The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-07
THE EDISON FRANCHISE.

and Illuminating company has been
stated number of times to the effect
that electric light is something of a
luxury, patent heat decidedly one,
neither the necessity like water, and
that power-all three of which are fur
nished by the Edison company-is used
by few, but is absolutely necessary to
our present factories and more of them.
Several weeks ago the ordinance
proposed by the company was printed
in these columns. Since that time the
matter has been quite thoroughly dis
cussed and canvassed.
The streets and walks committee of
the council to which was referred the
ordinance has gone over the matter
and has finally agreed to a revised or
dinance which it will present to the
council tonight and recommend it's
adoption. The new ordinance has var
ious provisions in it favorable to the
city which were not in the franchise
under which the company is now doing
business.
Among these provisions is a reduc-
ton of twenty-five per cent in the max
imum charge; that is, to the larger
number of light consumers, particular
ly among the residences.
A provision in the ordinance as
recommended reduces the maximum
charge about one-half that of the
maximum charge in the existing ordi-
nance. The latter provides for light
rate equivalent to about II cents per
sixteen candle power per hour. The
new ordinance provides for &c per
sixteen candle power per hour. The
company states that the same dis
counts will apply under the new rate.
T1lip "a w "a
old franchise permitted the company
to charge as much as a cent and a
half per sixteen candle power per
hour, as a matter of fact the company
for some time has made no charge
higher than one cent.
The proposed new ordinance re-
duces the maximum charge during the
summer months and the months from
April to September, inclusive, from
$3.50 to $1.OO, which will be a saving
of 80 1-S per cent to certain consum-
ers who use little or no light in the
summer time. There are few or no
customers who use less light than to
the amount of $3.50 in the winter
months. The new ordinance also pro-
vides what the old one did not-city
of rates. If the city at any
times thinks the rates are too high, it
can order new ones and the company
will have to put them in force or show
in court why they can't.
After a careful study of the whole
situation, the State Journal believes
that the council should tonight accept
the report of the committee and fol-
low its recommendation to the extent
Of passing the ordinance as it has
been revised and recommended. and
A.
paper.
This is a result Of number of COM |
promises on both sides, and is appar-
emily about the best that can be done. |
This paper believes that the Edison |
of Topeka is not only en-
titled to fair treatment, but also to
LIBERAL treatment, because it is the one |
institution upon which Topeka must |
ely as basis of the big part of the |
growth that is expected of the town; |
hat is, in connection with the estab-
of new manufacturing enter
orises, both large and small. and the |
extension of the factories that are
already here.
The average reader scarcely appre |
GATES the importance of the Edison |
company of Topeka in connection |
With power. A few years ago this
company furnished 36S horsepower to
7arious factories and industries of To-
1eka. Today it furnishes over 5000 |
horsepower. This represents to no |
small extent new factories and in
iustries and the expansion of enter
orises already here.
Every one who has gone over the |
,itv has observed how many new fac
many of the old institutions are add
ng to their plants. An enumeration |
If these matters would fill a long list |
md in nearly every case the Edison
company is drawn upon for power.
During the last eighteen months this
company has put in over and above its
new capital to the amount |
If $215,OOO, and yet today there are
many new and old factories demand
ne power which the company cannot |
It present supply.
Superintendent Maunsell states that
t is necessary, in order to keep up
With Topeka's demands upon their in
stitution, to contract at once for at
east 100000 worth of new machin-
ery and improvements. This amount
8 in addition to the $215, 900 above
noted. To get this new money the
company, which is already in debt, is
obliged to issue new bonds, and such
ponds cannot naturally be placed I'M
Ill a new franchise is secured, the
present one expiring within fourteen
months. 1t is also understood that any
1ne of means who desires to purchase
stock in this company can do so, as
here is some stock representing actu-
lily money put in unsold. 1t is also
that these bonds. which
will bear 5 per cent, can also be pur-
chased by capitalists desiring invest
nent.
Among the consumers of power in
his city are such large institutions by
he score as the Touring mills, the
Western foundry of r. l.. Cofran, Bro