The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-18
STATE FEARS FIRE
Executive Council Recalls
Lansing Prison Blaze.
Will Improve Conditions in the
State House.
REMOVE DEFECTIVE WIRING
Spend $4,000 to Improve Con-
ditiOns at Capitol.
Governor Hodges Says States
Property Is in Danger.

Fearful that the state house might
be the scene of a repetition of the
Lansing penitentiary fire of last Sat
urday the executive council Will al
once begin the work of replacing prac-
tically every foot of the electrical WIZ
ing now in the state house and VIII
rebuild the heat and light tunnels lead
ing to the state heating plant About
$4,000 will be spent to improve safety
conditions in the state house ana TO
safeguard the building against possible
damage by fire.
In many parts of the state house the
electrical wiring is in bad condltlon-
This condition is specially true IN the
sub basement and east wing or the
building For several years the neceS-
sity of improved electrical wiring has
been urged and recommended, but the
observation-disclosures reticent In the
matter of Topeka appropriations nave
gone home without taking action IN
an urgent appeal for enough money 10
replace the almost worthless heat and
light tunnels, the recent body of law
makers was duced to set aside
enough money to do the work. State
Architect Chandler has practically com
pleted his plans for the Improvement
and work will start as soon as the
contracts are let.
Fire Danger Is Grave.
house for years made the danger from
fire most serious. The east wing of
the building erected years ago, in
the days when the art of fire-proofing
was unknown. The remaining three
wings of the building are practically
fireproof Yet a fire il the east wing
of the capitol building would mean
that thousands of dollars damage
would be done in the entire structure.
Smoke would practically ruin the
marble walls of the building and there
is little to prevent a fire eating its
way into the historical society on the
fourth floor of the building.
1t is with a realization of these con-
ditions that work on the needed re-
pairs will be FASTENED.
Not only will the executive council
install new electric wiring, but will
light tunnel from the state house to
the state heating plant. The present
tunnel is in bad condition. Electric
wires, encased in a light coat of lead
are laid directly on top of the rows
of leaky heat mains. This condition
has caused the lead surrounding the
electric wires to melt and the state
house has been in constant danger of
being shut off from it's light supply.
Yet not until this year was money
available to improve this condition.
Plans for the new tunnel call for a
waterproof structure through which a
man may walk and make daily inSpec-
lions of the heat and light mains. In
addition to ordering a larger tunnel,
the Executive council will decree that
the electric light cables and the heat
mains shall be laid entirely separate
and that every possibility of future
trouble shall be removed.
Governor Hodges Sounds Warming.
Not only the state house, but the
executive mansion and the school for |
the deaf at Olathe are in constant
danger from fire, according to Cover |
nor George H. Hodges.
Some day" said Governor Hodges
as he watched the fire at the Lansing |