The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-19
GAS AT SI.35.
That Is Rate Proposed in New
Holiday Franchise.
Company Wants a Thirty Year
Extension i'm Exchange.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Promises Again Held Out by the
Company.
Takes All Power of Regulation
Away From City.

Councilman c. K. Holiday sprung
little surprise on the council last night
by presenting for passage the new ~
year franchise asked for by the Excel
Eior Coke and Gas company
a special meeting of the streets and
walks committee, to which the whole
council is invited, is to be held next
Monday night for the purpose of con-
sidering the franchise. NE. Holiday
says the company is very anxious TO
get the matter settled. and begin work
on the improvements, if possible.
The council will make a great mis-
take if it tries to hurry this thing.
Haste is the cloud of dust which is fire.
quently raised to. cover some question
able measure brought before the coun-
Gil. There is plenty of time to consider
this franchise. The Excelsior Coke and
Gas company is not going to run away
If it was in such terrible rush, IL
might have presented its ordinance
some months ago, perhaps
The proposed ordinance is a dlSap-
pointment in many particulars IT is
doubtful whether it will be passed at
all. but it certainly should not be passed
in it's present form.
Instead of giving a fiat rate of $1.25,
as promised, the ordinance nXes the
rate at $1-35 with a 10 cent reduction in
case the consumer bring his money TO
the gas office before the 10th of the
month following the presentation of the
bill It is believed by many that even
S1.25 is a good deal too high, and that
a rate of S1.O0 for stoves and $l.15 Tor
light would be the only thing which
should tempt the city to give away
30-year franchise
The ordinance fixes it so that the city
has no power to require extensions OF
mains, has no power to require any
special kind of reports from the COM
pany, and can fix the rates to be
charged in the future only when it can
be shown that the reduction Will not
cut the company'S profits below 10 per
cent. At the same time, the ordinance
contains the city charter act provision
regarding the payment to the city OF
10 per cent on all net earnings over 10
per cent. OF course these provisions
are both regarded as jokes. The COM
pany can easily fix its earnings so
they will rever run over 10 per cent
The present gas companyS reports
which it files with the city every once
in while show that the present COM |
pany is actually losing money.
The only proposition which the COM
pany makes which is really of any par |
ticular benefit to the city is the one to |
spend $4,000 here in laying. new mains |
and improving its service. 1t can well |
afford TO do this in exchange for a 30
year franchise. Sucn improvements
would be absolutely necessary to han
die its business under such franchise,
and the city could probably secure
lnucn better propositions from TINS or
some other company as the time for
the expiration of the present com |
pany's franchise draws near. 1t eX-
pires in about six years.
The following is the proposed fran |
chise in full, as it will come before the |
ways and means committee:
BE it Ordained by the Mayor and 4
Councilmen of the City of Topeka:
Section 1. That the Excelsior Coke /
& Gas company, of Topeka. its success !
sors and assigns, is hereby granted the I
right and privilege of using the public 4
streets. avenues and alleys, and public |
grounds of the city of Topeka. for the 1
purpose of laying down pipes and /
mains for the conveyance of gas in and /
through the said city for the use of said |
city and its inhabitants, and the rights /
heretofore acquired by said Excelsior
Coke & Gas company in the streets,
avenues and alleys, and public grounds
of the city of Topeka, are hereby ex-
tended during the said grant, subject
to all the provisions. conditions and
qualifications as provided in this ordin-
ance.
Section . That in making any and
all excavations. and in exercising any
and all the rights and privileges grant
ed by this ordinance. the same shall be
done by said gas company in accord 4
ance with the ordinances of said city |
and in strict compliance with each and