The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-07
BUYING WATERWORKS.
Subject Comes Up in the Meet
ing Last Night
Of the WaterWOrkS' Committee
and President Street.
As the Franchise Does Not Expire
Until 1901, was Only Tenta-
lively Discussed.

president street OF the Topeka water
company will submit a proposition to
| compromise the differences between the
| city and the water company to the
committee ways and means.
The committee held a meeting last
night to talk over the troubles between
| the city and the water company and
| the points at issue were pretty well
| ventilated. After the meeting Presi-
! dent Street was requested to submit a
| proposition in writing for the settle
! ment of the difficulties.
| The president of the new company
| reiterated his request for a settlement.
| I'VE are tired OF Htigation,'' said he,
| land l want to urge upon you some
amicable adjustment of the differ
| ences.''
| What do you propose?' asked Coun-
II am hardly prepared to say re
| piled Mr.. Street. I'VE would like to
| expensive to us, and while we have not
| had a single reverse, we do not feel
like keeping up a litigation which is
| expensive and does no good.
THE money due from the. city of
| Topeka we have considered just the
same as in a bank. The matter is in
| winning. That amounts to about $1,000,
| and am ready to say that we will cut
that in two. The question of extension
| of the mains can also be adjusted.
While 1 do not suppose that we can
| make all of the extensions that have
| been ordered, we are willing to make
| some OIL lAGIll pIONlulIlS tic City VIII
pay a stipulated price for hydrant
rentals.
What would you expect in rentals
| for extra hydrantS?" inquired Council
| man Stephenson.
THAT is matter that has not yet
| been settled said Mr.. Street, but l
| think we would be willing to take $50
| a hydrant. The regular price is $50
| We can make some arrangement about
| how many miles of extensions are to be
| made. I understand that the council
| af ordered something like
| 100000 worth of extensions. That is
| out of the question, but 1 think we
| would consent to build four or five
| miles when this compromise is conclud-
| ed and two or three miles every year
! thereafter. We do not want to build
| any mains in cornfields and unoccupied
portions of the city unless the city
would agree to pay the regular price
| for MIGRANTS"
What do you propose to do about
| rates to consumers?" asked Councilman
i Stephenson.
I'VE can't do anything along that
line. Our rates are already low, and
| L do not feel that could afford to
! make any reductions. Compared with
| cities the size of Topeka, our rates are
as low or lower than any of them, with
one two exceptions, and there the
conditions are different. There are one
or two places 1 know of where water
is furnished at much less than it is
here. But in at least one of these
places an item something like $4,000 a
year is carried on the general tax rolls
to make up the deficit The price
| charged is below the cost.
Our people think they are paying
too much for water, and they base their
opinion upon what is paid in other
Cities" said Councilman Stephenson.
| II know that is the general impress
sion," said President Street, but the
impression is wrong. If you can give
me one example to show that our rates
! are too high L would like to have it.
! Water rates are high or low by COM
parison. If We do not charge more
! 1ifi Of fha la
| ton our rates are not high
Councilman Nettels-Then you would
not consider proposition to reduce the
! consumers rates?
President Street-We cannot do it.
City Attorney Bird-Would you con-
slider a proposition to sell the plant to
the city? Under the franchise which
expires in 1901 the city has the right to
buy the plant. The franchise has only
four years to run, and the city must
| either buy the plant at the end of that
| time or extend the franchise for twenty
| years.
Mr. Street, understand all that We
; are bound by the ordinance.
Mr.. Bird-What is the Indebtedness
of the plant now?
Mr.. Street, cannot tell exactly. but
it is in the neighborhood of $3.50, 900.
Councilman Nettels-What is the
| capital stock?
Mr.. street-It is merely nominal, but
S120, 900. l am under the impression
) that the plant can be duplicated for
$500 900.
Councilman stephenson-we have had
estimates by experts who said that the
/ plant can be duplicated for $500, 000
Mr.. Street, have found that experts
are sometimes mistaken.
Mr.. Bird-Would you consider a prop
osition to sell the plant to the city now
Mr. Street, think we would.
President Street agreed to suggest q
2 basis for a settlement between the city
| and the water company, to be submit
| ted in writing. When the proposition
= is received there will be another meet
| ing of the committee to formulate re-
) port