The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-03
LIGHT MEN READY
Edison People Will Introduce
Franchise Tonight.
Councilmen Will Study Up on
Rate Question.

new franchise introduced. So far as in
Dictated by the Edison company, there
will be no changes in the form of the
ordinance from that printed in the State
Journal and submitted to the various
cOuncilmen last week.
Most of the councilmen who nave ex-
pressed themselves in the matter Sc EN-
to think that the first thing for the
council to do is to get more infOrma-
| ton on the subject of rates. There does
not seem to be much disposition to try
to get a cash bonus from the Edison
company in exchange for the franchise
| but instead to get a mucn lower rate
than the company proposes to give.
AS matter of fact, the Edison COM
pany's rate proposition is SO vague and
uncertain that it means very little.
The sentiment seems to be that the or
dinance should specify a maximum rate
scale. varying with the amount of con-
sumption.
According to the proposed franchise,
the rate shall never exceed q of one
cent per 16-candle power light
per hour Most of the consumers of
the city will find that their bills are
rendered in watts however and not in
candle power. The watt is the standard
of electrical measurement, and the pro-
posed franchise ought to set forth the
rates in watts instead of in candle
power.
According to an electrical expert
16-candle power lamp will burn Sc watts
of electricity in one hour. For this the
Edison company now is supposed to
charge 1 cent with the following sched-
ule of reductions:
From $3.50 to SIS per month, 5 per
cent.
From $50 to $40 per month. Is per
cent.
From $1O1O to $50 per month. 20 per
cent.
From s5O1O to 800 per month. 25 per
cent.
From $50 to 500 per month, 20 per
cent.
A kilowatt is 1 900 watts, and the Ed
ison company therefore now is suppos
ed to charge its customers about II 6-10
cents per kilowatt, with a maximum
reduction of 25 per cent to the custom
er who uses from $50 to 800 worth
month. This would make the lowest
rate presumably about 1919 cents per
kilowatt at the present time.
AS a matter of fact, however. the
rate is very much lower than this. 1t
is claimed that the Edison company
has. very cratic schedule. One To-
peka business man says that he paid II
cents a kilowatt until about a year
ago, when the company came around
to him and told him that he was burn
ing so much electricity that he was en-
titled to % per cent reduction. Since
then he has been paying only cents
a kilowatt. The rate for motive power
electricity is said to vary from to 5
cents per kilwatt'
If the Edison company should be al
lowed TO get d FRANCHISE 1OT lISnlS at
a maximum rate of q cents per 16 can
die power light per hour, it would be
practically a rate of 1872 cents per kflo-
watt. This is higher than it is in most
towns of Kansas OF course Topeka
ought to have a much lower maximum
rate, because of it's large consumption.
A practical electrical man, not con-
nected with the city nor with the Edi-
son company, said today:
1.-THE Edison people have been get
ting tremendous prices for their cleo
tricity, and are still doing so. Even
the proposed % per cent reduction will
leave them charging a big price. the
way they have been improving their
plant shows that they have been max
ing money hand over fist. They now
have one of the finest plants for it's size
in the country. The city ought to in
sist upon a schedule of prices eX-
pressed in watts or kilowatts, and not
in candle power. The candle power IS
a clumsy standard. and does not mean
anything definite.
When the Edison company offers to
reduce rates 70 per cent n still leaves
the rates too high for a city OF TINS
size, where all the electrical BUSINESS is
controlled by one plant. 1t could no
doubt reduce rates so per cent and-st1ll
make fat profits.
One member of the council has sug-
eested that the city give up its munich |
pal street lighting plant, and make a |
contract with the Edison people to fur-
nish light for the city. 1t would be a |
queer proceeding for the city to throw
overheard it's one municipal undertake
ing which has certainly saved the city |
a great deal of money
The superintendent of the city cleo
trio light plant has figured that the cash |
cost of the city lamps per year is $36I5. |
Adding to this the usual percentages |
FOR maintenance, interest and deprecla-
ton gives a total cost per lamp per |
year of $53. SIS. The average cost by con
tract for the same work, through the |
United States, is from $68 to $74. The |
Edison company is said to charge $12 |
year for arcs in business houses. If the
average cost of lamps by contract is $I
1 wear a little figuring will show that
he city saves on it's $40 lamps about
IS 900 a year, and at the same time is
paying maintenance on the plant ana
interest on the $S5,000 invested. The
plant mas been in use for 10 years, and
t has therefore more than pa1d 1or
Itself in saving to the city.
Superintendent H. K. Goodrich SAID
oday: IF the Edison company would
make a contract with the city to sup
,ly us with light at $50 per lamp per
T. But the Edison company won't do
hat Yet it is a fact that the Edison
ompany could supply light at that fig
ire and make a good profit. Their plant
5 operated at a high degree of economy,
nd they can produce electricity much
heaper than can the city
Mayor Bergundtha1 is opposed to the
Thole proposition to closing down the ,
ity electric light plant. He says it is
he best money maker the city mas.
Some extensions and improvements /
re needed at the electric light plant.
Vhv not require the Edison company :
D pay enough for it's franchise to rut
he city electric light plant in first class
ondition with power enough to supply
he city with more lights?