The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-30
AFTER A FRANCHISE.
Topeka Men Would Pipe Natural
Gas to Ft. Scott.

The following is frfom Tuesdays Fort
Scott Monitor
A bevy Of prominent capitalists are in
this city today and they are here for the
purpose Of securing a franchise that will
permit them to market gas in the city
4 OF Fort Scott that they shall pipe from
the Chanute gas fields. The party is
quartered at the Goodlander and con-
sists of the following gentlemen:
! N. B. Burge of the brokerage firm of
| n. B. Burge & Co. of Topeka who was
here on a previous occasion and who is
| already known to the mayor, council
men and a number of business men; C.
F. Foote of the brokerage firm of c. E.
/ F,oote & Co of Topeka; Charles L.
Short, who was formerly a division SUI
/ perintendent for the Santa F'e, but who
/ is now president and general manager
of the America Gas & Oil company, and
treasurer of the keystone Gas & Oil
| company; Judge Albert L. Parker, ex-
| mayor of Topeka, and now president of
! the keystone Gas & Oil company. and
/ ID. o. McCray, a former newspaper
man. now holding state appointment
! in Topeka.
Ex-United States Senator William A.
Harris, who is designated as president
/ OF the new company, is another mem
/ Der who is interested in the franchise
| be present on next Tuesday night at the
council meeting, provided the city Off
| Gals desire to meet him.
The gentleman enumerated above are
/ LCpQlSQ u represent an aggregate
amount of wealth of $25, 000, 900. 1t is
also said that most any individual
member could build the pipe line in
question alone. These men seem to
mean business. At least this would be
/ inferred from their talk and actions
and also from the fact of their pres
ence here. when it would be natural
to suppose that each is connected with
! enterprises that demand their individ-
| ual attention.
n 81 49,
known to require any great amount of
| introduction to the city. Not only this,
but each is willing and anxious to
| show US" if there are any doubters.
c. E. Foote, who is at the head OF
| the bond brokerage company of c. E.
| F'oote & Co., of Topeka, in discussing
| the rate the company proposes to
| charge manufacturers, said to Moni-
| tor reporter this afternoon: s'Why, this
talk about cheap gas for factories is
all idle and hollow sounding. The citi-
zens of Fort Scott will certainly credit
us with being gentlemen of ordinary
| intelligence. We cannot compete with
free gas. Chanute and several other
| towns of the gas region have standing
offers of free gas to manufacturers
who Will locate at any of these towns.
They not only offer free gas, but pro-
pose to drill wells free of charge. and
give them building sites as an induce
ment to secure their factories. Does
; this look like five cent gas would be
any inducement to capitalists who
contemplate erecting factories? An
other thing-does anyone suppose for a
moment that it would pay our COM
pany to pipe gas from Chanute, dis
| tnace of As miles for the local trade
alone? I mean by that heating and
lighting. If the city of Fort Scott
| grants US this franchise it shall be our
I purpose to exert every effort within
the province of our power to secure
the factories of the greatest fuel
consuming capacity.
Did we not expect to secure these
factories we would have a weak object
in piping gas to your city. To be ex-
plicit with you. our idea is to give your
citizens gas at q rate about S1.15 per
thousand cubic feet cheaper than the
rate you are now paying. thereby re-
ducing the expense of heating and
lighting to a minimum and at the same
time furnish a market for a commodity
that is worthless and idle on our hands.
We have illinitable supply of gas
in our possession at Chanute.. I am
frank to admit that there is no paying
market for it in the immediate vicinity
of its location and therefore 1t ought to
be plain to the citizens of Fort Scott
, that We are only seeking legitimate
: market for our products. When the
franchise is granted, should the
mayor and council see fit to do this, If
will be time enough then to negotiate
with parties desiring to build factories
L
sumption of gas in your city will not
2 furnish sufficient returns to pay us for
} building. a pipe line from Chanute
Therefore it shall be our aim to in
duce factories to locate here in order
that we may find a greater market for
the. gas If we contract at a certain
rate to factory men who may desire to
come here, it will certainly be accom-
, panied with inducements that over
shadow those offered in the Chanute
fields.
81 understand there is some opposi-
!, ton to granting this franchise I de-
sire to say that if anyone doubts ouI
financial ability TO fulfil our obliga-
ri lions he has only to refer to the finan-
, lciaI and other institutions of our re-
: lspectfve places of residence. If the
' city Of Fort Scott rejects this offer tC
secure cheap gas it win be the fault OF