The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-03
KILLED VERY DEAD
Council Puts End to Edison
Plant Water Scheme.
Only Two Councilman Voted in
Favor OF 1t.
CALL BELL FRANCHISE
E. L. Whitney Asks the COun-
ell for One.
Two Sewer Projects Are Pre-
scented at Meeting.
ALL BELL FRANCHISE

At the meeting of the city council
last night the following resolution, IN
troduced by Councilman c. K Holi-
day son of the first president Of the
Santa Fe railway was passed unan-
tmously:
Resolved by the mayor and coun-
ell of the city of Topeka, That any
differences between the management
and the operatives of the Santa Fe
system is to be deplored, and that it
is hoped that the present difficulty in
volvine the closing down of railroad
shops in this city, Will be of short du-
ration
Resolved further. That the mayor
and council of Topeka hereby tender
their good offices and stand ready to
do all in their power to bring about
happy and speedy adjustment of mat
ters in controversy
It was an extremely busy session Of
the city council last night From
o'clock till midnight business was be
ing ground out at a tremendous rate.
There was a veritable cloudburst of
petitions. reports, estimates. commu-
nicauOns, ordinances, resolutions,
specifications. and appointments. and
when the council had finished wading
through the deluge it was necessary
to fix a special meeting for May s to
take up what was still in sight
Edison FRANCHISE h1lle0.
The proposed franchise permitting
the Edison company to construct its
own system of waterWOrks in Topeka
was pushed to its last resting place
at the bottom with so little disturb
ance that it was hard to find the
place where it went down
This ordinance came from the
streets and walks committee with a
favorable report, but attached to the
report was a minority report signed
by Councilman S 5 Rice AS soon as
the matter came up Mr.. Rice moved
the substitution of his report for that
OF the majority. This brought the
representatives Of the Edison COM
pany to the front Edward Wilder.
JOab Mulvane and c. R. MaunseI
each made a speech in behalf of the
company Their chief argument was
that they needed special water service
for the protection of their patrons.
They said that in case of water short
age they would perhaps be unable to
operate their plant. upon which 100
customers depend for light, heat or
power
A lengthy protest, signed by Sc Van
Buren, street property owners was read.
They did not want the company to be
allowed to tear up their street to lay
water mains, as proposed
Councilman Ryder said he might be
willing to vote for a resolution allow
ing the company TO lay a water main
OF it's own but would not vote for a
When the vote was taken on the sub
sdtution Of the minority report, it was
adopted by a nearly unanimous vote
Counctlmen Howe and Holiday seemed
to be the only ones who voted against
it.
New Franchise Asked For.
A brand new franchise ordinance was
sprung on the city council. One E L
whitney asks for 30 year franchise
70 CONSTRUCT an electric system of mes
senger calls for the city. He wants the
right to put up conduits poles and
electric wires. under the usual restric-
tions- His plan is to put in call bells
Dy winch people can summon messen-
gers and delivery boys. He proposes 20
commence the construction of his sys-
tenn within three months and to have
100 call bells in service within six
months.
The ordinance was introduced by
Councilman Holiday. by request of W
A S Bird Mr.. Holiday says he knows
nothing about it.
The ordinance was referred to the
streets and walks committee for inves-
tigation.
Work for Contractors.
Two big sewer projects were passed
by the council last night one for the
Fifth ward and one for the Sixth
Councilman Swendson engineered the
Sixth ward sewer project which is
really a double header. One ordinan nee
provides for the construction of an ok
tension to the Potwin sewer. and the
other for the creation of a benefit dis
trtct to build a sewer for all that part
Of town between Potwin and Huntoon
street These two ordinances were in
troduced, referred to the sewer com
mittee, reported back, passed, and res