The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-27

to some committee in order that he
might obtain information as to the
width of the street, etc. None of the
facts of the story are contained in the
reference and then Mr.. Drenning saw
where he must have few hand holds.
In response to a resolution passed
by the council at the last meeting
asking the fire marshal to purchase a
set of keys for the purpose of shutting
off the gas during fire, Chief Will
marth communicated with the mayor
and ldermen last night informin g
them of his purchase per request. 1t
has been customary to carry a set of
these keys on the aerial truck but
none of the other apparatus was
equipped as the keys are large and
the chemical or engine. 1t takes four
large keys to make a set on account
of the difference in size of the cut-offs
over the city. The fire marshal has
purchased two new sets of four each
one for No. L truck at No. and one
for apparatus at No. 1. The sets cost
the city $500 each. For the stations
in the outskirts it is unnecessary to
have the keys as the cut-offs are in
the cellar near the meter and a COM
mon wrench will do the work-unless
fire is raging-and then nothing can
be done-this is the reason the city is
demanding cut-offs
Chief George o. Wilmarth asked the
council last night for three horses in
the fire department. He explained their
use very simply and before the sig
nature of the letter was read one Of
the aldermen jumped up and moved an
approval of the request without asking
that it be referred to any committee
The motion was second and passed IN
a very few seconds. Chief Wllmarth
and the Topeka fire department VIII
have three new horses. One horse is
needed at station No. l. One of their
best animals died here last January
and they have been getting along
without a horse to take the place. one
of the horses on aerial truck at No. 2
is sick. worn out and full of the lazy
bugs-in other words, unfit for service.
Another horse for this position The
third horse will live on good food and
drink good water and look good. He
will be used as a substitute-or an
extra in case any of his associates get
the spring fever.
A communication came to the coun-
Gil last night that caused chuckle to
sprinkle around over the chamber. 1t
seems that a certain H. N. Higgins
has a claim against J. H. Maxwell for
damages done during the time Mr..
Maxwell was working for the city. The
damages as detailed in the communi-
cation include 81 for the ruin of a
chicken fence, 81 for the unroofing and
side swiping of the self same chicken
coal house-total 81. The claim was
referred to the judiciary committee.
The gas company replied to the re-
quest of the city asking for change
in the date of gas collections by say
i'm that on account of the demands of
their superior officers in Pittsburg,
Pa, it would be impossible for them
to make the collections so late in the
month. 1t seems that they are re-
quired to send the money to the for
efgn company on the 18th of the month
thus necessitating their collections
earlier. The city asked the gas COM
pany bout this through a resolution by
Councilman Miller of the Second ward.
The Second ward is a Santa Fe en-
playeS' ward and the railroad pays on
the 18th thus making it necessary for
a railroad man to hold over his check
almost a month before the gas bill
comes around. This is a great disad-
vantage to the people and they are
asking for the collection days to be on
the 10th or nearby. Mr.. Miller ex
commended that the gas company be
interviewed further on this matter be-
cause it was of vital Importance to
the citizens of this Second ward. The
gas company will, therefore, be wait
ed upon again.
A resolution requiring the street
commissioner to repair the paving on
East Fourth street between Jefferson
and Madison was passed by the coun-
ell last night and referred to the street
commissioner himself.
The ordinance giving the Topeka &
Southwestern another year to con-
struct their trunk line through the
city was passed last night 1t is now
up to the T. & S. w. to build before
April l. 1910. After that their right OF
%ay will be forfeited.