The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-12


to live at all
What is the reason that a city like
Topeka should not own and operate its
own ice plant in summer and use the
same plant TO heat the peoples houses
in the winter and heat them at cost:
You may smile at that as visionary
thing As matter of fact / predict
that is just what all first class cities
will be doing in less than ten years.
central plant say like the one now be
ing built to heat the state house and
that is being done at public cost viii
be established with sub-stations in diff
ferent parts of the city, and from
these plants ice will be manufactured
for the people at cost and heat viii be-
transmitted to their houses at the same
price.
ICE AND COAL CONFINES
At present we are only too familiar
with the methods Of the ice and coal
trusts. The coal combine has recently
met and SOlemnly declared that OW ing
to a variety Of reasons. coal must be
increased in price. BY vote the mem
bers of the combine proceed to advance
prices. That additional increase in
price would IN itself establish mu-
nicipal heating plant in every city ia
the United States We are not SO far
away from last summer that we have
forgotten how completely we We're 90
the mercy of the ice trust here. And III
We felt its selfish clutch here. what
think you does such a monopoly mean
in the big cities2 1 was present at "a
a year ago and saw Lord Darlington
rise in his place and in the most Wig
OrOus fashion denounce the London Gas
and Coke company for its dealings
with the people, and characterized tt
as a constituencies monopoly because
it made the poorest man in London
pay 8 per cent. more per 1000 cubic feet
of gas than he Lord Darlington. paid
in his own palatial residence.
History repeats the same story of
private monopoly. It's tendency always
is to charge more than a thing is worth
or by force of competition to make all
charge alike more than a public neces-
sity is worth. especially to the poor
PUBLIC RAILWAYS AND RESTAU-
RANTS
I see no reason why. if Topeka owns
its light plant. it should not also own
and operate its telephone system and
its street railway. / see no reason why
Topeka could not with profit own and
operate a hrst-class eating house where
pure food, well cooked and clearly
served would be set before the people
at cost. / venture to predict that such
an eating house would be crowded To
the doors at every meal time and be
very profitable financially. Many or
the large cities are seriously discussing
the feasibility of municipal lodging
houses. More than one city in Europe
Will have its own ice plant next sum
mer.
Whatever may be said concerning the
limit of public ownership, and that
limit must Of necessity be left largely
to trial and to experiment ia the fu-
ture. it is safe to say that the time Is
not far distant when private monopoly
of real public utilities must give place
to public ownership for the good of the
whole people. The people themselves
are beginning to learn wiser ways Of
caring for themselves. ! need hardly
say that Of course I believe this viii b.
brought about by peaceful methods
through evolution, by letting In the
H.4sff ..4 nd Ns4f
better understanding Of the public's
rights and privileges.
ET1A T-TIFTL CITY OF TOPEKA
Topeka is a beautiful city. and as citi-
zens we have a good honest right to say
so. We have natural physical advau-
tages here. They can easily be increas-
ed without much expense. We believe
in our own city. IT is with a sense of
real pride that we write Topeka. Kan
sas." on the hotel register ia any part
of the world. We have good reason 10
believe that even at its worst the bal
element here has never trsmpled out
the conscience Of the place. And after
all. that is the main thing. We have
proper pride iu our public school sys-
tenn in our higher educational insii-
tuti0ns, in our charitable organizations.
in our hospitals and I'm our clean indus
trial conditions. Topeka is one Of the
best cities in the world in which 20
build a home. We need not be afraid
to say these things. because they are
true
do know that Topeka will al
ways be a good place 10 live in. to do
business IN and raise a family in so
long as the men and women who live
here are the right kind. who love the
right and believe in God and one an
other
What makes city great and sfr0ug2
Not architecture - graceful strength.
Not factories extended length.
But men. who see the civic wrong,
And give their lives 20 make Il right
And turn its darkness into light
What makes "a city FUN ~ powerI
Not weaIths display nor titled fame
Not fashion loudly boosted claim.
But women rich GA virtues dover.
Whose homes though humble. htlll are
Egr, 81.
because or service TO the state
This is city that shall stand
a Eight upon a nat .ou IS hill
- EDsls eva --L ---
A source Of blessing 10 the laid.
It's strength. not brick, nor stone. nor
wood
But Jastice. Truth and Brotherhood.
nnr