The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-27
IN A GAS WAR.
Companies Battling for the To.
peka Franchise.
Continental Company Offered
$4,000 for Franchise.
AN OUTSIDE CONCERN.
Pennsylvania Company Proposes
to Enter the Field.
Would Make a Rate of % Cents
Per Thousand.

| The Continental Gas company
which at present enjoys a franchise
from the city to pipe natural gas into
1.-The city, will probably dispose of its
franchise. The franchise was granted
a year ago last summer and has until
this coming March before it expires
The company franchise has clause to
II the effect that the franchise should be
declared invalid and the $1,000 guar
antee be forfeited if the company fails
to show evidences of carrying out the
terms of the franchise; that is, as
showing intention to pipe in natural
gas. Major A. NJ. Harvey, the attor-
lney for the Continenrar gas interests,
would not deny this morning that his
firm was in the market to dispose OF
their franchise. nor would he af1rm
stated Majar Harvey, that gas will be
| brought up here and brought under
this franchise, too"
1t is understood that E. E. Roude-
and as such was offered $500 for the
franchise by a. B. Quinton MI
Quinton denied this morning that he
had offered to purchase the franchise
in a personal way, but would not deny
that he had made a tentative offer in
behalf of a company which he repre-
sents. do you think that we would
care to purchase franchise which ex-
The franchise, however, as stated in
the above, continues in force ana erect
If intention is shown by the company
that it intends to carry on the work
for which a franchise was granted, so
that this does not completely answer
that statement that the Contlnental
Gas company will not sell to the gum
ton company. The 1rancnlSe Is lor
twenty years.
When asked this morning concern
ing the company which he represent
ed, Mr.. A. B. Quinton said: our
company is an Incorporated concern, at
present in the business of furnishing
natural gas from the eastern fields to
towns in that vicinity. We have sub
stantial backing in every respect and
own by lease and otherwise large
tracts of natural gas lands in the gas
ed whether we shall pipe to other
towns besides Topeka. our primary
point is Topeka, though it is natural
to suppose that we would find it
profitable and wise to furnish towns
along the line of our pipe line between
this city and the gas fields with gas.
It is entirely probable therefore that
we shall. as L say, furnish towns along
our pipe line with gas. We shall fur
nish gas to Topeka at a rate cheaper
than the Kansas Natural Gas company
proposes to do. No council should
grant a franchise to a company which
does not make a rate lower than the
80 and 40 cents a thousand which the
Kansas Natural Gas company offers.
Il don't care to state what our rate
will be but 1 think a % cent rate and
form that down is the proper one for
manufacturing purposes It's not pro-
ftable matter for manufacturing
company to operate on a rate in excess
of rs cents a thousand
1t is understood that the home of the
company which Mr.. Quinton represents
is at Pittsburg, Pa. From now on it
will be a merry war between the vari-
Gus natural gas interests as to which
will beat in securing the field to the
exclusion of the others. The Kansas
Natural Gas company will be before the
council Thursday evening with a re-
quest for a franchise, c. K. Holiday,
who is supposed to protect the interests
of the Excelsior Gas and Coke COM
pany, is credited with a similar purpose
and latterly the company represented
by Quinton & Quinton with the Cont
mental Gas company, posing rampant
royal. The Natural Gas company,
through Mr.. c. S. Gleed, their attorney
here, would not state late this noon
whether they would meet the rate
which might be offered by the Pitts