The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-18
Council Refuses to Pass Burge
and ROhrer Ordinance.
Decision on Continental Gas
Co. Proposition Not Reached.
THINKS RATE TOO Low
Councilman Weber Voted
Against the As Cent Rate.
Other City Fathers Think go
Cents Too High.

The city council Friday night refused
to pass the Burge and Rohrer natural
gas franchise ordinance. The ordinance
proposed by the Continental Gas & Oil
company was considered for a few min
utes, but on account of the advanced
hour, it was nearly 1870 O'Clock, it's
consideration was laid over until the
meeting of the council in August At
that time an effort will be made to res
urrect the Burge and Rohrer franchise
and to pass it.
The reason given by the councilmen
voting against the Rohrer and Burge
proposition was that the prices for gas
quoted were too high. Councilman
George Neil and Councilman w. f.
Weber voted for the ordinance stating
that they thought the rates offered by
the Continental people were too low"
and that they did not regard the pro-
position as bona fide one. Nine cGun-
c1lmen We're present The franchise re-
ceived six votes but not the majority
required. The vote stood: Ayes-Kutz.
Neil, Weber. Sinner Swendson and
Tincher; noes-Blossom,G riley and Sny-
der Immediately after the announce
ment of the vote Councilman Swendson.
who befriended the ordinance last night.
moved that it be sent back to the ways
1t will be noticed that the Burge and
Rohrer proposition lack but one vote
to make it go. If either Councilman
Nellis, Howe or Wolf had been present
and voted aye, the franchise would have
been secured. 1t is also noted that all
the Republicans voted for Burge and
Rohrer's plan and the three Democrats
voted for the plan proposed by the Con-
tinental in which Curran, Bush and
Harvey are interested.
he, fv,or =
of the gas companies announced that
the respective interests which they rep
resented were willing to have a clause
inserted in their franchise ordinance re-
curing them to deposit a $1,000 forfeit
to guarantee the faithful performance
the Continental company, made the an
nouncement first He was followed by
Charles Gault for the Burge and Rohrer
proposition. The council proceeded to
the reading of the Burge and Rohrer
franchise ordinance first, but read over
the Continental franchise before voting
upon the other.
Because they said their franchise
would provoke no interest on the part OF
capital if they cut prices. Mr. Burge
and Mr.. Rohrer refused to meet the cut
in price made by the Continental com
pany which offers natural gas at 80 and
40 cents. S. 3. Rohrer said:
Il desire to call the attention of the
COunClI 10 the ldCl lLdl Tic 1IdtiCtiiSC
ordinance We have submitted provides
that in the construction of our mains we
agree to run our supply pipes to the
houses of the consumers. The other
ordinance submitted provides that the
other company shall lay it's pipes only
to the curb lines and that the remain
der of the expense shall be upon the
consumer. The laying of a supply pipe
through a consumers yard means an
expense of several dollars, so that the
e 4f.-,+ O-f Of Orlr
mean cost of thousands of dollars TO
the company.
"As we have before frankly stated we
are DESTROYS of securing the investment
of capital for this enterprise by persons
whom we already have in mind. In or
der to interest capital in such PROPOSE
ton we have to be able to prove TO
them that it will pay. In a field no
larger than Topeka it is impossible to
make a price for gas that would be
made in a very large city We are at
tempting to undertake nothing more
than we feel prepared to accomplish
and we can not agree to sell gas IN To-
peka at the same price that 1t is sold
in the gas field ITSELF
Mayor Bergundthal offered a sugges-
ton that had considerable bearing upon
one of the points raised by Mr.. Rohrer.
He said:
There is nothing to prevent a new
gas company from attaching its mains
~ lbt supply PAPSs
in private yards by the present gas
company. If 1 desire to disconnect the
gas supply pipe in my yard from the
main of one gas company and to at
tach it to the main of another l can not
be prevented from doing it. That sup
My pipe is laid IN my ground and defy
the company to come and take it up
against my wishes. The gas company
which lays it has no more control over
such a pipe after it has once been laid
than any other individual I do not be-
Iieve that the point is worth very SER
ious consideration"
Some practical light upon the value of
natural gas as furnished through a long
distance main was given by Councilman
Joseph Criley. who said, in the discus
sion of rates:
Il have made considerable investiga-
ton of the subject of natural gas sup
lic-tn the OhiO