The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-08-28
new BUILDING Law
Ordinance Is Being Prepared by
Fire Chief HanlOn.
Present One Has Been in Oper-
alton 20 Years.

Topeka is to have new building or
dinance. 1t has been twenty-nipe
wear since the city adopted the ordi-
nance under which the construction
of buildings is now regulated I'M
proved construction methodS anu Inc Inc
changed conditions due TO the grown
of the city call for a revision OF lh9
old ordinance.
Rut while twenty-nine years have
elapsed since the city adopted pulio-
ing ordinance, one should not De mis-
led into believing that no changes
were enforced during that time. The
late George o. Wilmarth was chlet OF
the fire department and building IN
spector for nearly twenty-elght OF
these twenty-nine years, ana althousii
neither the city council, nor the CITY
commission which succeeded the coun-
Gil ever made any changes in the
ordinance, the old chief did.
Whatever Chief Wilmarth thought
should be in a building ordinance ne
INCORPORATED in the old one without as
sistance of the other city officials.
Chief Joseph Hanlon has copy OF
the old ordinance which Chief Will
narth usually carried with him. There
are on an average three hand-Wrltten
lines in red ink between each pair OF
the printed lines. These amendments
and additions reveal an interesting
story of the growth of the city as al
most every one was written to meet
some emergency.
And the old chiefs red ink amend
ments were just as effective as the en-
acted clauses of the old ordinance, for
interested persons found it easier to
comply with Chief Wilmarth's courte-
Gus insistence than to oppose his
wishes.
For several weeks Chief Hanlon and
Joseph Waidelich, assistant chief, have
been working on new building ord1-
nance. They have studied building or
dinances of many other cities and have
selected what they believe to be the
best from each of them In a few days
they will have the ordinance ready to
be presented for passage by the city
commiSsiO 81
Provide For Inspection.
The new ordinance will provide for
inspection of all buildings to be erect
ed in Topeka. Rules Tor the manner
in which they shall be built will be en-
acted with a view to safety and fire
prevention. In case of a disagreement
between Chief Hanlon and the owner
of building, involving $1,000 or
more. the owner can appeal to a bulld-
ing commission of which the chief
will be the head and on which the
owner will be permitted voice The
owner will have to pay the costs OF
an appeal to this board
Among new things provided for in
this ordinance will be a requirement
that school buildings be equipped with
fire alarm systems connecting the
rooms Safeguards for theaters will
also be insisted upon. The width of
aisles. the amount of slope in inclined
floors, and court exits will be de-
maj ded and occupants or tenants OF
buildings in which theaterS are located
will be restricted to reduce fire haz-
ards.
The quantity and quality of material
and method of construction of all
buildings will be described and the
fire chief will have authority to stop
construction work not conforming to
the ordinance. No single frame
building will be permitted to house
more than four families.
Provision is made against obstruct-
ing streets lille buildings are under
construction or being torn down. After
walls have arisen ten feet roof must
be put over the sidewalk. One-third
of the street may be used for storing
materials, provided a sidewalk is
erected through or around the OBJ
struction, and there must be space of