The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-31

An expert engineer writing about the
use OF gas engines to Topeka coun-
Gilman says:
THAT progressive engineers are
convinced of the reliability of the
modern gas engine is evidenced by
Such large intallations as that Oh the
California Gas & Electric company in
San Francisco, 5000 horse power, or
that of the Lackawanna Steel COM
pany at Buffalo of $4,000 horse power.
Gas engines are used by the Hurklns-
Wills Lime & Cement company or 81
Louis, Gillian Electric Light company
of Gillian, Mo-. Tanvirn Milling COM
pany of Tanvirn, Okla, Parsons Water
Supply company of Parsons, Kansas,
Cambridge Electric Light company of
Cambridge, Neb. All of these com
panies use Weber engines. Westing-
house engines are used by the lola
Portland Cement company of lola,
Kansas, Fredonia Portland Cement
company of Fredonia, Kansas, Union
Traction company of CoHeyVllle, ran
sas, NJ, K. & It. Terminal company OF
Kansas City, Mo. The Westinghouse
company has over 100, 900 horse power
of gas engines in operation Snow en-
gines are used by Kansas Natural Gas
company, COMPRISING plant. Fetro-
liza, Kansas, Independence Eleculc
Light company of independence, Kan
sas, Webb City Electric Light company
of Webb City, Mo-
Speeches Against City Ownership
Speeches were made on both sides of
-
city attorney said: "It has been my ex.
perience as a city official that the light
plant is costing the city more than the
figures of the superintendent snow.
am not speaking. against municipal
ownership but think the city Will save
money by letting the contract.
Ex-Mayor Davis spoke in favor of
the contract method He said: I do
perience in the affairs of the city
ought to hesitate in accepting the
proposition of the Edison company. 1t
means that the city can get its lights
cheaper than it could by running its
own plant.
at do not believe that the council
should submit the question to the vote
of the people because it might carry
and the council is in position to know
which will be to the best interests OF
the city. The council should take no
chances but should accept the PROPOSE
ton and make the contract"
A. A. GODDARD said: Il am here SIM
ply as a tax payer and not in the in
terest of any corporation. 1 want the
city to contract with some company to
furnish lights. We have already
large debt and we do not want any
more bonds issued" 1t will be no
ticed that the main kick of the petition
which was presented favoring accep-
lance of the company's offer and the,
objection which all those who are not
acquainted with the facts in the case
is in regard to the issue of bonds.
Everybody says we do not want any
more bonds.
Taxpayers Oppose Contract System.
c. D. Skinner said today: 1.-THE real
reason that our city fathers are tired
of operating the city electric light
plant seems to be because there is no
income arising from it as in the case
of the waterworks plant which shows
a neat profit at the end of every quar-
ter. Now why not realize a similar
profit from our light plant by furnish
ing power to all users at fair re-
| muneratiVe price and thus utilize the
waste time of the, men and machinery
for they practically stand idle from
early morning till late at night. There
are plenty of power users who would
buy it, we might even offer some
new enterprise enough power to at
tract them to our city, offer them a
bonus of power instead of site. Let
US keep our plant by all means. at
least till we can submit it to vote of
| the people,
| J. A Ramsey says in a communica-
| ton to the State journal:
| ITO the Editor of the State Journal:
IT have been we'll pleased to see the
fight you are making for continued
municipal ownership of our electric
| light plant.
| 1.-The late city council gave away
| the rights of the people of Topeka to
| every benefit from franchises, tying
| the city up for a period of thirty years
| on every thing they could think of.
| They even tried to barter away the
| waterworks but were foiled in the at
| tempt by the vote of the people to
| purchase them. Take glance at the
| water we drink now. and consider our
water service as compared with what
we had under the management of a
! corporation. The same condition is
| with us now as to the electric lighting
of our city. Shall we give away a
| valuable franchise or right, destroy
| the plant of the people, thus rendering
| he danPnd6nfS
| this corporation for light in the fu-
ture? Rather. I would say. let the
| city buy out the plant of the Edison
company and furnish better ear SER
| vice and electric lighting for the resi-
| dents of our city. If the Edison COM
pany or the Topeka Railway com
! pany, all one. will give me the receipts
| of one of the 'dinky' cars we are COM
| na1Iad To use on the Lowman Hill
/ line for Just one week, I will go on to
the market and bug better car any
| time. We get no extensions; see Where
| the Eighth avenue line stops at Gay.
| while fhe conductor and mOtorneer
NAV checkers and visit to XIII Tune.
Yet beyond lies the governors man
| sion and beautiful WestlaWn, Chrlst
| boSnitaI and further out MOTIFS ave-
| mo neopIe who have been wanting
| this extension. The Washburn line
| they will not extend even 10 the 1901
| ball grounds but compel tnelr patrons
| to wade through the mud. But we are
| tied nm to this corporation for thirty
| wears and they snap their myers IN
| our faces and ask US what we VIII &c
about it. No, let the people still own
the nlant. Renew it and place it I'M
der the management of the water com
missioners; later buy the rights OF TINS
lcornora ton and give the people better
car service and business electric light
ing at a reasona BILE cost
| ~. A. RAMSEY. 925 Morris ave.
Truth About St. Joseph
In regard to the claim that munich
nal ownership of light plants is a fail
ure in ST. Joseph the city council sent
a communication to the city cleo
4-toio. Ct InSarnh making innuirieS.