The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-27
CITY WON'T HAVE 1T.
Steps Taken to Build New Water
Plant in Topeka.

The ways and means committee Of
the city council has about concluded
that the city does not want the plant Of
the Topeka Water company at any
price So firm is this belief established
IN the minds Of the committee that 1t
has ordered H. Y. Hinckley. with whom
the city has a contract to furnish esti-
mates on the value Of the old plant and
the cost Of a new one. to proceed at
once with the completion Of the plans
for the new plant and give an estimate
OF the cost Of putting it in at the pres
ent price Of piping.
The committee held a meeting at the
council chamber last evening at which
were present not only the members of
the committee. but number Of other
councilmen and Mayor Drew as we'll. II
was at this meeting that the order for
Mr.. Hinckley to proceed with the new
plans was made.
The council made up its mind when
the communication was received from
President Street, of the water company.
at the last council meeting, IN which
Mr.. Street said the company was will
ing to sell in accordance with the terms
of its contract with the city. but de-
clining 20 set a definite price on the
plant as had been requested that the
According to the provisions Of the con-
tract, which is included in the COM
pany's franchise in ordinance No 400,
the city must either purchase the com
pany's plant. subject TO all liens which
may be upon it., or grant the company a
new franchise for another twenty years
The council fears that if the city
waits until the franchise of the com
pany expires, the company will demand
an eXorpitant price for the plant or an
immediate extension of the franchise
and II the city refused the company
could shut of the fire protection.
Nor is this ALL The contract provides
that the price TO be paid for the plant
shall be fair and EQUITABLE and SHAH
De determined by the district court. but
even II the company should turn the
plant over to the city for absolutely
nothing there is a bonded Indebtedness
on the plant for the enormous sum of
Sl,350,O0O. and the bonds are & u..r- caD+
gold bonds which have 50 years still 10
run This is probably five times the
Naiue or the plant. and as one of the
coulSllInen SAID last night, the city
Syllu not anord 10 take the plant as a
glIt and assume that Indebtedness even
II the water company would give the
city halr million dollars in cash to do
It is urged against the purchase of
me Old water plant that 1t was buiif
When topeka had less than Is OhO inhaI,-
4taAts' ana the mains are entirely TOO
Sitlall Tor the present and growing 80,
u the city There are only four-incb
mains where there should be six-iDcb
ana elght-inch. and where there ne 80
men mains there ought to be twelve
men In addition to this it is said mar
some OF the pipes have become bonav-
comoed and viii no longer bear rbe
pressure tnat the city needs. Then +hav
are nned with rust in some places as
IS evidenced by the fact that the yva+ar
- Lilleu with rust after every fire where
neaNy pressure has been maintained
l..3I ls OF the reasons urged against the
--4l.ls OF new plant is that the Law
-i-s OF the mains would necessirata H.
tearing up OF the streets. bur fbfs Iii
dlso nave to be done il the old 791s,,+ - a.
purchased. because larger roaiv,s ---, n
the system pOI1lOh OF
these are the reasons vvbv III. 49,
allu means committee has come - II,
cohcI9slon that the city does not - -
ne Oiu water plant at an II 10 -
Asfeu Lnat the best fnteras+s - y,
CITY VIII De served by bufIdf1g . 80
pant even II IL is necessarv- y -. - =
the franchise Of the old cor,rs-- 7iAu
II mas been generally sllrr7rssl4 a.
the franchise Of the old va - -lla
VIII expire in September Of No. i t,--l y
OUT II developed last night tbst - "a.
not the case. The franchise vras -. -. Is
60 IN september. 1881 but If zto+ess ~
y snaH be good for twenty 49, Ia "a
ne completion of the plant vvbirh 4. ~ u.
I.oL accomplished until the sum-, y a. a.
1ss@ Ihls gives the old COMPANY, . 80 ~
- IRE Tor two years yet, or unfii -,
summer of 1902 eA the