The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-06

hidden and hard to prove. The electric
proposition VIII also take a good seat
in the unknown column.
Among the other causes mentioned
In the fire record book is boys and
matches, false alarms Q0), overturned
and exploding lamps. cleaning clothes
with gasoline near stove, funigating
60, thawtng out water pipes, and in
cendiary. There were. as far as the
exact knowledge of the fire marshal is
concerned, IS incendiary fires during
the year. An incendiary fire is an
other hard question to work out and
there were probably a number more
than quoted on account Of a lack of
exact information on the part Of the
books.
The last fiscal year Q907-S) there were
205 fires and the year before 256. This
last year has been the most disas-
trous in the history of the city on ac-
count of the large unprotected build
ings burning within a short time of
each other and the work of the nat
ural gas. The fire losses have not been
compiled by the fire marshal on ac-
count of the lack Of information from
the firms and building owners. Insur-
ance companies are given from one to
three months to settle and it will be
Impossible to figure out the loss until
the reports have been sent in.
Emporia has been receiving the
same brand of warnings from the
Warren Brothers company of Boston
who claim that the Kaw Paving COM
pany is infringing upon their patents
| The Emporia Gazette contains the
following article which will interest
the city officials and those interested
| in the fight:
| "Mayor GlotfeIter, received a tele-
gram from Warren Brothers, of Bos-
| ton. yesterday. warning him that IL
| the city allowed the Kaw Valley Paw
l ing company to proceed with the paw
4 ing of Exchange street, the city would
be infringing upon their patents, ana
| would be held responsible. Warren
Brothers are owners of the patents on
| the bitulithic paving.
Mayor Glotfelter Immediately con-
suited with City Attorney Firth, and
| they decided the city would pay no
| attention to the warning: When the
| contract was let to the Kaw company
| for paving Exchange street with as
phaltic concrete, suit was threatened
| the city by the bitulithic people If
| the contractors were allowed to pro-
coed. Accordingly, the Kaw company
| offered to put up an indemnity bond
| to indemnify the city against law
suit should one be brought, if it re-
ceived the contract and this bond was
! made part of the contract. If the
bitulithic people bring suit. the cost
will fall on the Kaw- Paving company,
and not on the city,
| Councilman H. B. Howard never
smokes cigars but he never refuses to
| take one when offered to him. Sew
| eral of the councilmen have wondered
what the Third ward alderman has
| been doing with the cigars which have
| been passed around again and again
| SO with the assistance of Street Com
| missioner Snyder they investigated
| the desk of the Mighty Howard Satur-
! day afternoon. Mr.. Snyder procured
| the key while Councilmen Jordan and
| Tandy watched the process-the lid of
| the councilman's desk was opened and
with grab and scratch the two
| watching aldermen hooked thirteen
cigars and the big hearted accommo-
| dating street commissioner who kind
ly opened the desk never received a
| taste.
The firemen at the city hall head
| quarters have been practicing with a
| life saving fire net. Twelve of them
| hold the life saver while the rest of
the company leap in streams from the
upper stories of the building. They
| have been attracting big crowds.