The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-04
MY, HOW FUSSY!
Underwriters Pick Flaws in
Water Department.
Say That the Service Here Is
Inadequate.
NOT ENOUGH PUMPS
And Also Shortage of Water,
They Say.
Compliment Fire Department,
lSut That Is All.

A severe jolt has been given to the
| city water department by the National
Board of Fire Underwriters. In a re-
port just issued after a thorough in
spection of the fire hazards in Topeka,
it is charged that the water department
under superintendent Shaw and Com
missioner Miller Is too conservative for
the growth of the city. 1t is charged,
also, that the records are incomplets
and poorly kept. It is said that the
pumping records are loosely filed and
that the system is lacking maps.
But this isn't all. The underwriters
claim that there is an inadequate we
ter supply in Topeka in the driest
periods They say the pumping ca
pacity is insufficient ana that the
are high but poorly maintained under
fire draft is another charge against the
water department.
On the other side CT the fence is TIE
management of the fire department.
The report of the underwriters. severe
as it is, compliments Chief Wilmarth
and his organization. It says the men
are full paid and under satisfa ctor :
supervision. The responses to alarmz
are prompt and well arranged. The fiji 3
methods are good and the records are
well kept.
On the other hand the underwriters
criticise the city by showing that thu
fire stations are undermanned, that the
financial support is weak, that the
equipment is not up to size of the city
and that more money should be spert
for fire purposes.
Another fling is taken at the city in
the report when it says that the fire
alarm system is in g. nonflreproof
building ceriously exposed. 1t says
much alarm apparatus is lacking 1t
says the circuits are poorly installed
and poorly protected and the tests are
lnfrequent; The boxes are feirIy we'll
distributed except in outlying sections,
general inconspicuous with keys most
ly detached
In summing up the entire fire protec-
ton in Topeka the underwriters say the
water supply is inadequate; well ca
pacity too small and too few pumps:
required fire flow not available at good
pressure in high value districts fire
department fairly efficient but under
manned; fire alarm system inadequate
and unreliable.
In summing UP the conffagration haz-
ard the report states that in the prin-
cipal mercantile district the construc-
ton IS weak and that sufficient water
supply IS not available at effective pres
sures 1t says the fire department is
efficient but not equipped for serious
fires. The wide streets, it says, should
ordinarily confre a fire to the block of
origin Ms nufaoturing piants are iso-
lated or have good private fire pro-
tect1cn. Residential sections present the
hazard OF flying brands on shing1e roofs.
In the building department the report
says the laws are seriously deficient
1t says the fire marshal and his assist
ing firemen are not endowed with
enough time and experience for the
work. A department should be created.
The underwriters say the Santa Fe
shops have good private fire protection
and the plant is well protected.
In speaking of the explosive and in
hammable laws the report seys the To-
peka features are good. It speaks of
The fireworks and explosive sections.
But a criticism is made that no one is
responsible for the enforcement of the
laws.
In some respects the report is sur
prise to the city officials of Topeka
1t is a surprise in that it heaps criti-
cism upon the water department and
picks out scores of weak points in con-
nection with the system. Topeka al
ways has boasted of one of the best
With a report of this kind on the To
peka department, what the under
writer's Will do to other cities is a mat
ter of conjecture.
The report was appreciated in that
it complimented Chief Wilmarth in
his efficient control of the fire depart
ment. Mr.. Wilmarth is a veteran fire
fighter and his value to the city al
ways has been appreciated. But the
city should spend more money on ap-
paratus and new headquarters fire
station This was recommended by
Mayor Billiard some time ago.
No one expected the report of the
underwater to paint a pretty picture
of conditions in Topeka. They are not
hunting for those features They
make their inspections with the idea
of finding the weak points of a city's
fire protection. In other cities the re-
ports are much more severe than in
Topeka