The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-13
CITY HALL NEWS.
Monster Protest Against Pro-
posed Elmhurst Park.
People Complain That Burden
Would BE Too Great.
WILMARTH is READY.
Will Begin Inspection OF Hotels
ON Monday.
Plumbers Are Being Examined
Eby the Board.
WILMARTH is READY.

a
the council last night protesting
against the proposed plan for pur'
chasing a portion of the Elmhurs
district for park purposes Tnest
petitions. five in number, represented
eos signatures, and they in ma uncer-
tain language set forth the opinion
that the movement for the purpose
of purchasing a tract of land to be
transformed into park is simply be
ing pushed by those who are trying 10
futher their own ends in financial
way. The following is a fair example
of the wording of the petitions:
your petitioners would further
represent and show that the peopie
who would have to pay Tor thls
alleged park are just now labor1nS
under an immense swindle. inVestlga-
ton which revealed graft and boodIe
to about $4,000 in the constructor
of the sewer. Having been swlnoieo
out of this sum and the same belng
stu unnaid we ought to have a
breathing spell. o,.
represent and show that 1t is UNJUST
and immoral if not criminal, to lay
burdens of taxation on the public IN
the aid of private speculation.
Your petitioners would further
represent and show that the city is
already taxed to death"
that there is no need for a park III
the E,lmhurst community as the PEG,
pie are in close proximity to Central
and Willow parks. The petltohs
were referred to the eommlt1ee On
streets and walks and both these ana
the petitions for the proposed PARK
will come up at the last regular meet
ing of the council.
Bids were opened for the recon
structfon of the reinforced brick
bridge to be built over Wards creek
at Grove avenue at the meeting OIL lIIe
city council last night, and the mayor
was authorized to enter into corr
tract with Walton W. Gilmore whose
bid was S575, just SO cents under the
city engineers estimate Hodr anu
FLYNN figured on the prop"sltloII,
their bid being $3.50. The bridge Will
be but a single span, reinforced ny
heavy wire fencing
Chief wiImarth is to have well
deserved vacation TINS was III
cided by the city council last nlsHt'
Action was taken as the result OF d
communication from the boaro ol
directors of the Fireman s -ReneL as
sociation which stated that a tuna
Of 5000 had been granted to defray
all expenses of such a vacauon. NJ
name was mentioned in the com
munication, but it was generaily IN
derstood that it was Ch1ef WlTnarlh
granted, and the communication Mas
9nnroved without discussion. The
members of the council fully apprS
ciate the great amount of work when
chief Wilmarth has accomplished
since the new fire laws went into erect
and were very glad to grant MN
we'll earned holiday
Dassed bv the council transferring |
$500 from the general fund of the
waterworks department to the water
works sinking fund. The object OF
this action was to give the Md.e
some of the city's paving bonds; |
Thirteen thousand dollars was laid
aside from last year, and this to,
gether with the $500 makes s2O'ooo
which will be put into bonds.
On Monday, August Is. Chief VII
marth will make an Inspection OF the
hotels and rooming houses of the city
to see if the requirements OF the law
Saave been complied with as set forth
7by the board of health on June .. If
the proprietors have not got BUSY
their names will be turned over TO the
county attorney and if good excus 5
are not forthcoming prosecutions VIII
follow. Chief Wilmarth wants to en-
phasize the fact that he has no desire
to prosecute anyone, but he is in duty
bound to see that the law is complied
with.
The hotel people have had ample time
to install such appliances and to make
such alterations as to put their places
of establishment in a safe and sani-
tary condition. In one or two cases on
account of a particularly heavy rush
lust at this season of the year, manu-
facturers have not been able to supply
apparatus directly upon receipt of the
orders. Cases of this kind can not be
avoided and the county attorney VIII
be slow to prosecute. In a
number of instances the law has not
been adhered to more from neglect
than anything else rather than from!
the standpoint of absolutely refusing to
meet with the requirements. With the
experiences which Topeka has already
had in regard to costly hotel fires the
seem extremely just and reasonable.
The time limit set for the accomplish
ment of the required alterations was
net as Aug. Is but as the 18th falls on
Sunday q day of GRACE will be given.
This week the first session of the
board of plumbing examiners was held
and a number of the plumbers of the
city were put through rigid test as
to their knowledge in their sphere Of
work. The applicants for certificates
were examined in regard to their gem
eral knowledge of the plumbing bust
ness plumbing ventilation and house
draining. While the test was severe,
yet it was a practical one in every re-
spect. The next session of the board
Will be held on Tuesday evening. Aug.
IL. The sessions will be held from,
time to time and if the plumbers do
not make an effort to attend the meet
ngs in order to procure a license
thew will have to go out of business. |
Those who passed the examination at
he first session were: w G. Frazeu, ]
and w. A. Frazeur masters; Walter
Mills, joI,rneyman; A. r. Jack master.
D. c. Hagg. journeyman. The follow
ng is taken from the new plumbing
ordinance which relates to the matter
IF procuring certificates: