The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-08

hict with the child labor law
Councilman Jordan sent in a resolu-
/ ton to the council asking for drain
| to take care of the surface water on
| the North side in the vicinity of Kan
Sas avenue and Kious streets and at
points along Quincy, Jackson and Cen
| trail avenue. 1t seems that during a
wet spell it is impossible to catch a
car at these points without wading
| through water ankle deep. There are
a drain would be to a good advantage.
| The resolution by Mr.. Jordan was look
ed upon favorably by. the councilmen.
| The bids on the North Topeka pump
ing station came up last night. Two
| were Teceived-one from the z. E.
Overton Engineering and Supply COM
pany for 1895 and the other from the
Squires Electric Supply company for
$5625 Both of them were too high
being about So, 900 above the estimate of
the city engineer and they were re-
jected. This means that the pumping
plant proposition will receive another
setback. Councilman Jordan, who has
been fighting for the proposition so
long gave the councilmen lecture
last night and protested against their
actions in allowing this very important
proposition to travel so slowly. Mr..
Jordan should be a great supporter of
the commission form of government al
ter all of his experience with the pump
ing station.
Troubles are growing more fire.
quent as the days go by. 1t is now
known that the city automobile board
of examiners and the Topeka Motor
league are having the main show in
their own tent. The motor league is
fighting the examiner board harder
than the city council.
The trouble started this way-the
board of examiners was first drafted
from the motor league-that is. a
number Of men were chosen and
Mayor Green was to choose from
board was chosen by the mayor in |
opposition to the buzz wagon policies. |
This started the hard feeling.
The second chapter oc Opened f. up
for the registration of the auto
mobiles. The motor league had it
figured out that they were to get
the money for the registration and |
their body trying to decide what to do
with the $500. Meanwhile the board
of examiners were sitting in the
council chamber at the city hall
came pouring in. 1t seems that all
the money paid for drivers licenses
goes to the board as salaries. When
the motor league found this out they
howled again and the fight was on.
Now the city has taken a hand and
it is believed by a number of the city
officers and councilmen that the
ordinance creating board and all is
a great loss to the city In the first
place the city will lose directly from
$500 to $500 a year from license and
renewal tags. In the second place
the city has paid out and IS paying
out hundreds of dollars for the
preparation and passing
of this new ordinance and ordinances.
In fact it is taking the money from
the city and turning 1t over to the
automobiles.
1t would be a hard matter trying tie
tell all the little strings that are be-
ing pulled over this series of new
auto ordinances and it woufi also be
enemy from another. Talk about
troubles with carbureters - ordi-
nances are twice as bad.
ing the estimated expenses for the
fire department the coming fiscal
year. Chief Wilmarth estimated the
running expenses at about 81 per
said to a State Journal reporter this
''Tbe nature of the fire service is
such that it is practically impossible
to estimate the years expenses IN ad-
vance with absolute correctness. IN
looked for breakage to fire apparatus !
occurs on the way to and at fires, by !
reason of the strain to which 1t is
II
iected; men and horses become in
iured. notwithstanding all the care :
that can be exercised. During the c
present year we have lost two good 7
horses by death caused by injuries !
received on the way to fires From {
March 1 to July 1 the present year :
the number of days disability of
members at fire stations No. 2 and 8.
from injuries received in the dis ,
charge of duties or sickness, was {
1741 DAYS Our companies being !
small. a substitute is occasionally re-
1ufred to take the place Of injured
or sick members. whenever the
efficiency of the service makes 1t &C I
tuaIly necessary to do so. r
'The city is growing rapidly and :
the number of miles of streets that '
the department has to cover and /
protect is large, which means long {
-1ns and continual wear to apparatus ;
and horses. t
sorhe prices of hay and grain are :
higher than they were year ago. :
The present contract for hay which ,
will expire the first of next Septem- +
Der, is at So per ton--in bales. What
he price will be after that time ana +
Turing the remainder OF the hscal i
ear. we of course, cannot now say :
1.-THE work In the building depart
nent has greatly increased; and to-
yether with the laws passed I
" the last legislature placing re-
itrfctions upon a large class of the =
buildings in all cities-in the require
nent Of five escapes and other safe r.
ruards for fire protection and placing III
he responsibility Of the enforcement II