The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-08
HERE ARE FACTS.
Mayor Green Gives Some Topeka
Fire Figures.
Proves COnclusiveIy Efficiency
of Department.
LOSS HAS BEEN LOW.
Much Smaller Per Capita Than
Other Cities.
Figures Are Given to Prove His
Statements.

1T is my opinion that Topeka un-
doubtedly has the best fire protec-
ton of any city of it's size in the
United States today. 1 am we'll sat
isfied with the showing made by the
city department and I have no rea-
son to think that the people of this
city should have any fear over the
efficiency of our fire and water depart
ment.''
These were the words stated by
Mayor Green this afternoon in a talk
with a State Journal reporter. This
was also the idea that the mayor
brought out before the meeting of the
Commercial club
Mayor Green has always said that
the Topeka fire department was clear
from all diverse public opinion and
he has always claimed that the work,
equipment and record of the fire de-
partment was a great factor in the
municipal affairs of the government.
This afternoon the mayor gave out
few statistics that should be of great
interest to the people of this city.
They are figures. that have been pro-
cured by the mayor from the reports
of the National Board of Fire Under
writers and they all refer to cities of
10000 and $4,000. In the showing
Topeka is far ahead of any city in the
Union and it's record has received
very favorable comment from all over
the country. especially among the I'M
derwriters themselves.
In 1907 the average number of fires
in all the cities in the United States
with population of between
10000 and 10000 were I'll
year Topeka hado2OS fires. This is
not where the big difference comes
ct isn't the fault of the fire depart
ment if there are fires in the city.) |
But the acreage loss per capita in all
these cities in the Union was $2-23.
in Topeka the average loss per capita
was $0.9S or a difference of $1:25.
This is proof enough to show that
this city is under the protection of the
best fire department in the United
States. t4
Going back a ways when the fire de-
partment was not as well equipped
as it is now-in 1905 an average of
all the fires in the cities of the coun-
try were 1S9. InoTopeka there were
1856 fires. But the average loss per
capita was $3.41 i'm these other cities
front with the marvellous loss of forty |
seven cents. Compare forty-seven
cents with $S.41 and then judge for
yourselves the work and the value of
such a bunch of companies as there
are in this city.
Mayor William Green was not pick |
ing out the best wears in the reports |
of the underwriters AS an example |
he took an average of five years. |
1900 to 1904 inclusive. Now before |
this average is taken it must be re-
membered that in this time Topeka |
suffered from the big Parkhurst-Davis |
fire, in which there was a $29O,000 |
loss or a black eye of $1,000 per |
capita for that year. Did Topeka al
low this fire to lower her record on |
the books? Not at all. When the
records were compiled for those five
years 1904 il was found that the |
loss in the other cities per capita was |
$2.07 and in Topeka it was only !
$1.S7. This is one of the plainest !
truths about the competency of the |
fire department of this city.
Taking record for eight years |
1900-7 inclusive it is shown that the !
average number of fires in all other |
cities was 203 and in Topeka 201. But |
the loss per capita gave Topeka but |
the top with S2.78.
Facts cannot tell lies and when the |
whole United States marvels at the |
great record of the Topeka fire depart |
themselves would appreciate it. /
During the Parkhurst-Davis fire the |
city did not own their waterworks and |
the system was worthless. In spite of /
this the fire department made the
above showing. Today the city owns |
the waterworks and it was never in
better running condition.
When William Townsend, the by
draulic engineer brought to this city
by the insurance companies tested the
capability of the fire department he
was more than surprised. He said in
the presence of number Of men both
insurance and city officials that the
Topeka fire protection was one of the |;
best pieces of city machine work he
had ever seen. He stated that there
was little room for improvement and
f he does recommend anything it will
be something immaterial and some
hing that does not and will not have
any effect upon the general work of I
he department.
Mayor Green refused to discuss any i
more plans concerning the purchasing
IF new fire steamers, and the install
ng of high pressure system. He said
hat the city was very well protected
and everyone who knew the real con-
litions and the effectiveness of the de- S
oartment was satisfied All Topeka
needs is a little more confidence in the
bility of the men and the usefulness
IF the equipment There are fires that
cannot be which is {
proved every day in all the big cities
IF the world But if there is fire that
IAN be extfnguished the Topeka fire
Department. can be relied upon.