The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-13
OVER GAS mine.
Business District In Danger Of
Damage From Explosion.
Leaking Mains JeOpardize Prop
erty According to Officials.
SOME ALARM EET,T.
ONE ALARM FELT.
Death May Lurk in Cellars,
Cisterns and Excavations.
Explosion Last Week Reveals
Deplorable Conditions.

That the people of Topeka need
not be surprised some night to awak-
en- with a roaring, crashing SOUND In
their ears, and upon investigation md
the business portion of the municipal-
ity, a mass of burning debris, is the
opinion of a number of local engin-
eering experts. These men state that
the whole downtown district is un-
dermined with miniature gas wells
that are liable at any moment to ex-
plode.
When the catastrophe will occur Is
not stated. but it is known. they say,
that the cisterns, the cellars, the ex-
cavations, and all the cavities in the
business section, are saturated with
the deadly smell of gas. The condi-
tions are growing worse, 1t is said.
and the result of accidental ignition
can only be judged.
While it is generally conceded that
many pockets of gas exist underneath
the municipality, it is not generally
believed that the pockets are connect
ed. each to the other, in such a man.
ner that ignition would destroy the
city This is the opinion of the laity
who consider it a question whether
the statement of the engineering ex-
perts is strictly accurate one. They
believe that while an explosion might
do serious damage in some parts of
Topeka, the damage would not ex-
tend through subterranean channels,
and be responsible for wholesale hav-
&C, or holocaust.
Ffreman's Exciting Experience.
It was but few days ago that a
fireman on Kansas avenue attempted
TO take a lighted lantern down into a
fire cistern with him and the ex-
plosion that followed threw the fire.
mo n tho y and burned his
face, neck and hands. The ex-
plosion was terrific, throwing flames
of fire five stories into the air and
burning fiercely until the cap Of the
cistern was replaced and the fire
smothered.
Since then the cistern has not been
opened but it is believed that the
cavity is still filled with deadly gases
which are liable to ignite at any time
and create an explosion dangerous
to life and property.
Evidences of this dangerous con-
dition of the bowels of the Topeka
business streets have been making
themselves apparent for some time
city government reports that in some
cases 1t has been impossible to lay
asphalt on Kansas avenue on ac-
count of the seeping of natural gas
through the ground up into the wet
asphalt and causing it to crack and
crinkle.
Seeps Through Pavement.
There are some spots in the street
pavement. where 1t has been and is
necessary to tear up the pavement
and renew the work. The gas has
been eating the tar and the oils out of
the asphalt and left it in a weakened
condition for travel. One of the worst
obstacles in paving this year has been
the presence of natural gas in the soil
beneath the streets.
t. 01, fe No
to combat with it. It enters cracks
and openings that are considered air.
tight and are watertight. The water
cistern on Kansas avenue is an air.
tight vacuum cemented and REIN
forced but the gas was able to enter
this place and collect in dangerous
quantities. 1t is a peculiar character
istic of natural gas to steal its way
through openings that the human hand
has been unable to close.
It has been noticed the last few
months that the fumes of gas were
especially strong from small excava-