The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-15
BRIGHT PROMISE.
Promoter of New Gas Company
Writes a Letter.
Tells What His Organization
Proposes to Do.
ORDINANCE COMING.
Has Been Drawn Up, and Will
Be Here Thursday.
Dollar Gas May Not Be So Far
OFF, After All.

The ordinance prepared by Mr. w. J.
Faulkner of Chicago, granting a fran
chise to the proposed gas and electric
light company, is expected to reach
here Thursday. 1t will come before the
council probably the first of next week.
A letter stating that he would send
the ordinance this week was received
from Mr.. Faulkner today. He seems to
have gained the idea from some news
paper matter which followed the State
Journals announcement of the prob
ability of securing new plant for the
city that the sentiment of the council
was to favor the old company in the
event it agreed to reduce its rates. In
reference to this he says:
4 don't want my liberal proposition
made a club to pound down the other
man and then turned on me to beat me
out of the game. If it is the sentiment
of the council to renew the franchise
of the old company with view of keep
ing out competing company in the
event of a reduction of rates, everything
have said can be counted out. I'm
in this for a straight, square business
proposition. one that means more than
merely dollar gas to your citizens. Your
present company supplies 20 candle
power gas. guarantee to furnish not
less than p candle power. The heat
units of your gas are probably not over
800. Ours will he at least 700. With
the greater candle power and heat
units, less gas is required to do the
same work. Then in addition, we agree
to supply gas at so cents or less for
heat and power. At 40 cents it will be
as cheap to burn in house furnaces as
anthracite coal at Sc ton. Your price
is 49, Also, we agree to supply gas to
the city proper at 75 cents, and electric
light at reduced prices.
IF these improvements are not suffi-
cient to warrant a franchise for us if
we comply with reasonable terms, with
out making it contingent upon what
00 IA nv n 4n do
then 1 should prefer to withdraw at
once.
IF your common council votes any
company an exclusive franchise in con-
sideratiOn of dollar gas, it viii saddle
an obligation on the city that will be re-
GREETED for 20 years. do not ask an
exclusive franchise. If my wares won't
compete with and beat the other mans,
then 1 have no right to expect to sell
them
I will submit a straightforward bus
mess proposition, but I don't want it
turned down because some one else sub
mits something half as good.
The objection may be raised to a
new company tearing uD the streets
The new company will study economy
as any prudent business man would,
and If your paVementS are good and eX-
pensiVe for the new company to repair,
1t would in all probability select the
alleys under which to lay pipes
If your common council will deal
with me as squarely as I will deal with
H. your city Will nave a model gas
and electric light service, whether the
old company will be reasonable or not"
From Mr.. Faulkner's letter it would
appear that he is very much mistaken
concerning the sentiment of the citv
council. The council has no reason to
be favorably inclined toward the pres
ent company, and neither is it So In
regard to this matter Mayor Drew said
today:
"A fight on the part of the present
gas and electric companies would be
natural in the event of a new. company
entering the field, but we have moth
ing to do with that. We are here ex-
clusively for the best interests of the
city"
If Mr. Faulkner can organize a re-
sponsible company for the establish
ment of a new plant in this city he will
find that the sentiment of the city coun-
ell is in his favor. That he is CON
hdent Of organizing such a company.
there seems to be no doubt from the
business like manner In which he is
taking hold of the proposition.