The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-15
kilograms Not Whole
Function of Western
Union Protector Too
Fire. Burglary and Waterman Service of Telegraph Com
pany Protects $20OOO,OOO Worth of Topeka Property
is Electrical Fire, Police and Detective Service

l6CleQ Dy d DuIB1dT alarm, must Close
his plant at certain time, and open
it at a certain time, and during that
time is himself locked out. If he
fails to open or close the doors accord
ing to the schedule which is filed at
the Western Union office, an investi-
CATION is Immediately started.
Has Key to State House.
With the Western Union are de-
posted the keys to the various busi-
ness houses and plants under its pro-
lection. Also there are cards bearing
the signatures of the persons allowed
any of these persons wishes to enter
the store outside the regular hours,
the Western Union sends a watchman
to get the signature of that person,
and the time at which entrance was
made.
The Western Union probably has
the only key to the state house which
is in Topeka, except those in the pos
session Of the custodian and his staff
Among Topeka's ':toilers of the
night"-the men and women who
serve and guard when all the rest of
the city is slumbering peacefully
there are thirty-eight night watchmen
who are all under the watchful care
\ of the Western Union.
These watchmen are posted in the
Industrial and manufacturing plants,
the mills, the shops, the stores and
the big office buildings.
With the development of the bur
glar alarm systems and the sprinklers
which protect against fire, their num-
Der has been reduced, and their duties
curtailed.
Formerly they were policemen and
fire pickets. Now they spend much
of their time sweeping out shops and
offices, and doing other work which
can better be done when the regular
staff is not on duty.
But what good is night watch
man unless you have some way of
checking up on him 2" asked Fox.
service of the Western Union backs
him up.
Check Up ON Watchmen.
Hardly a night passes but the West
ern Union supervising watchmen are
called to check up on some one of the
thirty-eight men who has gone to
sleep on the job or for some other
reason has failed to make his calls.
Most of the thirty-eig are re-
quired to signal to the Western Union
from a different portion of the build
ing at least once an hour. Just on the
hour and near it, their calls come in
at the rate of six a minute.
Just as the SentrieS of the old army
used to send their musical and mourn
full call from their various posts
Post No. 8, two o'clock and alPs
WELL" and the officer of the guard,
listening to the call coming from the
entire series of sentries rolled over
for another pounding of his ear, so
the sentries of the industrial army of
Topeka report each hour by electricity
to the "officer of the guard" at the
Western Union office.
Two men check the calls of the
watchmen. Before them are printed
schedules, showing the times and
from what boxes or stations. the
watchmen are due to make their calls.
A certain period, from five to fifteen
minutes, is given as grace" for each
Waterman by his employer. If the
Waterman does not make his call
within that period, Western Union
man goes post haste to see what is
the matter. Only last week one of
the watchmen was found in a faint by
a Western Union man. More than
one Waterman has been found dis
abled or unconscious after fall, when
the Western Union, not getting his
call, went to investigate.
No, kilograms and messenger serv-
fee are not the only functions of the
Western Union, by quite a good deal.
Fox estimates that some twenty mil
lion dollars worth of Topeka property
is protected from fire. or theft, or
other mischance by the electrical po-
lice and fire and detective service
which centers at the tall switchboard
under Joseph Mathews eye.