The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-22
President Street of Water Com
pany Makes Proposition.
Proposes to Lease the Plant at
an Agreed Figure.
PAY $4,000 "A YEAR NET.
Would Allow for Interest Out
side of That.
Refuses to Consider a Reduction
of Rates.

Before President Charles f. Street, OF
the Topeka Water company left To-
peka, he made this proposition, which
he said he was willing should be print
ed as coming from him:
IF the city will buy this water plant
on the terms agreed, and will expeud
from $4,000 to $4,000 on improvements
and enlargements, L am willing to en-
ter into contract with the city to
lease the plant for a term of years and
pay the city $1,000 a year; in addition
to which agree to assume all the In
terest on the bonds issued to buy the
plant and make Improvements, and to
reduce the water rates. If any of the
councilmen are afraid the plant will
not pay, and want sure thing, this ia
an opportunity for them
will you allow the council to give
you q. new franchise, providing for q
reduction in rates?"
1--WE have one franchise; what do we
want with another?" replied Mr.Street.
Il don't think this council could give
me a franchise 1 would accept any
way. / heard them discuss the Edison
franchise the other night, and would
consider such a franchise as they pro-
posed as nothing but license to lose
money. 1 am not in this business to
lose money. 1 prefer to hang onto
WndL nave got
What are you going to do about
placing some more fire hydrants
out on the Washburn college main?''
I'VE have been letting that matter
rest because we hoped the present diff
ficulty would be settled up. and ar
rangements could be made to replace
all the small hydrants on Kansas ave-
nue. with big hydrants and steamer
connections, in which case we expected
to move the small hydrants out into the
suburbs. I hope that we can fix things
up some way with the city so that the
hydrants out on that Washburn line
can be put in. They ought to be there.
I will take that matter up and consider
it."
''What will you do If the council at
teinpts to compel you to reduce your
1--WE wouldn't do it," said Mr.. Street
frankly. I'VE might raise our rates, in
such a case. I don't say we would.
but say we might We could take the
testimony of the city's own witnesses
and prove that We are entitled to
higher rate for water than we are get
ting. That's the kind of proposition
the city would be up against If it tried
to compel to reduce our rates"
One thing is certain, namely,
Charles r. Street, president of the
seen in Topeka again for some time
unless the city council makes a radical
change in it's present attitude. Mr..
Street will very wisely leave the city
the councils turn to move.
Here is the situation in a nutshell:
First-The city claims that the COM
pany has no franchise. Hence the city
cent on improving the present water
works.
Second-The company claims that
it has franchise. 1t has sought to
spend money in improving its plant.
under this franchise, and the council
has refused to allow it to do any
work.
Third-The company offered to sell
the plant to the city, or to keep the
the plant under a reduction of rates
and other concessions. The city voted
to buy the plant.
Result: The city now refuses to
buy the plant; the company cannot
spend any money in improvements.
Where is there any hope for the city
in such a dilemma as this? Some
say, Let the city build its own plant"
To do this, the legislature would have
to pass a new law. Then the city
would have to vote bonds. Then the
bonds would have to tnd purchaser
Then the very minute the city COM
menced to do any work, the present
would enjoin, and the case
would go up to the supreme court of
.hree years behind in its work. It
would be absurd. The city would be
led up to present conditions for every
bit of ten years-probably more. And
n the end it would probably be Deaten
n the lawsuit.
Meantime, the present water COM
oany would not spend a dollar in i'm
proving its plant except what is abso-
utely necessary, remember that
Nearly every one of the city Off
.ials realizes how things stand, and
,uch men as City Attorney Spencer,
Fire Marshal Wilmarth, and others
whose opinion in the present situation
would carry weight, refuse to be inter
yiewed about the matter, but say they
will be ready to talk fully within
ew days. They know that the senti-
nent in favor of buying the plant will
Inevitably develop, and they prefer to
wait for the tide to turn of its own
rather than to make an effort
o turn it.