The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-31
SLOW no sEE Tur POINT.

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One Of the funniest things which has
happened IN Topeka for some time is
the way ia which the brilliant. up-to-
date lawyers and officials of the Topeka
Water company failed to discover dur
ing the past six weeks that the city of
Topeka had offered S550,0O0 for the
waterworlzs plant The papers have
been full of it. Everybody able to de-
teet the difference between a fire plug
and a steam sawmill has talked about
it, and it would be hard to ind enough
ignorant men in Topeka to make up a
jury to try a case in which the essential
features of the $3.50, GOO offer We're in
volved. But it spite of this fact, there
is apparently not a soul employed in Of
fetal capacity by the water company
that has been able to make connection
with this item OF information which
might prove interesting to the water
company.
The trouble is, It seems. that the offer
was not big enough to attract the at
tention OF these able gentlemen. If the
figure had been 100000 instead Of
$3.50. coo, it is altogether probable that it
would not have been so unfortunately
overlooked.
Perhaps it would be well for the coun-
eli to forgive the officials Of the water
company this time, however. and grant
short extension Of time, during which
efforts might be made to bring it to the
attention of the waterworks manage
ment Large signboards could be erect
ed at various points in the city, stating
plainly that the city had decided il
would pay s550,000 for the waterworks
plant, provided the company would ar
cept such an offer. Placards should be
hung on the street cars. and notices
should be printed on the baseball score
cards It evidently would be unavail-
ing to advertise in the newspapers, be-
cause it seems that none of the parties
whose attention is desired read news
papers. If they did, they would have
long ago discovered what was going on
The water company has failed to dis
cover the $3.50. coo offer because It believes
that it can more than make its attor-
neys fees by the revenues Of the water
plant during the litigation, and at the
end Of the litigation, can get a good
round price, even if beaten on the legal
proposition involved. 1t probably has
figured out that It can cause the case to
drag through the courts for four or five
years, and get another 800, 600 in water
rates out OF Topeka consumers Tt will
pay its attorneys SIS, 600. sell the plant to
the city for possibly $500. 900. and clean
up $4,000 on the whole transaction.
These figures are of course merely rough
estimates Nobody knows how much
the annual revenue of the water com
pany is, except the officials of that com
pany.
Even if Topeka had succeeded in pur-
chasing the water company's plant for
s550,e00, that would have been only the
beginning of the expense. 1t Is estiua
ted that another 100000 win be neees-
sary to extend mains, replace WORKOUT
pipes, and put the plant into the condi-
ton which it would have 10 be to be a
municipal institution 1t would be nee
essary to supply the whole city with
water, not merely a few favored dis
triets-
But if the city is obliged to fight the
water company, it should fight to fhe
fullest extent OF its power. The best at
torneys that money can hire should be
secured to protect the city's interests
If an expenditure of SIS 600 in attorneys
1 fees VIII cut down the price the city win
have to pay for the plant by s50, 600. ii
would be a profitable investment to
spend the money. It is no use trying to
avoid the conclusion that the city is
about to become involved in the biggest
lawsuit in its entire history, ana it
should go in to win.