The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-25
SPEAK RIGHT up.
Prominent Citizens Discuss the
Waterworks Question.
Attend Council Meeting and Ex-
press Their Views.
ON A BUSINESS BASIS.
Apparently Question Is at Last
Nearing Solution.
People May Yet Own the Water
Supply System.
ON A BUSINESS BASIS.

Lacking only formal ratldcat1on.
the city council and the Topeka Water
company have agreed upon the terms of
city ownership of the waterworks plant
The council stands ready to submit to
the people proposition to buy the
plant for $500, 600.
The water company has waived all
conditions, the State Journal exclus-
lively announced it would do, and Presi-
dent Street is prepared to secure within
80 days the consent OF the bondholders
of the company to sell the plant for the
amount specified.
1t is expected that at the next council
meeting on October 6, the necessary
preliminary action for a special election
to vote the bonds will be taken Ger
tain legal technicalities remain to be
discussed and arranged, but unless
something unexpected blocks the wheels
there will be no further delav in the
contamination of the long DELAYED tri-
umph of city ownership.
Mayor Albert Parker is the hero of
the compromise In the face of the most
discouraging circumstances, amid the
bitterest chickering's and criticisms. in
spite of apparently fatal reverses. he
has steadily carried forward the nego-
tiations. He has led a diScordant city
council with such skill that opposition
to his plans has almost disappeared
and indications are that the paramount
service of his administration will re-
ceive the ultimate approval of each of
the twelve councilmen.
President Charles F. Street, of the
water company, was present at the
council meeting last night. and his
frank and honest way of discussing the
question disarmed the opposition MEM
bers of the council and dissiDated much
of that smouldering distrust of the wa
ter company and its motives.
Many of the heaviest taxpayers of the
city were also present at the meeting.
and expressed their views on the water
works question. Among those present
were c. ]. Devlin. S. Barnum. E. H.
Crosby, Chas. Wolff, B. NJ Davies, Os-
car Bischoff, j. B. Hayden. c. c. Jew
ell, NJ. Snattinger. John D. Norton. c..
o. Knowles. H. c. Root: also ]. w.
O'Neill and Jesse Shaw, the latter being
the local officials of the water company.
various kinds had been disposed of, the
council went to work on the water
works case
Mayor Parker called President Street
to the platform, and after introducing
him to the council, President Street adj
dressed the council in part as follows.
using a few notes in the course of his
remarks.
PRESIDENT STREETS SPEECH
I'm the last 60 or 80 DAYS. I have had
several conferences with the mayor city
attorney and others in regard to the
sale of the waterwOrks plant to the
city. I believe that most of the diff
cultieS are more apparent than real.
There is an easy way out of it all if
we settle down to the question in a
businesslike way. We have been aware
for some time that the city desired to
purchase the plant of the water COM
pany. We have been at all times ready
to dispose of the plant at its fair and
equitable value. To determine this value
has been the bone of contention. Sew
eral methods of procedure have been
suggested. One is by appraising the
property This was attempted but was
not COMPLETED There was, 1t seemed.
too much difference between the esti-
mates of the engineer employed by the
company. and the one employed by the
city.
I'VE have finally agreed to recon-
mend to the security holders of the
company that they accept 100000 for
the plant. This amount we obtained
by approximately splitting the differ
ence between the two engineers, and
adding what we have spent on improve
ments since the appraisement We are
ready to recommend that this sum be
accepted by the stockholders. If that
is not satisfactory, we are willing to
again leave the question to appraisers.
Or we are willing to have the value de-
termined by any court of competent
jurisdiction. Or If you car suggest any
other method we are willing to CO.
operate with you.
If you decide to accept our offer of
100000, we will do everything possible
to facilitate the delivery of the prop
erty. If it is not accepted, we want to
meet with you and agree upon some
schedule of rates. If you will pass some
kind of an ordinance regulating rates
we are willing to go ahead and operate
the property under that ordinance. But
we do not want to continue to operate
the plant with constant friction l can
see no reason why we should not get
together All the company wants is
what is fair and right.
There are more or less legal OBJ