The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-05
Underwriters Recommendation
to City Too Expensive.
Estimated 1t Would Go Over
Million Dollar Mark.
WHAT FIRE MEN WANT
Elaborate New System of Mains
Planned by Them.
More Pumps-A Big Reservoir
RemOdeled Pumping Plant.

It would cost the city of Topeka
thousands of dollars to carry out the
recommendations for the Improvement
of the fire protection in Topeka made
by tie National Board of Fire Under
writer's. 1t is estimated by some that
this amount would run up above the
million dollar mark.
OF course the city does not intend to
carry out all of the elaborate plans
suggested by the underwriters If this
was done it would not be necessary to
carry fire insurance. The business
men could carry a little damaged by
water insurance and let it go at that
But the city officials have recognized
scores of valuable suggestions in the
underwriters report and many of
them will be carried out in the future.
One thing is assured-the city will
have to spend more money on the fire
and water departments next year. The
assertions of the underwriters that
these departments have been looked
upon too conservatively is approved by
many of the city officials and the
heads Of the departments. The trouble
in Topeka, it seems, is that the mu-
nicipal departments have not grown
with the rapid growth of the city.
The Recommendations Made.
Here are some of the recommenda-
tions made to the city by the National
Board of Fire Underwriters:
% Plans and records of the water
department De improved. S6cl1Onal
maps showing the locations of all
mains, hydrants, valves etc. Filing
system for all important records. The
publication and filing Of annual re-
ports.
(2) That the supply works be further
developed to a total capacity of at
least 100000 gallons per day during
the lowest stages of the river If this
is not done, place the pumps at a lower
level Necessary to build a storage
A., q II1~,- -s
capacity filled for reserve suction.
90 That two additional pumps each
of 100000 gallons capacity be in
stalled.
() That the hazardous condition in
the pumping station due to excessive
amounts of combustible material, liv-
ing quarters with the use of gasoline
stove over pump room and the close
proximity of oils, gasoline, waste, etc.
to the boilers be eliminated. House
chief engineer, storing oils, waste, etc,
in separate buildings.
90 Either rebuilding station with fire
proof construction or installing a COM
plete system of automatic sprinklers.
(6) That additional mains be in
stalled giving the residential districts
a minimum supply of at least 1900 gal
Ions a minute. the manufacturing and
minor mercantile districts from 5000 to
$500 gallons a minute and in the prin-
cipal mercantile district 5000 gallons a
minute.
(7) That new mains be built as fol-
lows: (a) Twenty inch main along
Eighth avenue from pumping station
to Kansas avenue. Cb) twelve inch
main along Washington avenue from
Fourth street to Eighth avenue. (c) A
twelve inch main along Twelfth street
from Western avenue to Morris ave-
nue.. cd A twelve inch main along
Mulvane street from HuntOon to Euclid
avenue (e) A twelve inch main along
Euclid avenue from Mulvane street to
Kansas avenue. (f) A twelve inch
main along Quincy street from Fourth
street to Tenth avenue. (g) A ten inch
main along Kansas avenue from end
of Melan bridge to Norris. (h) A ten
inch main along Crane street from
Monroe street to Adams street. ID A
ten inch main along Sixth avenue from
Jefferson street to Washington avenue
ID An eight inch main along Second
street from Jefferson to Branner. (k) !
An eight inch main along Jefferson |
street from Crane to Second street, |
ID An eight inch main along Laurel |
and Greenwood avenues from 1S-inch |
force main to Fifth street.
(8) That additional hydrants be in |
stalled so that there will be in the |
principal mercantile districts, two hy- |
drants at each street intersection and |
one hydrant between street intersection |
or four hydrants at each street inter |
section. In manufacturing and minor |
districts two hydrants at |
each street intersection and one hy- |
7rant between street intersections on |
the lone side Of the block. In the resi- |
Dental sections one hydrant at each |
street intersection and intermediate |
hydrants such that the distance be- |
tween the hydrants will not exceed $50 |
feet.