The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-01
IS THIS cHEAP GASP

E. II. S. Bailey's estimate that 1900
feet of natural gas is equivalent to one.
/ ton of Kansas coal. the cost of the
equivalent of a ton Of coal is as follows:
Gas at IS cents..........s6.S0
Gas at so cents. S4.20
Hence if a manufacturer expects to
use natural gas at the 80 cent rate pro
I vided in the ordinance, he viii be pay
! ing the equivalent Of $3.50 q ton for his
fuel
/ There is nothing cheap about this. No
manufacturer could afford to use nat
ural gas. Nor could anyone use nat
uraI gas for domestic purposes when it
costs $3.50 for the equivalent of a ton of
Kansas coal.
But Councilman Holiday, president of
the Gas company, says he will make
two year contracts with domestic con-
sumers to furnish natural gas at IS
cents per 1000 feet. The equivalent of
$3.50 ton for Kansas coal This is just
about what the best Usage coal sells for
in Topeka under normal conditions. It
is doubtful whether natural gas viii
supplant coal at % cents per 1000 feet.
There are certain vague promises
made by Mr.. Holiday to fix the rate on
natural gas for manufacturing concerns
at the same it is in Kansas City. Kan,
and Kansas City, Mo. This is a maxi
mum Of Is cents per 1000. Mr.. Holh-
/ days proposition is all right, but he
should not protest so much against its
incorporation in the franchise.
1t is not worth consideration unless
( it is in the franchise The same re-
mark applies to the 25 cent rate of gas
for domestic consumption.
/ OF TX lr1aoV4r awoo RIvr 1--4,o+ srr1 70
get. Topeka has had too much of this
vague and uncertain wording of import
ant franchises. The old Excelsior gas
franchise and the Topeka water fran
chise cost the city thousands upon
thousands Of dollars simply because
they were not sufficiently specific in
their terms. and led to litigation
Mr.. Holiday says that if Topeka
fixes higher maximum rate, Topeka
will get natural gas for years after the
supply becomes too short to give Kan
sas City any at all. Who can be de-
ceived by such fiimsy argument? It is
estimated that the gas fields of Kansas
are good for twenty years. Is Topeka
to wait twenty years before 1t gets any
benefit from natural gas? Are We to
sit still and watch the two Kansas
/ Citys forge ahead with their cheap
natural gas. using up the natural ad-
vantages to which Topeka is at least
equally entitled? It costs no more tc
sell natural gas in Topeka than in
Kansas City. Therefore Topeka should
have just as low rates. We want the
natural gas now, on equal terms with
Kansas City. We viii take our chances
on getting as much good out of ouI
opportunities as does the Missouri
metropolis which ought in all equity
be entirely disbarred from the use OF
the limited supply of Kansas natural
gas. Kansas does enough for Kansas
city, Mo, without furnishing it fue
at a cheaper rate than it supplies its
own inhabitants.
Mr.. Holiday makes the threat that
unless the council agrees to give him a
new franchise at the IS and so cent
rate, the natural gas company will
+ proceed to tear up 40 miles OF paved
streets in Topeka and law new sys
tenn of mains. That is in all prob
ability big bluff With uncertain
prospects as to the life of the natural
gas fields, the local natural gas con-
Germ is not likely to spend the amount
which would be necessary to ''gridiron'
the towns If the natural gas CON-
streets of Topeka blockade traffic
annoy citizens of Topeka, defy public
sentiment and make itself generally
obnoxious. it would better guess again
In order to do business in Topeka the
natural gas people must have the
friendship not only of the city council
but of the whole mass of citizens
The natural gas company-is not likely
to be so foolish as to prejudice its
case by a ruffianly defiance of public
sentiment. No corporation can make
money in the face of aroused public
opposition, and Mr. Holiday and tho
Consumers Natural Gas company
know this.
The city council should plainly tel
Mr.. Holiday that the new franchise
which he seeks shall contain the same
schedule of maximum rates which ars
provided for Kansas City, Kan, anc
Kansas City, Mo. If he does not wani
l the franchise on these terms, he is moi
obliged to take it. There are other
? natural gas companies.
We have Citizen Holiday; we. have
Councilman Holiday and president
Holiday of the Gas company-a nvels
l triangular unit. We hope all pulling fol
z Topeka, not to mention President Holli.
< day of the Commercia-all we trus
/ standing four-square for the Capita
City.
t Charley Holiday Is a very nice gen.
: tleman; he is popular with his col
leagues in the council and popular witt
I the people who elected him to the coun-
S ell. But even popularity such al
r Charley Holidays has been known t.
= wither and blast in the furnace heat 0.
e popular indignation. The people of thii
] town are getting rather weary of th'
. ease with which franchises are grabbed
2 by energetic promoters.
= Topeka has been fimfammed again
p When Mr.. Byran delivered his lectur
s here "a few weeks ago on "The Valu
Q II ILL, l.. as.a-..A -. z.