The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-08
SANTA FE OFFER.
Superintendent Purcell Makes
Fire Protection Suggestion.
Railroad Would Furnish Water
and Pressure.
CITY TO LAY MAINS.
Whole System Would Not Cost
Over $1,000.
City Officials Much Pleased With
the Proposition.
CITY TO LAY MAINS

big t1reS IN Topeka, the one suggested
by John Purcell, superintendent of
the Santa Fe shops, seems to have
the real f1avor-at least a flavor that
will find it's way into the hearts of
the Topeka city officials on account
of its low cast and immense nrotec-
tive qualities.
Mr. Purcell has suggested, on his
own accord, and in behalf of the
santa F'e, as far as his power ex-
tended, that the city of Toneka con.
struct ten-inch water mains connect-
ing the Santa Fe waterworks system
with the main city mains When a
hre broke out the Santa Fe would use
poth OF their big pumps with a
and 14O pounds pressure and force
their own pure water into the city
mains thus increasing the regular
pressure to at least $50 pounds at an
uptown plug. This would give as
much pressure as will ever be needed
in a city the size of Topeka. In truth
1t would be miniature high pressure
system-and just the kind for use in
topeka because it has been proven
conclusively that Topeka does not
want a $50 or 800 pound system-but
one of lower pressure variety.
Cost Not Great.
The cost of this connection with the
Santa Fe would be considerable un-
der $4,000. Another plan has been
suggester and this will undoubtedly
be taken up with the same condition
by the Santa Fe. This is to run an
Independent system of water mains in
the alleys on either side of Kansas
aVenue-these extra mains to be fed
by the Santa Fe water department and
kept under continual pressure by the
pumps of that corporation.
The cost of this fire protection is
nothing compared with the other
ideas offered. The whole new system
of mains could not cost over $1,000
and probably less. All the city of To-
peka would be required to do is to lay
the mains to the Santa Fe pump
house and the railroad company will
provide the water, the pressure and
the steam.
Coming as it does from the Santa
Fe and offered in such good faith
and understanding, the proposition
should carry great weight with the
city officials. 1t must be remembered
that at the present time the city is
undergoing fire protection crisis and
the criticism of the fire and water de-
partments is reaching out over the
state.
There have been any number of good
ideas suggested but this late one by
Mr.. Purcell looks likes the better pro-
position. This plan of equipping the
Harrison street station is bound to be
a big expense to the city. If regular
means an endless expense in keeping
the plant ready for action. If the cleo
tricaI pump is installed it means an
other great drain on the treasury
when fire does occur and a very good
chance for an accident that will Grip
pie the service-although this electrical
idea as presented by former Mayor
Cofran is undoubtedly the best prop
osition for the city if it is necessary
for the city to conduct the plant.
The Many Advantages.
The advantage of the Purcell plan
can be easily seen. The Santa Fe al
ways has a full head of steam and it
is ready for use at a minutes notice.
An alarm system could be constructed
from the fire department Headquarters
to the Santa Fe shops and at every
general alarm the Santa Fe pumps
could be started at once. The mains
extending from about Second street up
to Tenth avenue would be tapped at
every street they crossed. Two extra
fire plugs at every corner with a high
pressure at each one would be inval-
liable to the fire department-and they
would not require an engine or an
auxiliary of any kind The water for
the mains would come from the Santa
Fe water system-in fact all the city
would have to do would be to lay the
mains and maintain them. This is a
proposition that should never be passed
up by the city of Topeka.
There is another big advantage to
this extra independent water main-if
the city waterworks would become in
capacitated in any way the Santa Fe
could by little extra effort supply the
whole city with water-while the city
plant was being repaired. During the
big 1908 flood the Santa Fe supplied
the whole city of Topeka with water on
account of the washing out of several
hundred feet of city water mains A
valve connecting with the city mains
could be inserted at some point on
Kansas avenue. The immense value of
an emergency system like this in To-
the citizens. In fact it would place the
city in a position to fear nothing-not
even fire and water.
City Officials Pleased
On being interviewed by State
Journal reporter this morning the
city officials we're pleased with the
idea. They have not had time to take
the matter up in detail form but from
a general point of view they were en-
thusiastic about the practical working
Of the Purcell idea. Mayor Green
said:
From the way you have stated it,
can see no reason why the proposed
system would not be the solving of the
fire protection problem. It would be
especially advantageous to the city
and am sure the city
would be glad to reciprocate in some
manner by conducting an auxiliary to
the Santa Fe department. The Santa
Fe fire department has done noble
work at all of the big fires in the city
lately and / am sure that their water
system is as good as the department
OF course. nothing has been said to
the city about this matter suggested
by Mr.. Purcell and we have no official
notice of any kind but am sure that
We will entertain the suggestion with
pleasure and attention If it is brought
to u.s."
Councilman c. E. Jordan, who has
been spending all of his spare time in
behalf of the fire protection trouble
was also enthusiastic about the offer
of the Santa Fe. He said:
t'I am sure that Topeka should new