Alarms, Night Watchmen Battle Fire Hazards at KU
By SHELLY LONDON Kansan Staff Writer
A complex system of alarms, night watchmen and a hotline between the Traffic and Security Office and the Lawrence Fire Department protects University of Kansas students, buildings and buildings.
"It is difficult to say that any university if 100 per cent protected," said Russell Collins, deputy chief fire marshal of the Kansas State Fire Marshal's office in Topeka.
However, he said KU's protection was, on the average, comparable to other universities.
Some said an state buildings were inspected by the state fire marshal's office at least once a year, but said the office would inspect them more often upon request.
THE FOUR inspectors look for anything that constitutes a fire hazard or a structural hazard,
When the inspectors see a hazard, they ask that the institution comply with requests for immergency help.
"We can take measures, but normally we don't have to," he said.
R. L. Perkins, maintenance engineer, said about
30 per cent of KU's buildings were covered by some fire alarm system.
Most of the older buildings do not have alarm systems, unless they were installed after the buildings were built. The newer buildings, however, may be equipped with alarm systems in mind, said D.H. Mile, supervisor of utilities.
Designed according to the state fire codes, the new buildings were constructed to be as fireproof as possible.
ACCORDING TO R. Keith Lawton, director of facilities, planning and operations, most alarms are of the local type. Designed primarily to get people out of the buildings, according to Lawton, these alarms include the typical wall-mounted red box with the small glass window.
In academic buildings, hazards exist when buildings are unoccupied, Lawton said. To offset the danger, night watchmen patrol the buildings, he said.
Required to log in at certain times, the watchmen have their schedules adjusted and reguired regularly to insure maximum building protection, according to Lawton.
Many budding fires have been put out immediately because of the night watchman system.
IN BUILDINGS that house goods of irreplaceable value, more sophisticated fire alarm systems are employed. Sepncer Library which contains rare and valuable records of the history of rate rielers and fusible link fire dampers.
Lawton said. KU could use more watchmen, but the system is working very well, he said.
These systems are tied directly to the Traffic and
Security Office, which alerts the Lawrence Fire Dept.
and Sheriff's Office.
At the same time, the Traffic and Security office arranges for necessary roadblocks and contacts with emergency services to prevent the spreading of the fire through air ducts, said Harry Buchholz, the fire control officer.
In only three minutes, trucks from the downtown branch of the fire department can reach the campus, Buchholz said. KU also has rapid access to all three Lawrence fire departments he said.
In buildings where the alarm system is not tied to Traffic and Security, an individual can report a fire to either Traffic and Security or directly to the Lawrence Fire Department. If the person calls Traffic and Security, the automatic call list will go into effect.
In regard to the number of fires at KU, Lawton
had ordered a record for the age, and complexity of the cases.
The last major fire to hit KU took place April 20,
17, at the Union in the wake of national student aid.
Causing almost $2 million damage, the fire was presumed to be set by an inocent device, Lawton
The fire completely destroyed the Pine and English rooms, and partially damaged much of the school.
The fire started in a top floor restroom, and was sensed by fire protection equipment in four or five minutes, according to Lawton. He said that within 15 minutes the fire department had arrived.
IN ADDITION to 30 firemen, students responded by carrying out more than $80,000 worth of arf.
Before the Union fire, the last fire at KU curred at Spooner Hall, about 15 years ago, Lawton said. Caused by a failure in electrical relay equipment in the air conditioning system in a classroom, the fire started while class was in session.
As a result of the fire, it was necessary to repaint and to replace floor coverings, Lawton said.
AT K-STATE, fire protection includes a seven-man student fire department. The students receive $1.60 an hour for three hours of duty the three nights they are on call each week.
Armed with protective clothing, the students fight
and drive the vehicle around an amphibian pumper,
and a vehicle which carries ladder
Unable to combat major fires, the students are Bonehacks, director of the physical plant. Case A. Bonehacks.
In case of a major fire, K-State depends on the Manhattan Fire Department. However, the students can move their equipment to the scene of an accident or to the front in front of fire department trucks, Bonebrake said.
A student fire department is not needed at KU, Lawton said. Considering the sophistication of equipment, the technological training, and the proximity in time and distance of the Lawrence Fire Department, he said, a student fire department would be superfluous.
A LITTLE WARMER
83rd Year, No. 41
The University of Kansas—Lawrence, Kansas
Tuesday, October 24, 1972
Local Color Marks Maple Festival
See story page 5
Nixon Vows To Withhold, Veto Funds
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. (AP)—President Nixon parachuted his re-election campaign through crowds in a dozen affluent New suburbs Monday, promising to balk at a "congressional spending spree" with vetoes and withholding of funds.
For three and one-half hours on a mild Veterans Day afternoon, the President's motorcade toured a solidly Republican white-collar area.
As he started his quest in friendly territory for the 41 New York electoral districts, he would have vetoed a number of bills passed by the just-adjourned Congress and would withhold appropriations to keep federal spending this fiscal year close to $250
Monday's strenuous 10 hours of politicking followed Nixon's morning meeting with his top economic advisers to discuss the importance of holding federal palettes to $290 billion.
AFTER CITING gains in production and employment and a decline in the rate of inflation, Nixon said, "This clear pocketbook progress is threatened by the recent congressional spending spree in which the federal budget was ballooned dangerously by big spenders oblivious to higher prices and higher taxes."
But, Nixon said, "I am going to use every weapon at my command to hold spending as close as possible to $2.0 billion so that we will not have a new wave of crippling inflation and there will be no need for higher taxes."
NIXON SAID he has more than 100 measures on his desk "which the Congress jammed through 'at the same time I was in quest for a $250-billion spending ceiling."
Kansan Staff Photo by T. DEAN CAPLE
Spiro Agnew Greets Crowd at KCI Saves airport shows American tradition of progress
New Kansas City Airport a Tribute To Vision of Future, Agnew Says
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The new Kansas City International Airport (KCI) is a tribute to the foresight and u. vision of a better future of the people of Kansas City, spent in Spring T. Agnew said in a speech Monday at the dedication of the new airport.
Agnew, speaking to a crowd of approximately 6,500, the airport con-
See related story page 6
Agnew said the airport was an outstanding synthesis of cooperation, environmental concern, efficiency and innovativeness.
tinned the "American tradition of progress."
"President Nixon shares your vision of America's progressing through aviation," Mr. Sacklin wrote.
"THIS IS an airport planned with the needs of human beings in mind. This installation is geared to the concept of a future society that has been spared to accomplish that purpose.
"You can, indeed, be proud of this great facility—the largest airport in the United States. It is but a part of the multi-billion dollar development program in Kansas City, which is 75 per cent privately financed.
"Bellieve me, ladies and gentlemen, that is a great proof that in the heartland of America, free enterprise is alive and well and thriving."
AGNEW SAID the Nixon administration had played an important role in the development of advanced airports such as KCI. He said that under the Airport and Airway development Act of 1970, $250 million per year for fiscal years 1971 through 1975 would go to development of airports such as KCI.
"The total of 13 grants made to KCI under combined federal programs comes to well over $11 million dollars, which demonstrates the local, regional and national cooperation that this great facility represents." Agnew said.
Agnew said that even though all advances in technology brought on scoffer, "the history of all these improvements is the story of how they fostered and fostered the growth of the country".
At one point Agnew referred to a visit President Harry Trump made to Agnew's home state of Maryland in 1950 during which Truman praised "what was then one of the most modern airports in the country, Friendship Airport."
AGNEW, WHO arrived at the ceremonies at about 11:55 a.m., some 55 minutes later than scheduled, was greeted by Mary Charles Wheeler of Kansas City, Mo.
"Today I am honored to be able to return the compliment in his home state of Michigan."
Volpe, who also spoke briefly at the dedication ceremony, said KCI was a truly magnificent airport. He said the airport was the result of cooperation between private industry, the air commercial air carriers and the public.
Walsh of Kansas City, Kansas; Gov. Warren Hearnes of Missouri; and Secretary of Transportation John Voledge, accompanied Agnew from Washington.
Other digitaries included Sen. Robert Dole, R-Kan.; Mayor Richard
Following the dedication ceremonies, Agnew and his party passed through the crowd shaking hands with well-wisher and returned to Agnew's chartered jet.
THE 5,000-ACRE, $250 million airport is scheduled to open Nov. 11. Until that time, air traffic will operate from Municipal Airport in downtown Kansas City, Mo.
The activities Monday ended three days of dedication ceremonies at KCI. Rain and cold weather held crowd sizes far below the detected daily average of 100,000 persons.
Among those at the airport were many young Kansas City school district children accompanied by parents and school teachers. At least 125 buses were reported to have been used to transport the students to the airport.
After Agnew made his speech, officials of the Kansas City Convention and Tourism Council estimated that a crowd of 31,500 persons were at the airport.
Kissinger to Report On Viet Negotiations
Ry the Associated Press
Presidential aide Henry A. Kissinger returned to Washington Monday night to report on his latest peace negotiations in the Middle East, where he criticized the attunts fell short on an accord.
"We made some progress," was Kissinger's only comment on returning. He planned to report to President Nixon later Monday and again this morning.
There was no official word on what was
discussed, but an apparent failure to reach agreement centered on a cease-fire plan and an interim Sagar government to final a political solution is achieved.
Kissinger headed for Washington to report to President Nixon after five days of the most intensive Indochina peace negotiations to date. Asked at the airport if it had been a productive visit, Kissinger replied: "It always is when I am here."
McGovern Lauds Job Of Antiwar Movement
PHILADLEPHIA (AP)—Sen. George McGoventry said Monday that the antiwar movement, which fuelled his presidential candidacy, would deserve the major share of the election. He reached a Vietnam peace agreement in the closing days of the election campaign.
McGovern indicated he was still skeptical that the flurry of diplomatic activity would lead to any concrete Vietnam peace development by Nov. 7.
But he told reporters outside the gate of the U.S. Naval Hospital here that, "I would say that the antiwar movement deserves the major share of the credit for any move the President makes in the closing days of the campaign."
The Democratic presidential nominee launched his fourth coast-to-camp campaign swing since Labor Day by paying a day's visit to two wards of the hospital.
THE WARDS were selected by hospital officials and most of the patients McGovern saw were elderly, with aliments留到 the Vietnam war.
Later, in a television interview,
McGovern said he would be glad to give up his unarmed issue if the war could be stopped.
Asked if he would rather be right than president, he replied that he wanted to end the war and didn't see why President Obama should have done four years ago. What we could have done four years ago.
He said, "if he ends the war on the night before the election, I'll be there for him."
McGoventry told several of the patients he expected to win the election, and in talking to reporters outside the gate, said the momentum was all in his favor.
The two weeks remaining before election day was plenty of time to turn this one over.
FOR ANY ELECTION EVE settlement, McGovern said, "I'd think you'd have to give credit to the antiwar movement." He spent the morning in Washington, taping another nationally televised event for his wife and daughter—this one dealing with his charges of corruption against the Nixon administration.
The embassy issued a brief statement saying efforts to accord between the two sides had continued.
Tin Song, a newspaper that often reflects official Saigon views, said the general impression of observers was that negotiations between South Vietnamese President Thieu and Kissinger had been conducted in a very heated atmosphere.
"Throughout the duration of the negotiations between the U.S. delegation and the South Vietnamese had always maintained their clear-cut position to reject any peace solution contrary to the interests of the South Vietnamese people," Tin Song
A spokesperson for the presidential palace said he could not confirm the Tin Song account, and the U.S. Embassy would not go beyond its 29-word statement.
Both Newsweek and Time magazines have reported that the United States and North Vietnam have agreed to a settlement that would include a cease-fire. There has been no official confirmation in either U.S. or South Vietnamese officials.
The Soviet Union Monday gave its public reason to believe that a settlement in the conflict over the Golan Heights
In doing so, Soviet authorities indicated they gave far more than passing interest to reports that Kissinger was nearing a negotiated solution to the war.
As in much official Soviet communication, the suggestion was indirect.
The English-language Tassel, the internal Russian-language service of the official news agency and the 9 o'clock television network, carried identical dispatches out of Paris.
Without any qualification, they all quoted North Vietnamese spokesman Nguyen Le tha as saying: "At present we are in a very poor settlement of the Vietnam problem."
U. S. officials judged the Tass and television announcements as significant.
Flying Taxi
A new sound has been added to the noise of traffic jams and a new sound has been added to the faint, round Memorial Stadium. The white shell of the postmodern skyscraper stands out with a soft, rounded exterior.
Kansan Photo by DAN LAUING
it sets down on the hill south of the stadium and deposits its passengers. It is a new taxi service to and from the Lawrence airport. Flying at speeds over a 100 m.p.h. the helicopter offers a fast and easy way for football fans to get to the game. But speed is not the only reason people ride the aircraft. To many the trip is part of the fun of the day. See story page 6)