The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-25
GREAT MENACE
OF "EcnNnMy"
FELT BY STATE
Lives Of l.500 Insane Are in
Danger at Osawatomie.
Obsolete Equipment Only Pro-
lection Against Fire.
LEGISLATURE KNEW ABOUT IT
But Axe Was Used on Much
Needed Appropriations.
Capper Vetoed Vetoed Bill That
Might Have Helped.
COrrOded Pipes Would Burst
Under Moderate Pressure.
TYPHOID Turks IN SEWERS
Carmichael, Lays Blame for
Epidemic of Fever.
System Not Altered in Last
Twenty Years.
COrrOded Pipes Would Burst
Under Moderate Pressure.
TYPHOID Turks IN SEWERS
Carmichael, Lays Blame for
Epidemic of Fever.
System Not Altered in Last
Twenty Years.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars
worth of property and lives of nearly
1900 men and women are endangered
through inadequate fire protection in
the Osawatonie state hospital for the
insane 1t is all due to pursuit of a
policy Of ECONOMY and efficiency in
legislative appropriations. according to
the biennial report of DR.. F. A. Car
michael, superintendent of the hos
Dital.
Because the legislature has for years
refused to recognize the grave danger
confronting the institution, lives of
many hundreds of helpless men and
women are endangered. The state is
also in constant danger Of losing hun
dreds of thousands of dollars worth
of property. Since the state carries no
insurance on its $2O,00O,00O worth of
property. the Osawatomie property
loss would be thorough.
Told Two Years Ago.
Two years ago Doctor Carmichael
told the legislature of the need of ade-
quate Improvements at Osawatomie
But the legislature was besieged with
special messages from the governor
urging program of strict economy
After prolonged deadlock on apppro-
priation bills. the house and senate
finally agreed On a big cut in the Osa-
watomie hospital and cut out all of
the needed improvements at the To-
fteka state hospital
After the legislature went home,
Governor Capper vetoed an item for
$4,000 for improvements in Osa-
watomie- 1t is possible the water sys-
tenn at Osawatomie might have been
repaired for this sum. OF course there
mas fortunately been no fire at Osa-
Watomie hospital since the legislature
adjourned. Providence has been kind
to the state But Doctor Carmichael.
who is a practical man, does not be-
lieve in looking always to Providence
for safety.
1t Was Emphasized.
In our last biennial report the fact
was emphasized that our fire lines
have been laid approximately thirty
years, says Doctor Carmichael in a
report filed with the state board IF
control They are corroded to an ex-
tent that would make them useless in
case of serious fire, as they would
certainly burst under very moderate
pressure In case of serious fire we
feel that we could not expect servie e
from this poor equipment, and as the
integrity OF our fire protection is de-
pendent upon these fire lines, we
would ask that the appropriation re-
quested for the laying of new lines and
installation of new hydrants he al
lowed"
Inadequate and almost useless fire
which Osawatomie state hospital in
herited from ECONOMY and eff
cheney" 1t drew an epidemic of
Typhoid fever. All because the legisla-
( ture would not support an apprOpria-
ton bill for an adequate sewer system
and the governor cut the $4,000 from
the hospitals appropriation bill.
Sewer System.
"Our sewer system is still unsatis-
factory" says Doctor Carmichael in
reporting conditions in the hospital.
1.-THE same urgent necessity for an APP
preparation for Improvement Of our
sewer system exists as set forth in our
slast biennial report In Apri' and May
of the present year. owing to co2tami-
nation from some source, sewerage or
-otherWise an epidemic of typhoid was
experienced in the institution from
(which fourteen patients and forty two
employees suffered. Prophylactic in
incubation WAS carried on for the en-
tire institution. patients and EN- gloves
.ali-e. We are inclined to consider this
Fepidemic due to the imperfect system
: of sewerage that has never been i'm
proved upon OF altered in any way in
! the last twenty years.