The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-01
.DRENNING is FIRM
Tells Why He Opposes Holiday
Gas Franchise.
Would Give Other Cities Advan-
tage Over Topeka.
PROVIDES HIGH RATE.
manufacturers Would Go Where
Fuel Was Cheaper.
Mr.. Holiday Explains Why He
Can MakesNO Change.
Has necessary cash in Rook
PROVIDES HIGH RATE.
Has Necessary Cash in Bank
Couldn't Touch 1t.

city Attorney Dreaming today gave
out an interview covering his stand
point of the ordinance which was act
ed upon by the streets and walks com
mlttee of the city council. His state
ment: I am unalterably opposed to
the passage of the gas ordinance
framed by Mr.. Holiday and attorneys
in Kansas City, Mo.
'First-Because the proposed ar
rangement allows the Excelsior Coke
& Gas company to furnish the 10000
nhab1tants of Topeka with natural
gas at the exorbitant rate of Is cents
Tor domestic purposes and 80 cents
Tor manufacturing purposes, when
Lawrence has a maximum rate of 80
Genus the Two Kansas CityS IS cents
for domestic purposes and Is cents for
manufacturing, while Ottawa has a
maximum rate of 25 cents per 1000
CUBIC feet and q minimum OF 8 cents
per 1000 cubic feet If we want to
see Topeka grow, we must throttle
this budding monopoly of 5 cent gas.
No manufacturer will locate here with
gas at 80 cents when he can secure it
in other cities at one-half the price.
Again, the thousand of laborers, me
chanicS, artisans, clerks and other
men of moderate means want gas at
% cents instead of As cents. Mr.. FToI-
liday says: I give you my word of
honor we will not charge more than
25 cents per 1000 cubic feet for two
years But when have asked him to
sign a document binding him to his
peculiar style of honor he replies, I
can't can't. Our franchise calls for
40 cents
Second-Promoters have spawned
in rapid succession the Continental Oil
& Gas company, the Home Heat &
Light company, the Consumers Light.
Heat & Power company a whole nest
of corporations. But they are thin in
fabric. The Home Heat & Light com
pany was capitalized at 100000 with
100000 shares at 81 each, and was
ushered into the world with only three
shares of stock subscribed of the par
value of So The Excelsior Coke &,
/ Gas company now controls this whole
choice lot and seeks monopoly by
combining with the sole source of sup
ply of natural gas, the Kansas Natural
Gas company.
"Once this combination is formed by
the granting Of the proposed franchise
| Topeka can bid goodbye to cheap na.tur-
al gas forever. The Excelsior Coke and
/ Gas company with complete set of
mains and the Kansas Natural Gas
COMPANY the only source of supply,
price the honor of Mr.. Holiday will
dictate. am opposed to this monopo-
""
Mr.. Holidays Statement.
Councilman Holiday has given out
the following statement:
The way to get natural gas. is to
get it.
1.-THE Consumers Light, Heat and
Power company, own the only natural
gas franchise in existence in Topeka.
/ It was passed by the council some two
years ago. This company is ready to
go to work; is all financed, money in
the bank. Rather than tear up Tope-
ka's 40 miles of paved streets an ar
tween the natural gas and the manu-
featured gas companies, whereby the
Natural Gas company can use the
manufactured gas company's mains for
| the distribution of natural gas, as long
as it lasts. The two companies are-nn-
~ awaiting the consent of the city to
this arrangement.
! IF it is granted, and there is every