The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04
new ONE is IN.
Gas Company Wants an Electric
Light Franchise.
An Ordinance to This Effect lis
introduced.
WOULD FURNISH BOTH
Councilman Holiday Says Com
pany Would Enlarge Its Field.
Supt. Maunsell Says Scheme Is
to Force Sale Of Edison.

The Consumers Heat, Light and
Power company proposes not only tc
furnish the city with natural and
manufactured gas, but in addition
they are now asking the city council
TO grant them a franchise ordinance
for thirty years for the erection
maintenance and operation of a plant
to furnish electric light and power to
the city of Topeka and it's inhabitants
and any person or corporation.
The proposed franchise was intro
duced by @. K. Holiday, councilman
from the Second ward, last night
The ordinance was referred to the
ways and means committee of the
council in conjunction with the gas
and electric lights committee. No
further action except merely its ref
Nerence to the committees was taken.
Mr.. Holiday said in explanation:
II just received notification late this
evening by telegraph from New York
city to have the ordinance prepared
and presented to the council. It's an
action which Mr.. Brady of the Con-
sumers' company has had long in
mind. He has for a number of years
been considering the proposition OF
entering into the electric light and
power business here in Topeka. He
has said, however, nothing to anyone
concerning his plans, and aside from
a few of his associates in business no
one was aware of his intentions
THE natural gas situation here has
precipitated matters. When we have
made the rounds soliciting for natural
gas business among the merchants we
have found that they have invariably
asked for electric light window deco
Tations. AS soon as you have natural
gas from one company and electric
lights from another there is more or
less trouble. We decided that we
would be prepared better if we could
furnish both electric light and gas
light to our patrons.
I'VE are willing to furnish any sized
bond to insure that we will carry out
the terms of the contract and that we
are in earnest. We have from $3.50, 900
TO $4,000 to invest in a plant OF this
character and We will be prepared as
fully as the Edison company to furnish
every kind of electric power and light.
can't say whether we would consider
a proposition to purchase the Edison
cOmpanyS plant or not. That is some
thing which is beyond my authority to
say"
Superintendent MaunselI of the Edi-
son Electric Illuminating company said
this morning after he had noticed the
proposed franchise: Il think that there
is no question but it is an attempt to
force US to a sale. 1 don't know what
the owners of the plant will do, whether
or not they will consider a proposition
to sell out. AS far as the rates are con-
. cerned I am not in a position to state
what think of them until after I have
examined the proposed franchise more
carefully"
Ex-Mayor W. S. BergundthaI who is
chairman of the business mems commit
tee Investigating the Edison's present
rates stated that it was an entirely new
matter to him and that he was not pre-
pared to say anything. 81 think the
rates are very fair though" he contin-
ued.
Mr.. Joab MuIvane, president of the
Edison company was not in the city.
The proposed franchise offers several
important inducements which are not
contained in the franchise pending be-