The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-24
A MIGHTY DEAL
Showing That Eastern Money is
Coming to Kansas.
A Syndicate to Purchase All the
Electric Plants
And Also Figuring on the Elec-
trio Car System.
TO BUILD THE DAM
And Run Both Electrical Sys-
TENS With Water Power.
MATTER KEPT STILL
MATTER KEPT STILL
But Enough Leaks Out to Insure
Accuracy.
Details Can't Be Given Now
Negotiations Under Way.

There is a gigantic scheme on foot by
an eastern syndicate to buy all the pri-
vate electrical plants in the city and con-
solidate them under one management.
the same syndicate, it is reported, in
tends to purchase the street car lines
and to build the lower dam, by means Of
which it will operate both the lights and
the cars with water power. The deal
has not yet been consummated, but the
indications n9w are that it will be made.
Early last upring Congressman T. E.
Burton, of Cleveland. Ohio, was in To-
peka for a week. When he had gone it
was announced that a Cleveland syndi-
cate had purchased the Brush electric
light plant Congressman Burton did not
represent himself alone and the sYndi-
cate which he was behind is said to be
able to control almost any amount of
money w. W. Hazard, of Cleveland,
is another of the prominent members of
the syndicate.
This concern makes it a business to
! buy up electrical plants and they now
own a great many in all portions of the
| United States The purchase of the
| Brush plant was only preliminary to
| what the syndicate hoped to do in To-
peka, and it is said that the original plan
| was to buy up all the plants and consoli-
date them.
This action of the Cleveland syndicate
! has another meaning. An attempt has
/ been made to get these same gentlemen
/ interested in the construction of the
lower dam. and it is reported that the
representatives of the dam company
were successful. except that the syndi-
i cate has a condition attached and that is
| that they succeed in the consolidation of
! the electrical companies in Topeka.
The reason of this is evident If they
| had control of the electrical plants in
the city they could secure their supply
of electricity from the power house at
their own dam and thus operate their
plants at a small expense. So that if the
syndicate succeeds in the purchase Of the
plants in Topeka they will also build the
lower dam.
The Cleveland syndicate also includes
the gas plant in their designs and it will
also be purchased if the plan is success
full ]. B. Bartholomew is the man who
is now manager of the Brush plant, and
he is representing the interests of the
Cleveland capitalists, and that fact adds
to the probable truth of the report that
| if the syndicate succeeds in purchasin g
the electrical plants they will also build
| the lower dam.
A man who knows what he is talking
about, but who refused to allow the use
of his name, said to a JOURNAL reporter:
There is a syndicate of capitalists now
negotiating for the purchase of the
electrical plants, the city railway and
the gas plant and if they succeed in buy
ing them they will take hold of the low
er dam and build it at once. OF course
the venture will take a great deal of
money, but the men in this thing have
all the money they need at their com
mand and there will be no trouble on
that score. There have been rumors of
this kind for some time. but not until
recently have they assumed any definite
shape. You may expect something to
happen soon if it happens at all"
Another man said: Some of these To-
peka people are inclined to talk slight
ingly of Dir. Bartholomew plans when
the truth is he is now in better posi-
tion than he has been for long time
and he will be able to prove that his
enemies are mistaken before long"
When Mr.. Bartholomew was asked
about the report he seemed surprised
that any one should have heard of the
plan. who told you that?" he asked.
SIS it true?"
81 refuse to say"
"Will you deny the report?"
81 positively refuse to talk about the