The Topeka state journal., 1899-08-11
New Gas Company to Securu
a State Charter.
Will Become a Kansas Corpora
tiOn at Once.
ASK FOR A FRANCHISE.
Council Will Be Requested to
Grant Necessary Authority.
ExtortiOnate Methods of Gas
Trust to Be Stopped.

The proposed plan of establishing a
combined gas and electric light plant in
Topeka has assumed definite proper
tions. In a letter received here from
Mr.. J. w. Faulkner today he states
that the new company will be incOrpor-
ated under the laws of the state within
the next few weeks.
He says in his letter that several days
ago he wrote to Secretary of State Geo.
A. Clark, and has received information
that it will cost the company 1927 to in
corporate here.
Mr.. Faulkner further says that the
plant proposed to be established in To-
peka will cost over $S00,O0
This expenditure of money would give
the city one of the best gas and electric
light plants in the country. Within the
last few years many new processes
have been discovered which have great
ly reduced the cost of manufacturing
gas, and the proposed plant would be
equipped with all of the latest improve
ments.
An ordinance is now being prepared
by Mr.. Faulkner, which will shortly be
forwarded for submission to the city
council. By this time the new company
intends to have incorporated in the
state, and this action will alone be
proof that the hackers of the enterprise
mean business.
The members of the city council are
friendly toward the proposition of a
new company coming into the field and
giving the people of Topeka gas and
electric light at reasonable rates. It is
almost certain that body will be will
ing to grant Mr.. FauIkner's company a
very liberal franchise as soon as its re-
! spOnsibilitY is satisfactorily proven.
The rates proposed by the new COM
pany are low enough to satisfy every
user of gas and electric light. With a
temporary rate of 81 and later 95 cents
to start with, and permanent rate of
of any means at all would be able to
have either gas or electric light or both
The council will probably not take up
( the matter for extensive cOnSlderat ton
until copy of the ordinance now being
prepared by Mr.. Faulkner is received.
! Then the matter will be taken up in
earnest.
Councilman Roundtree says that the
committee on lights has for some time
been in correspondence with MrF'aulk-
ner. An effort was made to keep the
matter quiet so that the committee
might make some Investigations. The
committee has known for some time
that a franchise would be applied for.
The old company has been given eV-
cry opportunity to give the people the
reduced rates demanded. The city
council kept their hands off, the COM
pany in the face of a direct promise,
I bOth by the local attorney and the
head of the gas trust, Mr.. Anthony N.
Brady, that a satisfactory rate would
be made as soon as the improvements
were completed.
The work has been completed but the
gas trust which owns the Topeka plant
snaps its fingers in the faces of the peo-
pie and virtually tells them to whistle
for low gas rates. They have offered
to make a rate of SIPS providing their
franchise is extended for 20 years. but
they undoubtedly knew when they
made the proposal that the council
could not entertain it.
Topeka will be bled by the gas trust
Just as long as the people will submit.
', nen the greedy eastern vampire
finds that Topeka does not propose to
! be imposed upon indefinitely it will
come to terms. Topeka will have dollar
gas or better and any new company
which will help to secure that end will
[ be welcomed,