The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-31
lola TO GET GAS PLANT.
But Little Now in Way of Closing
the Deal.


lola, Kan, Dec. 31.-IoIa city has
at last made arrangements to pur-
chase the property of the lola Gas
company and it will belong to the city
when they pay for it. That time is
somewhat in the distance how far no
one can tell. 1t is dependent on so
many conditions that it is useless to
speculate on the day when the plant
will come into full possession of the
city.
The committee from the council
who have been conducting the negotia-
lions secured the best terms they could
from the company and outlines of the
contract were submitted to the council
The most important features to lola
people are the terms and price of gas.
The city is to pay $4,000 for the
plant with the betterments that have
been added since the offer was pre-
scented. These are not known but they
will probably run the contract price
to 100000 at least and they may go
higher than that. The entire holdings
of the company in the northern field
and the pipe line from that section to
the city go with the plant and the
exact cost of these have not been
figured. The price of gas to consum-
ers will be materially raised. They
Cook stoves in private dwellings 50
from October l to April / and $3.50 a
month for the balance of the year.
Heaters So a month for six months
ers shall not be charged for longer
than six months in the year. Heaters
in offices and stores from 50 to SIS a
month, according to the space oc-
cupied. The company will have the
right to arrange the space. Lights go
1 5 cents for the first one and 10 cents
for each additional light but where
they are burned after IL o'clock they
are liable for double the amount. Fac
tories can get the gas for cents a
thousand but consumers will have to
pay 221a cents for same amount. In
school houses, churches and furnaces
the old schedule is not changed.
These prices are a very heavy adj
vance over existing prices but not so
great over those recently granted by
the council. But even present ordi-
they will be after January 1, 1905.
The prices are to be in force after that
date and the publication of the
ordinance of purchase.
This plan of purchase makes it pos
sible for the city to refuse at any
time to carry out the contract with
out Subjecting them to any danger of
damages. The gas company, however,
cannot get out of their part of the
contract if the city lives up to its
agreements. But if the city should
refuse to pay over the money re-
ce1ved from customers the company
can declare the contract forfeited.
Th1s, of course, the city will not do
but they can refuse to carry the con-
tract out. So in its last analysis the
contract is purely tentative on the
part of the city. For instance. if at
any end of any stated settlement time
the city finds they are paying more for
gas without reaching within a reason
able time of complete purchase the
council has the right to refuse to go
on further with it and the plant will !
revert back to the company uncondi- !
tlonaiiy. This is regarded as a serious |
oraWDack by many because 1T sub
jects the plant and the contract to |
changing political conditions. 1t is !
fairly certain that the plant will be- !
come the subject Of city politics prob |
ably during the coming spring cleo |
ton but certainly before the plant is |
hnally paid for. What the result of !
agitation of the subject will be cannot. |
OF course, be foretold