The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-07
GIVEN THE FRANCHISE
The New Dam Company Granted
the Right
TO BUILD ABOVE THE CITY.
a Lively Time in the Council cham

a Lively Time in the Council Cham
Der.
The city council consumed more than
three hours last night in dam talk, and
finally decided to allow the dam to be
built if somebody will furnish the money.
1t took a great deal of eloquence and
sarcasm. and some bitterness, to arrive at
sion. When the ordinance giving
the new dam company franchise
to use the streets and other public
places for electric wires and like pur-
poses in competition with several other
dam companies, was reached, Coun-
Gilman Bradford moved to defer action
on the ordinance until June 5. On that
day the franchise of the old company,
the Chicago Topeka light, heat and
power company, will have become lnop-
erative.
In support of his motion Mr. Bradford
said: these great franchises are too val
liable and important to be voted promls-
cuously away. No man in Topeka
wants dam, and the consequent cheap
power more than do It is the dinner
bucket brigade that makes thriving
city. | am not unfriendly to this new
company, or to any new concern that
wants to bring money into Topeka, but
there is strife between these two COM
panies. The minute one company be-
gins work the other one will begin legal
proceedings to stop them; and mark my
words, the passage of this ordinance
will thwart all efforts towards bringing
US the needed power. The people are
getting tired of so much dam talk and
no dam, and they have lost all confidence
in the statements of the dam enthusi-
asts.'
T. E. Bowman replied to Mr.. Brad
ford: sit seems to me the recognized
enterprise and ability of the hackers OF
this enterprise to do what they say should
give the proposition more weight. AS a
citizen it seems strange that one member
should make a carefully prepared sci
| and another member should second the
motion with no further notice."
This made Councilman Bradford mad
and he was on his feet in an instant 81
resent what Mr.. Bowman says, and it il
not the language of a gentleman" h'
said excitedly.
The mayor pounded with his gavel te
no avail
81 want to say" he kept on, shat they
can't come here and use that kind o
language without my resenting it. Yor
can bnEus tAAAgs OoWn my tnroab LAA
way"
Nj. Bowman explained that hs
didn't mean it the way MI
Bradford took it, and tn
| Councilman's wrath was appeased for
moment 1t was soon rolled all owe
again. Judge Day, the attorney for tn,
company applying for the franchise
provoked his ire when he said, s'Thi
council can't grant an exclusive fran
chise. We don't want one, and we dom
want the other company to have one
We ask merely your consent to expend
large sum of money in Topeka. Nj
Bradford has evidently not examined tn
law thoroughly and completely, probabl
through lack of time"
Councilman Bradford was on his fee
| again to a point of personal privilege
and resented" what Judge Day sale
They both talked and the Mayor de
manded "The gentleman will keep still.
Mr.. Day said: 81 apologize" but Mr.
Bradford paid no attention.
"Does General Bradford accept N,
apology?" insisted Mr.. Day.
500 on with your argument if you'v
got any," replied Councilman Bradford
]. B. Larimer as agent for the 81
called Bartholomew Dam company sale
''The river won't get away. Give tn
old company the ninety days left to i
It now has the legislation and the dis
position and the money to go to worH
and why indulge in any stampede an
railroad an ordinance through that ha
been sprung within forty eight hour
Let part of the untold wealth of thes
gentlemen lie idle for ninety days"
John R. Mulvane said he had no inte
est in the new dam company, but b
knew the hackers of the enterprise to /
men able to build dam if they war
to, or dozen dams.
The motion of Councilman Bradfor,
was defeated by a vote of 2 ayes to
noes, Mr.. Bradford and Mr.. Stephenso
voting for it
A motion was then made to defe
action for ten days. This also was d,
feated, but by closer vote. The vo
stood:
Ayes-stephenson, Burgess, Bradfor
and Fulton-4.
Noes-Holman, Pattison, Stevens, Et
linger. Fellows and Griggs-6.
The ordinance was then considere
section by section. It is substantial
chising the Chicago Topeka Light, He;
and Power company and the other da
companies. It was finally put on i
final passage and passed, with Council
men Bradford and Stephenson votiu
against it.
Council Notes.
A measure that may result in untol
good to the moral welfare of Topeka Wa
advanced by Councilman Stevens la