The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-27
FOR so YEAR LIFE
Edison Electric Company Asks
for New Franchise.
Campaign Has Been Made With
COunciImen.
is KEPT VERY QUIET.
Canvass Has Been Conducted
With Secrecy.
Proposed to Give Consumers %
Per Cent Reduction.
Terms OF Ordinance Which will
Be Introduced.


pany expects to apply for a new 30
year franchise to do business in the
city of Topeka, and to offer a 25-per
cent reduction in rates. The COM
pany's present franchise will expire
on Jan. 25, 1906.
Copies of the proposed new fran
chise have been placed in the hands
of each member of the city council,
and Joab Mulvane, one of the officers
of the Edison company, has been in
terviewing the various councilmen and
explaining what is wanted. The af-
fair has been managed very secretly.
1t has been being gradually urged
upon the members of the council for
several weeks past.
Mr.. Mulvane was not inclined to be
communicative about the matter today.
He said:
1--WE expect to ask for a new fran
chise, perhaps at the next council
meeting. The franchise has not been
say just what it will contain. 1t will
offer a reduction in rates on both light
and power. AS soon as we are ready,
I shall be glad to explain the pro-
visions of the franchise fully to the
public
The work so far has been done
with the city council. If the Edison
company can line up the council it
can afford to let the public wait for
its information about the proposed
new franchise.
There is nothing in the new ordi-
nance about the minimum monthly
charge. The company now renders no
bills for less than $3.50 a month, and
the customer has to pay that much
at least whether he uses any electric
light or not OF course this is not
right. The customer should pay for
what he gets.
The company offers to reduce the
price of electricity from 1 cent per
hour for a 16-candle power light to
q cent per hour for the same amount
of electricity. When asked today
whether the same reduction applies to
power as to light, Mr.. Mulvane said:
I'VE sell light and power on the
same basis. There is no difference in
our standard of measurement"
The Edison company is now supply
ing all the electricity used by the city
railway, and its business has developed
remarkably during the past few years.
1t has built uD a splendid plant in this
city, and with an extension in it's fran
chise will no doubt continue to be one
of the great industries of which To-
peka is proud. But the rights of the
city must be protected, and an ade-
quate compensation must be secured
for placing this great public utility in
the hands of a private corporation for
the next thirty years
1t may be too early to criticise the /
various provisions of the proposed |
franchise ordinance which Mr.. Null |
vane has distributed among the mem |
bers of the city council, because Mr.. !
Mulvane himself says that no fran |
chise has been drawn up. Before the I
final draft of the ordinance comes be- |
fore the council, some changes may be |
made by the Edison company's attor-
neys.
The Franchise in Full.
AS it now stands, the proposed ordi-
nance is as follows:
An ordinance authorizing the Edi-
son Electric Illuminating company of /
Topeka, its successors and assigns, to
build. maintain and operate a plant to
furnish electric light, power and heat
and to use the streets and alleys of the
city of Topeka for said purposes.
Whereas, the Edison Electric
company of Topeka, an
existing corporation under the laws
of the state of Kansas. is now doing
business under its charter in the city
Of Topeka in conformity with a fran
chise heretofore granted by the mayor
and council of said city of Topeka. the
said company having invested a large
sum of money in its buildings, ma
appurtenances and appliances for the
on of the business of manu-
'acturing, producing and transmitting
% it's customers light, power and heat,
he said company desiring to continue
he said business and to increase. en-
arge and extend it's plant and facili-
les so that it may promptly meet the
Increasing demands of the public for
service, and to this end and for all the
lbove named purposes, the said Edi-
on Electric Illuminating company of
Topeka requests that a new contract
IT franchise ordinance be made be-
weeen the said city of Topeka and
aid Edison Electric Illuminating COM
,any of Topeka.
Whereas 1t is desira BILE that such new
ranchiSe ordinance or contract be made
nd entered into by the said city of To-
eka and said Edison Electric Illum-
mating company of Topeka.
Now therefore, be it ordained by the
mayor and councilmen of the city of To-
eka:
Section l. That the right to use any ]
f the alleys and streets and parks and
o cross any bridges of the said city for
he erection, construction. placing, |
maintaining, operation and use of such
oles and wires, cables, conduits, pipes,
nd appliances as are now used by the
aid Edison Electric Illuminating COM
any of Topeka, and such as may here {
fter be needed in the extended con- {
truction, maintenance and use of a |
liant and system for the manufacture
nd production of electricity and for {
he supply and transmission of light,
over and heat, and the right to main {
ain and operate such said plant and s
ystern as are now established together E
18th such extensions. additions and i'm | /
rovements as may hereafter be added ]
rereunto within the city of Topeka. is t
ereby granted to the Edison Electric I
company of Topeka, and f
on organized under the laws Of the