The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-23
OVER IS MILES MAINS.
Topeka Added 5 1-2 Miles to
Service Last Year.
Other Items of Interest From
Annual Report.

1t might be said in round numbers
tnat the city waterworks department
Tor the last fiscal year has cleared for
the city OF Topeka practically $4,000.
When 1t is said that 1t has cleared"
this amount it means that the depart
'ment has made all of it's repairs. paid
It's expenses, bought its fuel and after
everything was paid UP and brushed
aside the waterworks people were able
TO leave behind them in the city treas
ury about $4,000.
This startling as well as agreeable
fact was brought to light today through
the annual report of the waterworks
trustee to the city handed to City Clerk
Burge.
Not only has the city department
managed to swell the treasury with all
OF tnese funds but it has strengthen
ed the service over the city, extended
the water mains, placed new and mod
ern mains in the ground and finally
has given to the people of Topeka the
best water service they have ever been
given in the history of the city.
Receipts Near 100 Thousand.
The total receipts from meters, rem
tails, etc.. for the last fiscal year
amounted to $s1,917. The total expen-
ses of the department for the same year
was $127. AL. But this includes s62.-
1854 worth of construction work which
is always considered an investment by
the city and is stricken from the ex-
pense account in the totaling of re-
suits to the pockets of the taxpayers
Not only this but the waterworks de-
partment has in IT'S possession city
bonds amounting to $4,000.
These bonds draw a rate of four and
a half per cent interest and mean this
much to the city by keeping the money
in the hands of the treasurer. Further
more the water plants pays the inter
which amounts to s27, 900 every year. AN
in all this brings the grand total to
$4,000 and even more
New Mains Added.
During the last prosperous year the
waterworkS people have added to the
water system in Topeka 1907 feet OF
four inch pipe. 6,344 feet of six inch
pipe, 1,407 feet of twelve inch pipe ana
s,521 feet of eighteen inch pipe. This
makes a total of 24.579 feet of mains or
over four and a half miles. This to-
gether with the renewals which
amounted to over 5000 feet made a to-
tai of five and a half miles during the
year.
The amount of water pumped this
year would show lust what Topeka has
done in the growing Stride. During this
time SS0.442, 720 gallons of water has
701 gallons day or in other words
5368 gallons per capita every day ir
the year. Over so gallons a man, wo-
man and child in Topeka Is enough for
three baths and several other things a
day.
The amount of coal that it took t.
pump this vast amount of water was
5,674,055 pounds or 1887 tons, averaging
1885 pounds day. However, despite
the fact that much more water was
pumped this year than last the en-
gfneers and firemen together with the
superintendent succeeded in burning
over a half million pounds less than
last year.
Since the purchase Of the water plant
by the city the department has added
system. The pipe mileage totals S1,05o
feet or a grand total of 581a miles now
in use. There are 439 fire hydrants in
use. The water meters set numbered
577, tota1ing $3.50. There were 1888 TAPS
which now total 1929.
1t is interesting to note the tab kept
en- the fire alarms by the water de-
partment 1t will be remembered that
every fire alarm is sounded at the en-
gineer's office at the city waters works
the engines at once and is kept UP I'M
til personal word is received from
Chief Wilmarth to shut off the force.
During the last fiscal year 155 fire
alarms were responded to with higher
pressure in the water mains. These
6 larms gathered a fire pressure cover |
ing a period of 113 hours and So min
rtes. There were fifteen more alarms
this year than last. The biggest month
was January of this last year, when
there were "a alarms lasting 1865
February came second with
II alarms and 1895 minutes.
The pressure at all fires has been
good. The domestic pressure has been
excellent. In his report to the city |
Chief Wilmarth stated that the pres
{ ure received by the fire companies at
the hose was very satisfactory during |
the last year.
The Harrison street pumping station is
being used as a storage building for the
city at the present time. It is a good
brick building and will always be main
tanned in emergency cases. The boilers
are in good shape and have been inspected
regularly but the machinery is out of
A Waterman Is kept at the
building continually for fear that it might
become destroyed or ruined in some man
ner. The Harrison street station pumps
with the river and in case of a |
breakdown at the city plant and sweep
ing fire the station could be placed in
use.
AS whole the work of the waterworks
plant for the last year has been most
profitable investment for the city and
they have aided materially in the up
growth of Topeka. Much credit is due
to the superintendent, Jesse Shaw, and
the board of waterworks trustees. c. P. |
C. E. Jewell and F. NJ. Newland. |