The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-14

ndQ TO nave InlS raise OF we WouAu
soon be incapacitated by the influx OF
new men.
In the last year and a half every de-
partment in the city has received
raise in salary-with the exception OF
the fire department. 1t is very evident
that the boys needed the money and it
is no more than right that the council
should grant the increase
According to our returns from other
cities the Topeka department pays
much less than cities of this size in the
country. For instance, the little town
of Boise, Ohio, with population OF
1000 pays more than we do"
1t is thought that the matter Will
make very little trouble in the council
chamber when it comes up for final
councilmen who will probably vote
against 1t are Mr.. Drew, Mr.. Hughes
and possibly Mr.. Stanley. Mr.. Stanley
first came out and stated that he was
in favor of leaving it to the commits
sloners. Then he visited the fire sta
tons over the city and told the boys
just how it happened"-as a result he
made them believe that he was for it.
Since then nothing has been said about
the matter. 1t is believed, however.
that when the band wagon goes clang-
ing by with the insurgents on top,
Mr.. Stanley will leap on the back step
and join the chorus.
lie cleClTiCdl Inspection ORDINANCE
similar in almost every respect to the
one recommended by Councilman How
ard some time ago-was also recon-
mended for passage. This provides for
an electrical inspector to keep tab on
all the wiring done in the city and see
that 1t is done in a proper manner. It
effects the inside wiring only. The
original ordinance framed up by Coun-
Gilman Howard asked for outside in
Spection.
Santa Fe companies were present and
expressed their approval of the ordi
nance last night. Superintendent Pur-
cell of the Santa Fee shops made an
especially convincing talk in favor of
the ordinance. He succeeded in quiet
Ing several of the arguments against
the inspectorship for the city. The
Santa F'e system of inspection is strict
In every detail and could be used as
good example to the city inspectors.
A gloom has fallen over the city hall
today. The accident in the Seventh
street fire cistern in which Street Com
missioner Snyder, four of his men and
Engineer Robinson were burned
has has received a sympathetic sen
ing. The officials have kept in con-
slant touch with the hospital and the
reports of the condition of the injur-
ed men are made every half hour.
Last Saturday morning Street Com
!. missioner Snyder was talking with
Mayor Green about the cleaning of
this and several other fire cisterns and
the presence of gas in the ciStern was
known at this time. Mr. Snyder stated
than that he would not allow his men
to go places where he would not go and
it was his intention to superintend the
/ work personally. Mr. Snyder is I'M
doubtedly the most valuable man who
has ever acted as street commissioner
and almost all of his work on the
streets was directly under his super
| vision.
| Since the increased duties which have
| been heaped on the street commission
/ er on account of the city improvements
this year, Mr.. Snyder has been with
| his evenings at the Office IN the city
hall. The work has been most trying
and it was noticed by several friends
| that he was losing flesh and color
Mayor Green instructed him last week
| to take vacation at once and try and
! regain his strength and health before
| he returned to his duties. To this the
| ttreet commissioner replied:
| ''Mr. Mayor. can't leave the city in
| its present condition. The snow will
! soon be melting and the work on the
| STREETS must be pushed. I can't see how
| am going to leave the work. And
| then, you know the goods roads con-
| vention is here and we must have oul
| StT6SlS III SOOO COllu1llOu IOf tllOiIl
Mr.. Snyder was proud of Topeka and
her beautiful streets-and it is through
a large amount of his work that To
peka has today the prettiest streets Of
any city in the United States-concede6
to be so by all municipalities.
II don't see how l am going to ge'
Frank away from the work and to {
resting place where he Will not worry,
said Mayor Green after Mr.. Snyder ha6
left his Office the other day and the
physical condition of the man had beer
| noticed by the mayor. He eats AND
sleeps right by his telephone and i:
the first man out in the morning an6
the last at night. 1t is my ambition
to get Frank out of town and to Elk
celsior Springs where he can forget the
work for awhile
And the mayor had it all planned
out to send the street commissioner
away from his duties after the present
thaw on streets was over.
mi