The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-28
IT DOESN'T SUIT.
Natural Gas Franchise Not Like
Others.
Rates Are Higher and PrOYi-
sion More Liberal.
no BE HEARD TONIGHT.
City Attorney Dreaming Makes
Some Important Suggestions.
These VIII Be Considered by
Streets and Walks Committee.

A reduction in the maximum rates
Tor domestic and manufacturing pur-
poses.
Free service of gas to the city
buildings for Illuminating and heat
ing purposes.
Furnishing free connections and
meters.
A bar to the further transfer ard
sale of gas franchises except as a Sc
curity to secure a mortgage Oh prop
erty already existing.
The issuance of, a franchise direct to
the Excelsior Coke and Gas company.
The above are the recommendations
which City Attorney Dreaming will
make to the streets and walks COM
mittee tonight when they Will acr
upon the proposed ordinance of allow
ing the Consumers Heat, Light and
Power company to utilize the mains of
the Excelsior Coke and Gas company
for the distribution of natural gas.
The city attorney addressed a num-
Der of letters to the surrounding cities
Thursday asking fer copies of the
franchises granted.
Returns were received this morn
ing from the city clerks of Lawrence.
Kansas City, Kan, and Kansas
City, Mo.
Provide Revenue for City.
features in common. They are as fol-
lows: The payment Of . per cent per
annum on the gross receipts into the
city treasury; furnishing free heating
and lighting Of all the city public
buildings; the filing of a surety bond
to insure the carrying out of the terms
of the franchise entered into.
Two franchises have been sranted at
Lawrence, one to the Douglas County
Gas and Oil company and the other to
j.. A. Sharpe.
The franchises are identical with ref
erence to furnishing natural gas. The
rates specified are a maximum, 80 cents
Tor domestic purposes and 10 cent
minimum rate for manufac curing pur-
poses. The franchises are granted for
q term Of 20 years.
Free Heat and Light for City.
The companies securing the right are
required to furnish all Of the city
buildings, together with the public Ii
brary, with free heat and light. The
frst franchise was granted April 8
1904, and the second on February 10
1905, both of these franchises are still
in operation The Douglas County Oh
and Gas company has been purchased
by J. J. Helm and his associates an6
it is to this company that the Kansas
Natural Gas company will supply gas
Kansas City, kan, offers almost
identically the same conditions as ap-
ply here locally. The franchise was
granted to the Wyandotte Gas com
pany which has been supplying the city
hitherto with artificial gas A new
franchise which applies only to natura
gas was granted to the Wyandotte Gas
company This terminates when the
natural gas supply is no longer avail
able. The franchise contains some
very admirable features and is in fact
the strongest franchise which has beer
received at the city building.
A sliding scale is adopted with refer
ence to domestic rates covering the first
i've years, after that date the So cents
maximum rate obtains. The scale ar
ranged follows: First two years. %
cents; third year, % cents; fourth year
% cents; fifth year, 80 cents: sixth
year maximum rate Of IS cents.
Special Rates for Factories
The following section of the franchise
shows the method in which rates for
manufacturing purposes are granted
And may also make special rate cen
tracts with consumers at less thar the
general rates then in force based upor
amount of gas used and conditions OF
contract, which special rates shall bc
the same to all consumers using The
same amount of gas under the same
contract conditions, and schedules O.
such special rates and the contract con
dftions shall be fled with the city cIerl
and each and every change therein shall
also be filed with the city clerk and bs
omen to public inspection"
The company is allowed the privilege
OF charging 2 cents additional per thou.
sand feet for all gas bills past due ter
days and a rebate is further grained Il
the same amount on all bills paid II
advance.
The franchise also prevents the com
many from selling its franchise or tradins
or disposing or transferring it franchise
70 another firm, corporation or individ
ual except in the advent OF securing {
mortgage upon the property belonging