The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-01
Topeka Hotels Did Not Comply
With Fire Escape Laws.
GlenWOOd and National Lose Use
of Number of Rooms.
WILMARTH REPORTS.
Fire Marshal Gives Result of
Most Thorough Inspection.
Other Hotels in City Found De-
ficient in Safety Appliances.

After giving the hotel keepers in
Topeka eight months to equip their
hostelries with fire escapes, fire extin-
guishers. electric gongs and the like,
George o. Wilmarth, fire marshal. has
sent to the state board of health a
list of the hotels in the city which are
still deficient in their compliances with
the state law
This list shows that in Topeka there
are three of the larger hotels which
are still far behind in their attempts
to obey the law and twelve of the
smaller hotels are also on the black
list of the law.
Following the result of the inspec-
ton of Chief Wilmarth and his depu-
ties, the state board of health will this
aftern Don order that a number of
rooms in the Glenwood and National
hotels be closed at once. These rooms
were found to be without rope fire es-
capeS and without the card signs sig
nifying the location of the fire escapes,
the halls, etc.
Upon inspection under charge of
Chief Wilmarth, it was found that all
of the rope fire escapes in the Chester
field We're short and would not reach
to the ground, according to the Speci-
fications in the state Nlaw. Following
the report of the fire chief, the state
board of health will order the ropes
in these rooms heightened at once.
Among the smaller hotels in the city
deficient in some way or other One
hotel was found with the proper gongs,
but at the push of the button not a
gong III the house would ring. This
matter will be remedied at once or
the courts will act
In the other smaller hotels there
were a variety of charges against
them. Some of them failed to have
the warning cards tackled up in the
Railways and in the rooms These
aT>dc inf h.
cation of the fire escapes. Others did
not have the proper fire escape bal
comics and still others were. not
equipped with the proper kind and
number of fire extinguishers
''Have Done Our Duty''-WiImarth.
Chief Wilmarth of the fire department
has been conducting a most thorough
inspection of the hotels over the city.
He has kept two deputy building in
SpectOrS, Captain HanlOn and Davis.
on duty at all times. They have gone
through every room, every hall and
they have tested every fire escape and
ext1nguiSher. 1t has BEEN by far the
most thorough and painstaking inspec-
ton ever conducted by the local of
ficia1s.
I'VE have carried out our inspection
according to the law and we have made
our report to the state board of health
in the same manner" said Fire Marshal
Wilmarth this afternoon. Il have
mailed a copy, of the report to the
board of health. 1t is now up to them
to act-the law provides for this
THE exact conditions are now open
to them for further action and we have
done our duty. If there is a fire and an
accident results there can be no blame
placed on the city. We have done
everything in our power to enforce the
law and we will now wait for any fur
Their orders that might be handed down
to us from + he State.''
The mat r of prosecuting the hotel
keepers fofA.negligence came up early
last summerN but was postponed by the
state in order to give the hotels more
time to comply with the law. 1t was
stated at that time that all of the no.
tells had ordered the proper equipment
but the manufacturers could not make
the deliveries on time.
The matter has now been prolonged
eight months and the city has done its
part in the enforcement Of the state
laws. It is not known Just what the
state will do more than closing the
rooms of the hotels mentioned 1t is
thought that the whole evidence will be
placed in the hands of County Attorney
Schenck who will carry out the penalty
oe Ia