The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-10
FIGHT IS OVER.
New Electrical Company Is
Given 3 Franchise.
A Small Guarantee Bond Is
Accepted.
MEANS A RATE WAR.
Edison Company Promises to I'm
dersell New One.
Also Stop Work on the City
Hallway Extension.
A RATE WAR.

after a long and bitter fight the To-
peka Electrical company was granted
a franchise by The city council last
night.
As a result the city Of Topeka will
see one OF the most spirited rate
slashing contests that it has ever ez-
perienced. Electricity viii get so
cheap that it viii be almost given
away.
The Topeka Edison company has
announced that they VIII cut under
the rates made by the new company,
no matter how low they may be- the
new company with what II claims I'M
proved machinery and methods states
grimly that they are in the hght TO
stay Both parties realize fully what
,the granting of the franchise means
Here are the conditions that now
exist, according to the Edison and city
railway officials. Unable now to uoal
bonds to build the Shorey extension
because the council has created a field
for opposition to the Edison company
it viii be impossible now to construct
that line With a clear field the own
ers of the street railway company and
the Edison company would have been
able to make representations winch
would have made 1t possible to dis
pose Of bonds for the proposed con
struction- The bond market is tight
and under the change brought about
by last nights franchise grant it viii
make these plans go by the board.
The franchise was carried through
without any fight or prolonged OratOry.
The opponents Of the franchise saw
early in the day that they were
whipped, and beyond the attempt
made by Councilman JORDAN Tor an
amendment which would provide that
the company would pay per cent on
their gross annual receipts to the city,
every section of the franchise was
passed without delay.
On the final vote the ayes were
Counciimen Simms Griley, Holiday,
Nipps. Montgomery, Sinner. Swend-
son. and Hughes Noes. COuncilmen
Jordan, Green, Horn, and Howe.
The promoters and those interested
IN the Topeka Electrical company
were greatly elated and when the an
nouncement was made that the fran
chise had passed, stamped their feet
and clapped their hands. The mayor
was compelled to rap FOR order.
David Overmyer. attorney for the
new company, said: 'tT never doubted
the outcome a moment All of the op-
position has come from the Edison
company The people have been
with US all the tifne.''
q. r. Maunsen principal promoter
of the Topeka Electrical comDanv.
my associates. We viii probably call
a meeting of the board of directors
some time today to consider the bust
ness that viii come up. We will take
up the question of the acceptance of
the franchise and prOba bly, notify the
council very shortly of our action. A
number of the directors are out of the
city. and this may hinder US some in
holding the meeting"
Mr.. MaunseH also publicly thanked
the council
T. F. DOran, attorney for the Ed
ison company said: "I haven't any
thing to say The people that put
their money in this new company will
lose it. That's ALL
A resolution recommitting the
franchise to the streets and walks
committee, together with Instructions
TO get statement from the Edison
company whether they would make
their present rates effective. was IN
troduced by Councilman Howe THE
friends of the Topeka Electrical com
pa1y lnogght they saw trap in this
ana voted the resolution down.
Terms of the Franchise.
Inc new franchise as granted fol-
lows closely in the main that of the
Topeka Edison company.
me section relating to rates is en-
tirely different and a section describ-
ing its conduit system, a section pro-
viqlng for the expenditure of S125.O0O
on the plant within a certain specifed
time and section providing against a
merger OF combine are new features
Of the Topeka Electrical franchise
The company has thirty DAYS IN which,
TO accept the franchise 1t nuts M, a
guarantee Of s2,500 that it win com
mence work within three months after
the acceptance of the franchise and
expend $125.000 within eighteen
months
Councilman Nipps introduced the
motion fixing the guarantee at S2.50O.
Councilman Jordan attempted to make
IL $4,000, but his motion was in
gloriously lost by a vote Of 10 to >.
AS concession to the city current is
\ furnished for 3 5 street LIGHTS Tho
original agreement was 80 but Council
man Simms amended this last evening
by making it IS lamps. the larnps to
be placed on Kansas avenue from the
southern limits of the city to the
northern limits.
I'll. *. Goodrich. superintendent of
the city electric light plant. attempted
TO explain to the councilmen. that the
strinsing of the street lamps in North
Iopeka on Kansas avenue on the same
circuit as those on the south side on
kansas avenue would interfere with
the city's electric light circuit on tbp
North side but he did not explain It
clearly enough SO that the councilrnen
could understand. When the MAYOR
asked Goodrich If he could suggest
any remedy the latter said he hadn't
thought of any. The council left the
Sinms amendment stand unaltered.
The only time that the council came
near mixing things was toward the
last. Councilman Green pointed ort
what he considered probable DANCERS.
He said; i feel this way. I feel that
I am here to protect the people of the
city I believe in the good faith Of
these gentlemen. but I question wheth-
er they viii be able to eel the n1o,,s,,
to capitalize this company. Now II we
grant this franchise we will lose our
hold to get the reduction in rates be-
cause we could not hold the Edison
company to this reduction. We are
sure OF 5 cent rate and whether we
should let loose of sure thing for. one
49,. 4. 49,.