The Topeka state journal., 1897-07-09
WATER CO. PROPOSAL
A Proposition for Settlement
of the Controversy
Between the Water Company
and the City.
Is Embodied in q Letter From Presi-
dent Street to Councilman
Burgess.

The Topeka Water company has
made its formal proposition for a set
tlement of the controversy with the
city in a letter addressed to Council
man James Burgess, chairman of the
committee on ways and means. It is
as follows:
Topeka, Kan, July 8, 1897.
Col. James Burgess. Chairman Ways
and Means Committee of the City
Council, Topeka, Kan:
In accordance with the suggestion
made by your committee, L beg leave
to submit the following suggestions of
reductions which the Topeka Water
company is willing to make to effect a
compromise of the existing difficulties
between the city and the company.
We will extend the mains, using such
sizes of pipes as may be necessary to
maintain the present standard of fire
protection, provided the city will auth
orize US to place ten Q0) hydrants to
the mile upon such extension, and agree
to pay at the rate of $50 per hydrant
for each additional hydrant over and
above the three hundred that the city
is now paying for.
The water company claims a balance
due to it of between 1900 and Sc, 1000 for
rental of hydrants used by the city of
Topeka in the territory of the now ex-
tinct municipality of South Topeka, this
sum being the difference between the
price the company has received and
tween the city of South of Topeka and
the Water company prior to annexation.
! The company is willing to compromise
, this claim by reducing it to one-half,
and in future treating the hydrants in
South Topeka in the same manner as
! the hydrants on proposed extensions,
| viz: Charge the city of Topeka $50 per
hydrant on all hydrants over and above
| the three hundred now being used in
| the city of Topeka and South Of To-
peka.
| The cor,naox, ie .x.i11i,,o, +o i,,,,a5ia+a
| ly extend its mains so that all reasona-
| BILE requirements for the supply of pri-
| vate consumption will be met. We un-
| derstand that the limit of these re-
| quirements is in the neighborhood of
| five or six miles. In addition to this
| immediate expenditure, the company is
| willing to concede the right of the city
| to order additional extensions to the
| extent of two miles per annum. We be-
| lieve that this will comply with any
reasonable demands which are likely to
| arise, and the limit is suggested as a
| mutual protection.
The company has recognized the JUS
| tice of the claim set up by the city that
| it should pay a larger proportion of
| taxation in the city of Topeka than it
| is at present doing. 1t is, we believe.
| also conceded by the city, that it would
| not be just for the company to be COM
| PEELED to pay taxes twice over. The
| company, of course, is not responsible
| for the fact that the property has been
| assessed in the township and has no
procedure; we will. however, do what
/ we can to bring about a more equita-
| Bile arrangement in this particular
| We would also suggest, in order to
| obviate the recurrence of misunder-
| standings in the future, that an agree
ment be made to submit all differences
| arising between the city and the COM
! pany, to a board of arbitra tors; one ar
| bitrator to be selected by the city, one
! by the water company, and the two to
| select the third; such an arrangement
| would, we believe, effect economies,
| both of time and money.
In behalf of the water company I re-
| spectfully request your careful consid-
! Grafton of the foregoing suggestions
| and beg to further assure you that the
present management is anxious to
make any concession which it can con-
| sistently do to restore the harmonious
relations which have so long been
! wanting. Very respectfully
THE TOPEKA WATER Co.
BY c. T. STREET,
| President.
Councilman Burgess says that the
proposition is a disappointment. He
and the other members of the commit
| tee had hoped that there would be some
proposition to reduce the general rates
| but that is not found in the proposition
4 am afraid that the proposition in
| that form will not meet the approval of
| thR COI1npiI