The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-14
FINE FIRE RECORD
Loss in Last Nine Months in To.
peka Only $2S, 4OS.O5.
In Last 90 Years Total Loss
Was 81, 42S,9O2
CHIEF is PLEASED.
Wllmarth Compliments His Men
ami Their Officers.
First Fire Report Under Com.
mission Form Rule.

The fire loss in the city of Topeks
for the last 20 years, ending Dec. 81,
1910, amounts to $1,429,9O2. The
value of the property under risk in
these fires has been placed at $16,-
636,162. The insurance involved
reaches near the ten million mark In
these 20 years 3,495 fire alarms were
turned in to the stations in Topeka.
Figures on this marvellous record in
Topeka, which can hardly be equaIed
by any city this size in the country,
nave just been compiled by G.. o. Will
marth, chief of the fire department.
Chief Wilmarth has completed his an
nual report to the city commissioners
on the condition of the fire and build
ing departments under his supervision.
This report covers the work of the
fire department under the last nine
government-from April. 1910. until
December, 1910. Including in his fig
ures Chief Wilmarth has taken a few
figures for the showing made by the
department in their last twenty years
of work under his administration as
chief and fire marshal
Work of the Department
The Topeka fire department is COM
posed of 81 uniformed officers and
men, divided into ten companies, sta
toned in six stations over the city.
The equipment comprises four hose
wagons, two combination hose and
chemical wagons, two chemical en-
gines, two hook and ladder trucks and
two steam engines.
In commenting on the excellent
showing made by his men, Chief VIII
marth says: THE discipline has been
excellent and / commend every officer
and member for faithful and thorough
efficiency in which they have under all
circumstances performed every duty
devolving upon them
In making his report for the last
nine months of service, ending Deem
Der, 1910, Chief Wilmarth reports 191
alarms in that time or a gain of 35
over the year 1909. The fire loss in
the last nine months amounted to
$2S,47S.05. This is one of the smallest
fire loss records in the history of the
city-despite the large number of
alarms and the value of the property
involved.
Actual Fire Loss Was Small.
The insurance on the endangered
property was $233,S45, of which 500
loss of only $3.50. The value of the
involved properly was $537,15O.
The loss on fires each month as
follows: April. s3,2O5.96; May. $12,-
gust, $505; September, $579.20; Octo-
Der, S1,65S.O9: November, $1,144.75;
December, $2,741.45.4
1t will be seen that the largest
loss amounted to more than $1,000.
April followed with a little over
$4,000.
These records are surprise to the
city officials and will come as welcome
news to the insurance companies in
the city. A fire loss of less than $4,000
a year to a city of 900 people is a
credit to its efficient fire department.
Fires From Many Causes.
The causes of the fires were varied.
The unknown list leads them all with
80. A few of the more well known
fire causes follow: Bone fires and
rubbish, %; accidental, 10; children
and matches, 13; electric wires. 13;
false alarms, II; spontaneous combus-
ton, 8; SCOT on roof, q; sparks on
roof, I; defective flue, z; gasoline. 8;
gas stoves and open CRATES. 6; incen-
diary, 6; chimney fires, s.; careless
ness, 5, and kettle fires. 5.
The pay roll for the last nine months
amounted to s4s.617.76 and the current
expenses were $5,390.21. The total ex-
penses for the nine months were $52,-
594.42.
The value of the fire department
property is $107, 731.42. This was shown
in detail in the State Journal a few
days ago. The real estate sites are
worth $4s,740.
Many Hydrants in Use.
The fire department has 500 fire
hydrants, 80 of which are for the use
of steamers-or the 6-inch variety. The
remaining hydrants are of the 4-inch
kind. Chief Wilmarth states that the
fire pressure has been satisfactory at
all times.
Five members of the department
were injured in the last nine months
one of them seriously. There are "a
horses in the service. The department
owns nearly 5000 feet of hose. OF this
number $3.50 is 21k inch hose 100 feet
of 31z inch hose, 1000 feet of chemical
hose, and 1890 feet of 21s inch boss
which has been in service for some
time.
The alarm system is supported by 81
miles of telegraph lines, 81 alarm
boxes, and IA circuit repeaters. and
electric gongs, indicators, etc.
The number of the building permits
for the last nine months are 495. The
cost of the buildings called for is
nearly a million and half dollars.
More than a half hundred of these per
mits called for stone, brick and cement
business buildings.