The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-22

! came to the old Harrison street plant
/ a four-miIlion gallon pump was do
/ ing the bulk of the work. ZollingeI
/ fell in love with her. When the city
purchased the plant and before when
+! the old company moved out on tne
| river, Zollinger was true to his firsi
Iove-he moved the pump out with
him.
Morris Zollinger is of sturdy Ger
man ancestry. He was born In Ger
many, but was brought to America
when only a few years old Zollinger'
with four brothers, served through
the Civil war-one brother, CharleS'
took considerable honor as an oril-
Ger and was given recognition by the
nations heads And later he was
MAYOR of Fort Wayne, Ind, for as
many years as he cared to stay in
office. Before he died he had been
prevailed upon to get into the race
for governor.
Was a Locomotive Engineer
Topeka's Zollinger, after serving IN
the war, worked for the fennsylNai.iia
railroad and was made a locomotive
engineer before he resigned. He was
made helper at the Fort wayne
pumps and was promoted rapidly TO
the position of chief engineer. he
assisted in installing the big Chicago
humps before he came to Topeka.
ZolIihger was called to Topeka in
Nav. 1887. by Joao Mulvane, who owned
controlling interest in the old water
works company at that time he ar
rived May % and that day took charge
of the Harrison street plant. Five years
later the plant was moved to its pres
ent location and ZollinSer went Win
it When the city purchased the Water~
works, they purchased Morris Zollinger
he was the most important asset IN
the purchase.
Chief Engineer Zollinger, however, is
70 n d. he hnnOrS
successful operation of the waterworks
i'm the last twenty-five years. In the
first place he says his wife had more
to do with it than he did-a loVable
woman always with her husband in his
work. living above the plant with him
and keeping him company when it is
necessary for him to be on duty ct
night.
In the second place. Zollinger does
not want Topeka tn forget John Han
son, assistant chief engineer. Han
son came to Topeka in the waterworks
business thirty years ago-five years
before Chief Engineer Zollinger ar
rived In 1882 Hanson began his career
with the Topeka water supply.
Dependable Water System.
In his administration, Zollinger has
given Topeka the most dependable wal
er service of any city in the South
west Last summer when every city
was curbing the use of water, when
sprinkling in many cities was prohibit
ed and when it was necessary to carry
drinking water in barrels that there
would be fire protection, Topeka was
never forced to reduce sprinkling hours
or worry over crippled fire service. To-
peka has needed new pumps for some
time and the city has needed more
fire steamers rather than depend on
the pounding fire pressure" but Zol-
linger always has kept the engines run
ming smoothly and the pressure high
on the dial.
"A mighty competent, Woodworking,
dependable man. said Superintendent
Shaw. A man who has done wonders
for the department and who has been
an invaluable assistance in our work."
commented Commissioner Miller.
Everyone has good word to say about
Morris ]. 'Zollinger-and his wife.
When Chief Engineer Zoilinger is not
down in the pit crawling among the
wheels and va lVess-i1e is standing on the
deck in the engine room looking down
at the pump he has nursed for twenty
five years. He watche5 every revolt
ton of the big wheel as it forces its
millions of gallons of water through
the mains to Topeka households each
day; he listens tC every plump ami
swish of the engines action and when
you slip up behind him and ask a cues
ton his answer always is:
Amt she a beauty-listen to her
and say-do you suppose she will live
longer than I will?'