The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-16

ROAl1CA1 IC88OH0s OX8nl1o9nA6 II OAAA SAsO
department are not made except for
neglect OF duty. inef1ciency. intoxica-
ton, or violation Of the established
rules and regulations governing the
department.
THE rules require that any person
to be eligible to appointment as q
member of the department shall have
been q resident Of Topeka for a period
OF one year next prior to the date OF
his application: must pass an examfna-
as to his qualifications and practical
fitness for the service: must be be-
tween the ages Of FL and 80 and
equal to the prescribed standard as to
height. weight, and soundness OF
physical condition. He must be of
good moral character and Of temperate
and industrious habits. All appli-
cants are required to pass a thorough
physical examination by the depart
ment physician"
Six Were Injured.
During the year six members were
il jured in the discharge of their
duties. Only one was seriously hurt.
One or two of the fire department
horses have about reached the limit of
their usefulness in drawing equipment
to fires and in all probability will be
replaced by others during the year.
Four horses were condemned and sold
last year. There are fourteen horses
in the department.
The number Of horses was reduced
by the purchase of a motor tractor to
pull the Is foot "Babcock" aerial
truck at headquarters.
The report says that the water pres
sure at all fires which occurred dur
ing the year was satisfactory.
Sparks on shingle. roofs caused
twenty-nine fires. Careless is listed
as the next most frequent cause of
fires. There were twenty-five false
Ruv MT
caused the same number of runs by
the fire department. Bonffres and burn
ing rubbish are blamed for twenty
fouT calls. electric wires for twelve.
and eleven fires are given as of in
cendiary origin.
Receipts for building permits and
from the sale of WORKOUT equipment
amounted to $5O5.19.
The amount of funds in the hands
OF the city treasurer to the credit OF
the Firemen's Relief association De-
cember 1. 1914, was $8.O37.22. OF
the $4,000 of the funds of the asso-
citation which was invested in general
improvement bonds of the city of To-
peka in 1911 $4,000 matured during
the year 1912, and like amounts in
1913 and 1914. These amounts re-
verted back to the funds in the hands
of the city treasurer and leaves ST.
500 of the $25, 200 invested in 1911 not
and in November $2,5 of the funds
Of the association was invested in gen.
eral improvement bonds Of Topeka,
drawing 4 " per cent interest. The
81, 500 invested in November matured
in 1914. The total amount invested
in bonds at present and not yet ma
tured is $26, 500.
For Firemen's Relief.
The Firemen's, Relief association
carries accident insurance of $500 on
each member, payable in cash at
death resulting from accident, and a
weekly indemnity of IS during the dis
ability of a member caused by injuries
received. A city ordinance also pro-
vides that upon the death Of q MEM
Der, If killed in the discharge Of his
duties as a fireman, the widow, or
those dependent upon such member,
shall receive as beneficiaries from the
funds Of the association 500 to-
gether with 500 for funeral expenses.
One death, that of the late Chief
Wilmarth, occurred during the year
from disease contracted in the dis
charge of his duties as chief.
state law and a city ordinance
provides that members of the depart
ment who become unfit for further
service, after having served for q per-
iOd of twenty years or more, shall be
pensioned. the pension to be paid
monthly from the funds of the assO-
citation in an amount equal to one
half of the monthly salary received
by the member at the date of his re-
irement. There are now three men,
bers on the pension list.