The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-16
Inspection of State Heating
Apparatus Ended in Riot.
Three Officials Forced to Flee
From Big Conduit.
IMMENSE STEAM PIPE LEAKED
Escaping VapOr Caught Men
Far From an Exit.
Davis. Sessions and AkerS Re-
fuse an Investigation.

Three state officials almost lost
| their lives today-or thought they did
| when they conducted an investiga-
ton of the new heat and light tunnel,
from the state heating plant to the
state house. The tunnel was complet-
ed this week and was turned over to
the state for approval. State Auditor
Davis, State Treasurer Akers, and
Secretary of State Sessions started to
conduct an investigation of the work.
But they never finished the job-and
solemnly swear they never will
The heat and light tunnel is sup
posed to be a model. Perhaps it is
Maybe it is not. All the state officers
know is that the big hole in the
ground is filled with pipes and wires
and conduitS and that there are pud-
dies of mud and water that are knee
deep ard that the big hole is not a
proper place to spend a half holiday
without first purchasing extra life in
Surance.
But until today the state officers
didn't know these facts. When they
were told that the new tunnel was
completed and only awaited an off
cial approval, they willingly consented
to make an investigation. They want
ed to know, among other things, if
the heat mains really held the steam
and hot air and were safe and sound.
This afternoon the three officials are
ready to aScribe to affidavitS that the
pipes are a menace to human life.
1t was after the auditor, treasurer
and secretary of state had taken a one
candle power lantern in their hands
and timidly felt their way to about the
center of the tunnel that things began
to happen. They were making an eX
cellent investigation and were tapping
the pipes with hammers and wrenches
when suddenly there was a roar that
sounded like the blowing up of the
Maine. The three officials jumped to
their feet to find that they were COM
p1etely lost in a cloud of steam that
filled the tunnel and made the big hole
in the ground as uncomfortable as
furnace.
Some one away down at the end of
the tunnel yelled. The state officials
didn't know whether it was a fire alarm
or a shout of joy over the winning of a
baseball game. All the three officials
were thinking of at that particular
minute was the best and quickest way
out. Auditor Davis stepped in mud
puddle and Secretary of State Sessions
fell over him. Further down the tun-
mel State Treasurer Akers was break
ing the speed records for the outlet.
when he collided with the concrete wall
of the tunnel and was compelled to lay
out for breath. 1t was possibly just a
few seconds until the three officials
reached the outlet and fresh air-but
it seemed an hour.
mo, sir, I won't go back Sessions
told Governor Hodges.
It's really the state architects job
to investigate the tunnel" pleaded Da-
Wis.
No matter whose job it is, I'm not
going in there again. vowed Akers, as
he rubbed the mud off his trousers.
And so, the new heat tunnel isn't ap-
proved yet.
The trouble today was due to the
leaky condition of the heat mains
which permitted the escape of steam
and for a few seconds convinced the
members of the sta te executive council
that they would never reach the state
house alive.