The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-23
Chief Wilmarth Recommends a
$4,000 Extension.
Wants Addition to Station in
North Topeka.
CISTERN is PROPOSED
Estimate for the Year Amounts
to $67, 4OO.79.
Expenditure in Previous Twelve
Months Was $62,937.

Recommendations for an expendi-
ture of $4,000 to give more adequate
protection from fire in North Topeka
was made in the annual estimate OF
expenses, made public today by Fire
Chief George o. Wilmarth. If his
communications are allowed by the
city commissioners, a fully equipped
addition will be made to fire station
NO. 1. also a new fire cistern will be
built on Eighth street near Kansas
avenue. 1t is proposed to have ca
pacity of 1000 barrels.
Other improvements of minor ma
ture are recommended, including the
purchase of six new horses at total
cost of $1,000 to replace old animals
now in the service.
The estimate for the year, exclusive
of the proposed addition to fire sta
ton No. 1, amounts to $67, 400.79, as
against $50, last year. This is
minimizing expenses when it is con-
sidered that fire station No. has been
added in the last year.
The report in part, follows:
1.-THE nature of the fire service is
such that it is practically impossible
to estimate a years expenses so far
in advance with absolute correctness.
Unlocked for breakage to fire appar-
atus is liable to occur on the way to
and from fires, and men and horses be-
come injured, notwithstanding all the
care that can be exercised.
During the fiscal year ending
March 81, 1910, number of horses
were injured and the number of days
disability of the members of the de-
partment from injuries received in the
discharge of duty or sickness was $50:
''The city as growing rapidly, and
the area and number OF miles OF
streets that the department has to
cover and protect, is large, which
means long runs and continued wear
to apparatus and horses.
aSome of the apparatus needs paint
ing; and a number of the horses will,
bv reason of long service, necessarily
soon have to be replaced.
ct consider the part of the city
north of the river should be provided
with additional fire protection, and
respectfully recommend that pro-
built to the present No 1 station, ana
thae a steam fire engine with horses,
men and full equipment be placed
there; and also that as soon as pos
sible an aerial hook and ladder truck
b. purchased for this station with fuil
equ'pr1eut
ssThe large flour mills, lumber yards
ana other interests located north of
the river necessitate as full and strong
IRE protection as it is possible to give
this district.
Additional mains and steamer by
drants should also be, placed in TINS
district as soon as is practicable.
ssI feel it my duty to recommend that
n new fire cistern of 1900 barrels ca
pacity be constructed on the north SIDE
Of Eighth avenue. to be located moth
of the street car tracks and not more
than 100 feet distant from the east
line of Kansas avenue
INV reason for recommending the
construction of this cistern is, that the
commercial interests involved in this
Immediate district are large, ana
should a serious fire once gain feadway
in any of the larger estaonsnments
between jackson and Quincy streets,
and Seventh and Ninth streets, there
would be very great danger of the ire
snreadipg. which would require full ca
pacity Of every hydrant in the vicinity
as well as an additional volume OF
water.
saThe fire cistern at the intersection
of Sixth and Kansas proved or very
great value at the time OF the burn
ing of the Crawford opera house.
'The approximate cost of this clstern,
together with repairs needed to two
other cisterns would probably be not
far from 81, 200"
TWO estimates are given for an adj
dftion to fire station No. 1, the first
of which is for a two story building
241kx1O9 feet, which would be sufficient
Iv large to accommodate an aerial truck
and would cost $20S19.50. The second
estimate is for a. brick and stone struc-
ture which would accommodate steam
fire engine but not the aerial truck and
would cost 1916.
The cost of maintaining the former
with full equipment for year would
he S1O67475, whereas $4,349.75 would
suffice 20 cover the running expenses of
the latter.