The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-25
STORMS DAMAGE
1t Was More Severe Than First
Anticipated.
Telephone Co. Suffered $50, 900
Loss i'm Topeka District.

- The damage done by the recent
sleet storm In Kansas is being found
to be more severe than was at first
anticipated. The bill for repairs will
be in the hundreds of thousands Of
dollars. Telephone. telegraph. street
railway and railway concerns sus-
tanned the greatest losses. The Bell
Telephone company was particularly
hard hit, and the damage was most
pronounced in the Topeka district.
While 1t Is impossible to make more
than a rough estimate of the cost of
putting the lines in this district in
normal condition It is expected that
an expenditure of approximately $780,
900 will be necessftated. 1t will be
week before all lines are working in
good order.
The Topeka district of the Bell
company extends as far east az Le-
compton. as far north as Horton, west
to Salina, and south to Usage City. 1t
was known this morning that there
were Ss1 poles down in the district.
and 1t is anticipated that it will be
found that the total number is twice
that figure. When it is considered
that each pole costs $3.50 to replace,
pair cost assumes no small magnitude.
20 Telephone Ldnemen at Work.
A force of 20 men is at work in the
district in the effort to restore service
in record time. In fact all available
wire men have been pressed into the
work. Up to this morning there was
but one Of Is circuits between Topeka
there was still no connection with
western points. It was possible to
communicate with Perry, Lawrence
and Stull
The repair gangs have had to work
under difficulties. The roads. espe-
cially those north of Topeka, are re-
ported to be in bad condition: in
such shape in fact, that 1t has been
necessary for repair men with teams
to cut fences and drive through fields
Men have been out on horseback
along the lines In order to save time.
Their job has been to find out what
repairs were required.
A. J. Mackey. manager OF the local
office, stated today that the damage
done by the storm was the most Sc
we're ever sustained N the Topeka dis
trict. The storm seemed to center
here. for the havoc wrought else
where in the state is said not to be SO
great.
NO Wires Can Stand Sleet-
It is impossible to build lines that
will stand the strain under adverse
weather conditions, it is claimed.
Either the pole or the wire is bound
to snap when the wires are heavily
loaded with ice and there Is a stiff
wind blowing.
1t is possible by measuring the re-
sistence OF the wires from the To-
peka office to tell at least within a
quarter Of a mile of where there il a
break in the line. This has facilitated
the work to a great extent.
It Is hoped by late today to have
service to Wamego.
From Over the State.
1t is reported from Junction City
that the damage done by the storm
will aggregate $4,000. 1t is stated
that the loss at Salina to the tele-
phone company alone will be nearly
$4,000. The loss at Abilene is estf-
mated at $4,000.
The loss sustained by the railroads
was heavy. 1t win be some time be-
fore the damage to the wires Is fully
repaired. The Santa Fe restored SER
vice more quickly than the other
lines, due probably to the fact that
the company anticipated trouble
when the storm first broke and or
dered repair gangs to points from
which they could rush to the places
where the damage might be done
This was due to the foresight of L
NJ Jones Of the telegraph department.