The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-01
PLANT TRANSFERRED.
New Company Today Took Charge of
Edison Property.

The Topeka Street Railway company
today took formal possession of the
plant of the Edison Electric Illunina-
ting company. q
Topeka Street Railway company, and
their associates have been arranging the 4
details involved in taking physical pos
session of the Edison Electric Illumina-
ting companys plant, recent purchase
by them from its former owners The
new company is known as the Topeka
Edison company and is capitalized for
81, 250, 900.
The new owners have been engaged
in going over the books and other prop
erty of the company the greater part
of the day The following directors of
the new company have been in the
city: B. E. Sunny, L. FL Myers, F.. w.
Wilson, George B. Caldwell, H. Taylor
All of these gentlemen live in Chicago.
Mr. Myers stated this noon that no
changes would be made i'll the line up
of the employees and that superintendent
Maunsell will be retained in that ca
pacity as heretofore.
The reduction in the rates for electric
light and power viii go into effect on
the first of September instead of No
vember 1st as the franchise ordinance
provides. The new company proposes
to spend close to $2O0,000 in improve
ments and betterments of the plant.
This will take in line extensions and
an increase in the~size of the central
plant. The new company believes that
with the marked reduction in the rates
that there will be a corresponding in
crease in the number of consumers. and
with this in view large $500 horse
power engine will be installed. The
small units will be removed, the large
engine taking its place. The small unit
engines will be installed in the old street
railway power house on East Second
street and the heavy load which occurs
between 5 O'Clock and nine o'clock in
the evening will be taken care of in
this manner without any embarass-
ment After the installation of the new
engine the street railway power house.
will be closed down as. formerly.
An electrical engineer is now prepar-
ing plans for the improvements Wh1ch
will be made. 1t will take from three
to four months to complete the install
lation of the new engine which the
company proposes to purchase. After
that time all of the consumers will be
handled directly from the Van Buren,
street plant.
w. A L. Thompson, ]. E. Hurley
and M. A Low are directors in the new
company; these are the only residents
of Topeka who have an interest in the
organization. In addition to the names
that have already been MENTIONED T.
A. Potter, Theo. P. Bailey and H F.
Fenton of Chicago are on the director
ate. 1t is understood that the Topeka
men hold only a nominal interest.
Mr.. Myers said with regard to the
rumor that the Edison company would
make a proposition to light the streets
of the city, 1--WE do not intend to make
a proposition of that kind. If the city
wants to enter into a contract with US
for that sort of thing. we are willing.
We have no proposition to make the
council, if they want to approach US
with a proposition we are willing to
consider it. Our ordinance provides
that we must be prepared to take care
of lighting the city's streets if the
council desires to enter into a contract
We believe in living up to all of the
terms of the ordinance. We would be
glad to enter into al contract with the
Slty Tbs ss,i atFsgt ifPf5 aFe h2W eS5I
think. 1t is costing fully $50 per
lamp, though it IS claimed that the
cost is but $42. BY the time they fig
ure in the depreciation, the 5nterest on
the investment and the improvements
the cost will be found to run up to
close $50 per lamp. If the council
wants to take UP this matter with us
we are willing"
Mr.. Myers continued: II can say
with absolute assurance that the policy
of the company will be broad-gauged
| and conducted on the same public
| spirited basis that the street railway is
! being conducted