The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-13
Wealthy Kansas City Brewer
Gets Topeka Gas Franchise.
J. s. Parks Is Interested in the
Deal.
EXPECT TO PIPE GAS.
Hope by This Means to Control
Situation Here.
Lively Scramble for the Old
Continental Franchise.

That the Continental Gas and Oil
company's franchise has been sold to y.
S. Parks OF the Continental Creamery
company of Topeka and Ferd Helm CT
Kansas City, who represents the kan
sas Natural Gas company which In
turn is an adjunct company OF the
Standard Oil company, are the latest
developments OF the local natural gas
situation. according to good authority
The Continental company's franchise
has been on the market for some time
past For a time a deal was about to
be closed with a company represented
In the city by Quinton & Quinton. the
consideration being s2,5OO. It is now
stated on good authority that this same
franchise has been purchased by Ferd
Helm for $1,000. the parties who pro-
NOTED the sale receiving an additional
amount. Mr. e. .. Roudebush, assfg-
nee of the company, would not deny
nor would he affirm the truth Of such
a sale. He claimed he really could not
say whether a deal had been closed.
though he maintained that he had an
interest in the franchise. It is known
that the company and interests which
attempting to enter Kansas City
and several weeks ago conditioned
their purchase OF the Continental Gas
compapy'S franchise upon the success
of their efforts in getting into the city
limits of Kansas City.
! Ferd Helm, it is stated, is tied up
with the Kansas Natural Gas company.
Some of the men who are promoting
the Kansas Natural Gas company are
employees Of the Standard OIL company.
The agents most prominently identi-
\ fed are r. NJ. Snyder Of Kansas City
and Mr.. J. G. Mcdowell, whose present
/ headquarters are at independents but
whose home is in Pittsburg Pennsyl-
vanta- Snyder is in the banking bust
ness at Kansas City and at the same
/ time Is the resident agent for the STAN
dard Oil. Mcdowell has been stationed
I for some time past at Independence in
promoting the welfare of the Kansas
| Natural Gas company. c. S. Gleed who
is the attorney for the Kansas Natural
Gas company here is still in Kansas
/ City and could. not be interviewed
However the statement which is attrib-
uted to him that the pipes Of the Kan
| sas Natural Gas company have already
been laid to within the confines Of
Kansas City is declared a hoax by
I local gas men.
In defense Of the fact that the Kan
sas Natural Gas company is now ask
/ ing for a franchise it is claimed that
the Kansas Natural Gas people are not
satisfied entirely with a number OF
/ clauses in the franchise which has
been issued to the Continental Oil and
] Gas company.
One of the latest ideas to be promuI-
gated in connection with the furnishing
y
distributing mains within the city
limits. This is a method that has been
1 in successful operation for a number
of years past through the cities in the
Indiana oil and gas fields. Mayor
Bergundthal's brother was interested
in a mutual company at Indianapolis.
The scheme employed was that gas was
furnished to the stock holders for a
minimum amount, the pipes from the
producing fields belonging to another
company. the gas being delivered at
the city'S limits for a certain stated
sum. The other method employed was
mutual gas company on slightly differ
/ ent lines, the holders of stock securing
/ a better rate than the ordinary con-
sumer of gas until the dividends Of the
original amount OF the investment after
which the gas was furnished to all OF
the citizens of the town at a uniform
rate without discrimination.
MAYOR Bergundthal likes the plan OF
city ownership. He believes If the pipe
line is laid up to within the city's limits
that the city could prOfitably lay mains
within its limits, purchasing the gas
from the pipe line company. Mr.. A. =.
Quinton stated that natural gas par
ties whom he met in New York and
who are interested in the natural gas
ship as entirely feasible and one that
could be carried out.
It is generally conceded that the COM
pany which secures the franchise at
Kansas City viii lay the pipe line to
this city No company can afford to
lay a pipe line with Topeka its primary
and sole base of operations.
With a pipe line to Kansas City the
returns from a pipe line laid to To-
peka would be all velvet" With this
as the state Of conditions the city
could make a deal looking to municipal