick a
finger through and in other places
the city engineer and officials on the
ground were able to break a hole into
the pipes by simply a pressure of the
thumb. Not only the service pipes,
but the main itself is rotted and use
less.
When this condition was revealed to
the officials of the gas company today,
all Of their statements that the late ex-
plosions in this vicinity might have
been sewer gas or damp, were exploded.
1t was proven conclusively that the
trouble in this part of the city has been
caused by the leakage of natural gas
from the mains.
Furthermore, it was admitted by Su-
perintendent of Construction Swan that
the mains dug up today and the big
mains over the city are the old gas
mains used by the company manufac-
turing artificial gas many years ago. 1t
will be remembered that these mains
were condemned and declared made
quate at that time. In speaking of the
old mains Mr.. Swan said:
Old Mains Are Used.
Yes. it is true we are using the old
gas mains over the city wherever it
has been possible. Along Kansas ave-
nue., where the main line is constructed
we are using the old mains. We did
place in new service pipes along the
avenue but the old mains remain as
they we're at that time"
WI dShcQ Dy q state journal re-
porter if he thought there were any
more leaks in the city, Mr.. Swan said:
"Oh, yes l believe so. There are un-
doubtedly more leaks in town-but we
know nothing of it at this time We did
not know these pipes on Seventh street
were leal-i- until we dug down here
today and found the conditions 1t
would be criminal On our part to know
that there were leaking pipes in the
citv and not make any effort to fix
them. There may be more leaks but
we do not know it at this time
There is no wonder that there have
been so many explosions along Seventh
street when the present conditions are
exposed. Every tap for service is rot
ten and out of order. In some places it
was found that the dirt for many feet
around the leaks was dry and crumbly.
THE escaping gas always dries out
the dirt and makes it into dust " said
City Engineer w. S. button this morn
, ing. when we find a leak we find
Sshe soil dry and dusty all around it.
] have no doubt but what the condi-
ton of the frozen ground at this time
has forced the gas around under the
pavement and it has circulated until
all the cisterns and excavations and
basins of all kinds have been filled
1t has now been decided that the ex-
plosion in the Capper building last
Sunday was caused by the leakage
from the break in this main at the
break has occurred just under the city
water main and the gas followed up
the trench dug by the city last sum-
mer to the water plug on the corner.
Here it leaked into the Bell telephone
cOnduitS and thus through the con-
duits to the Capper building. where it
ran into the basement and was ex-
ploded
The Rell telephone conduits are sur
rounded by frame box The indie
lon 1NVfke
many inches thick. ''This is the rea-
SON." said superintendent Swan that
the Independent people have not been
troubled with gas" In the manhole
nearby the water is running a regu-
lar stream through the conduits which
goes to show that they are accessible
some place above the opening and it
Is easier for gas to find the opening
than water.
Company Held Liable.
Mayor Green stated this afternoon
that the Consumers Light. Heat &
Power company would be held liable
for all the accidents which have oc-
CURED lately. All doubt as to the
cause of recent explosions has been
expelled and the gas officials now ad-
NIT that the mains are leaking.
AS to the extent of the leakage over
Topeka, no one knows Gas leakages
have been found all along Kansas ave-
nue-even in North Topeka. 1t has
been stated that in South Topeka.
where the new pavement was laid this
summer a bonfire built near the edge
of the paving caused an explosion and
roaring fire until 1t could be extin-
guished. Many other reports of gas
fires have been made known to the
city officials.
The city will demand that the gas
company go all over the mains in the
business districts of the city and see
that there are no more leaks When
ever a leais is found in a pipe the
whole pipe must be renewed On Sew