The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-04
COST TOO GREAT.
Topeka Cannot Have High Pres
sure Water System.
Expense Would Be Two Hun
bred Thousand Dollars.
BUY MORE STEAMERS.
That Is Councilman Jordan's
Way Out.
Figures That Would Make Up
for Deficiency.
BUY MORE STEAMERS.

Not long ago Mayor William Green
gave out the suggestion that in order
10 have a better fire pressure for the
city Of Topeka in the downtown dis
tricts il might be advisabl to remodel
the Harrison street pumping station
and lay high pressure mains up
through the business portions The
mayor thought this a good plan If it
could be carried out with a small ex-
pense 20 the city. Since The MAYOR
has made his suggestion the state
Journal reporter has looked UP the
situation very carefully and the con
ditIons IN other cities have been ex-
amineG
larger cities the high pressure system
Is in constant use and is being installed
wherever possible The idea is to have
a special water main with nothing but
IRE plug connections and keep this
main up at a pressure Of 200 pounds
all the time This makes Il possible
fOr the IRE companies to connect the
hose with the plugs at any time and
exceeding the pressure forced by the
steamers In Topeka it was deemed
advisable to run a pipe line from the
pumping station at the foot of Har-
risOu street and use this plant for the
high pressure purpose There are
pumps in this plant at the present time
and being connected with the river
they are only used as an emergency.
shape.
But after looking the mater over it
does not look as though the high pres
sure system in Topeka would be worth
the price of admission A talk with
the president of the city council. Mr..
c. E Jordan, has revealed the fact
that the cost of installing such a plant
in Topeka would be 5000 600 This is
~ TTT7rT Of - -.y- =
into such a modern scheme and the
continual cost of maintenance together
with the probable crumbling away Of
the unused plant is more than the city
of Topeka can stand According to
Councilman Jordan the best PROPOSE
ton the city could consider at this time
for fire protection would be the pur-
chase Of an additional number of
partment and in this manner throw an
additional number OF streams on
fire. thus performing as much extiu-
gushing duties as the high pressure
system
This new fire engine looks good to
the superintendent Of the waterworks
and the city engineer. who are ma
turaIly the proper authorities on such
matters Mayor Green's suggestion
was a good one and one that is meet
ing with great success in all cities
where il is used but when the mayor
said it he added: 'I think this ad-
V1SabIe II II VIII be practicable to the
city. He did not know at that time
OF the cost and he did not know that
the matter would receive any more
than an investigation on the part Of
the city authorities As a matter Of
fact the city council adopted
resolution last meeting night asking
the waterworks commissioners to fig
ure on the cost Of the installation of
a high pressure system in this city.
Of course. this matter has not gone
TO a point where II cannot be stopped
it is simply an investigation on the
part Of the city council and they have
not considered the building Of such q
plant as yet.
Need of More Steamers.
But TO return TO the steamer
propOsiiOu-TOpek is not so close
to the sky that she needs high pres
sure system at cost of 100000.
When the buildings in this city are
shutting of the sunlight and tickling
the moon then the treasurer can is
sue fifth Of a million in bonds but
until that time It would be a much
better plan to invest about $40, 900
in fire steamers and let them do the
work
Compare the work of the steamers
and the direct pressure. Suppose q
big building at the corner OF Ninth
and Kansas avenue caught fire (Also
suppose that the city had four new