The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-30
1T is ACCEPTED.
New Gas Company Deposits a
$1,000 Forfeit.
That Terms of Fran
chise Are Satisfactory.
MAY GET DOLLAR GAS
Prospects Growing Brighter
Day by Day.
Final Arrangements to Be Made
About Jan. 10.

The new gas and electric light plant,
which Mr.. William J. Faulkner of Chi
cago proposes to build in Topeka, is no
longer an uncertainty A positive evi-
dence of good faith was received by
City Treasurer Hale today in the shape
of a depository check for $1,000 as pro-
vided in the ordinance granting Mr..
Faulkner a franchise.
In the same mail Mayor Drew receiv-
ed a letter from Mr.. Faulkner inform
ing him of the forwarding of the de-
posit and his acceptance of the Ordi-
nance, and stating that work on the
new plant would be pushed as rapidly
as circumstances would permit.
Although all of Mr.. FauIkner's actions
up to this time have been of a most
business like character. the failure of
several proposed enterprises to mater
falize in the past has caused many To-
peka people to look with suspicion on
the ChicagO'S man proposition. The de-
posit Of $1,000 necessarily puts an end TO
all doubts. Unless Mr.. Faulkner COM
mences work on his plant within the
time specified in the ordinance he will
forfeit that amount.
In recent letter to Mr.. John Klein
hans, who is looking after the interests
of the proposed enterprise in Topeka,
Mr.. Faulkner states that he will be in
Topeka by the middle of January for
the purpose of completing the organiza-
ton of his company by securing a char
ter. An application for a charter was
made some time ago and allowed by the
state charter board. It alone will cost
the new company $3.50.
Mr. Faulkner is now in possession of
nearly 1000 contracts for gas and cleo
trio current, and as soon as work is in
realty commenced on the plant as
many more can be secured for the ask
ing. The sentiment in Topeka is in IA
VOr of Mr.. Faulkner's enterprise for the
reason that Topeka consumers have
been compelled to pay excessive rates
for gas and electric current since the
establishment Of the present plants in
this city.
Mr.. Faulkner proposes to give Topeka
people gas and electric current at g, de-
cidedly reasonable cost. With the es-
tablishment of the new plant here, To-
peka viii have as low rates on gas and
current for light, heat and power pur-
poses as probably any city il the Uni
ted States.
Mr.. Faulkner's letter to Mayor Drew
is as follows:
To the Honorable, the Mayor and Com
mon Council of the City of Topeka,
Kansas.
dinance entitled, An ordinance author
iZing William J. Faulkner to construct.
acquire, operate and maintain gas and
electric works for the purpose of man
ufacturing, selling and supplying gas
and electricity to the city of Topeka
and the inhabitants thereof and de-
fning the rights. privileges and powers
hereunder, passed October End, 1899,
approved October 30th, 1899, and amend
| ed December 4th, 1899, 1 hereby BEG to
notify your honorable body that I here
with forward to the honorable, the city
treasurer of the city of Topeka the sum
of one thousand dollars to be held by
the said city of Topeka in compliance
with the terms of said ordinance and I
now beg to lay before your honora bic
body this my written acceptance of said
ordinance.
I beg to assure your honorable body
that work under this ordinance will be
pushed as rapidly as circumstances will
permit and a model industry of its
kind established. Yours respectfully,
WILLIAM J. FAULKNER.
The following receipt, drawn by City
Attorney Bird, was forwarded this af-
| ternOOn to Mr.. Faulkner in Chicago:
Topeka, Kan, Dec. Both, 1899.
the sum of one thousand 1.0O0) dollars
| to be deposited as provided in section
10 of an ordinance authorizing
| William J. Faulkner to construct
acquire, operate and maintain gas and
electric works for the purpose of manu-
featuring, selling and supplying gas
and electricity to the city of Topeka
and the inhabitants thereof, and defin-
| ing the rights, privileges and powers
| hereunder. passed October 2, 1889, ap-
proved October 80, 1899, and amended
December 4, 1899. Approved Dec. 80,
1899.
THE said sum of one thousand dol
| lars shall be held as a deposit to the
credit of said Faulkner in conformity
| to the requirements of said section 1C
| of said ordinance. NJ. NJ. HALE,
"City Treasurer