The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-08

perienced and will serve the people il
this district in an excellent manner.
| said Chief Wilmarth in speaking of thu
| appointments this morning. Consider
| ing the new homes. the large number
| of people residing here and the i'm
| mense amount of property In the santa
| Re interests it is important that the
| company be experienced and well train
| ed In making these promotions have
| looked out for this and I am proud OF
| the men m sending to station No. 6.
Lucas Is Promoted.
| Chief Wilmarth has appointed to fill
| the position vacated by Goodrich, Fred
o. Lucas. driver of hose company No.
2. Lucas has been in the fire service
IL Topeka six years and is a valuable
and well liked man in the department
His promotion to the ieutenancy in
headquarters station comes as a re-
ward of merit and duty. Chief Will
15iarth has also advanced w. W. Woody
and E. H. Davis to first and second
truckman on the aerial truck under
Captain Hanlon.
The district to be covered by the
company from Station No. and their
new fine piece of apparatus, a cOmbina-
ton chemical and hose wagon designed
by Chief Wiimarth, is one of the most
important in the city. 1t is in grow
ing and prosperous part of the city just
east of the Santa Fe shops 1t also in
cludes the shops themselves, which are
an immense industry representing hum
dreds of thousands of dollars. Chief
Wilmarth believes in giving this dis
trict company as thorough and
trained as any company in the city.
1T want the Santa Fee workmen to feel
safe in their homes and I want to en-
courage them in the upbuilding and the
improvement of their part of the city,
said Chief Wilmarth this morning.
In responding to the alarms from the
Santa F'e shops the work will be divid
ed between companies No. and No. 6.
These companies are on each side OF
the shop district For a long time NO
was required to respond as on a still
from all Santa Fe boxes in that dis
trict. Hereafter they will respond on
still from certain boxes-the remain
ing calls will be answered by No. 6. Of
course, in the case of a serious or
threatening fire the captain in charge
will give a regular first alarm over the |
city fire alarm system which will call |
additional companies Companies from
No. and No. 6 will assist, also, the |
work of the Santa F'e local fire depart |
ment in the shops.
All of the men in the Topeka fire de- |
pa rtment-which is considered one or
the best disciplined and the cleanest in |
the country-are under civil service
rules and regulations. The promotions |
and appointments are made solely on |
merit and fitness and no one is taken |
into the department until he has passed |
a thorough mental and physical eX-
is between the ages of 25 |
and SO, is at least feet and 9 inches |
in height. not less than $50 pounds In |
weight with good moral temperaments |
and Industrious habits. He must be of |
sound body and health, read and write |
the English language and possess prac- |
teal fitness to the satisfaction of Chief |
Wilmarth, who is a good and severe |
Judge of firemen material.
The new station on the East side will |
be opened and ready for business rs |
soon as the collar and names for the |
horses arrive from Kansas City. where |
they are being made The patents on
the names and the most precise work
make it necessary to get the |
names in that city and on account of
strike of the harness makers at this
time the chief has been waiting with
anxiety for the arrival of the harness.
The apparatus is in shape, the horses
ire ready, the men have been appointed
and everything is in readiness for the
opening of the new station 1t viii be
me of the neatest and most important |
stations in the city and is a credit TO
he fire department