The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-31
Company Proposes to Lease the
City Lighting Plant.
Would Go Into Competition
With Edison Company.
MAKE LOWER PRICE.
Will Beat the Edison Offer OF
$50 Per Light.
And Pay the City 81, 25Oa Year
as Rental.

The meeting of the ways and means
committee of the city council last
night to settle the city lighting ques-
| tion-at least so far as the committee
| is concerned-was the occasion for a
surprise. 1t was the proposition of a
new concern to lease the city plant
and furnish lights at a remarkably
low figure.
The proposition was presented by
Mr.. e. E. Roudebush and was as fol-
! lows:
1--WE desire to present for your con-
sideration a proposition to furnish
electric street lighting for the city of
Topeka.
I'VE will lease the present city
| light plant for a term of twenty years
or thirty years provided we get a con-
tract for the city lighting and a fran
chise to do commercial work.
I'VE will rebuild and equip the
plant at an estimated cost of from
$4,000 to 100000 so that we can
furnish all the light and power re-
quired.
I'VE will pay rental equal to the in
terest at per cent on the present
value of the plant and will agree that
the minimum value of the plant shall
not be considered less than $500
I'VE will furnish 500 either magne-
tite or other satisfactory arc lamps
during the term of our lease at $3.50
| per light per month for an all night
and every night schedule and as many
additional lights as the city may order
at the same price per lamp.
I'VE will agree at the expiration of
| the lease to either turn the plant over
| to the city upon the payment of the in
| voice price at that time, less the pres
| ent invoice price. which we are willing
1 to admit is not less than $25, 900, or re-
new the contract.
| IF our proposition is accepted the fol-
! lowing results:
| First. The city continues to own the
plant
Second No bonds will have to be
voted.
Third. We are giving you price for
| lighting almost as low as the estimate
! of your engineer.
Fourth. We pay interest on bonds
/ equal to the present value of the plant
Fifth. The city has the right to pur-
! chase the. equipment at invoice at ex-
| p1rat1on of contract.
Sixth. We give competition, which
| is very desirable, as it insures reason
able commercial rate.
| Respectfully submitted.
| EMMETT E. ROUDEBUSH,
| For myself and associates
| Mr.. Roudebush said this morning:
| Il do not care to give the names of
| those interested with me. 1t is no bluff
| and if we get the franchise we will do
| the men in the deal are not at all con-
| nected with the Edison company nor
| the gas company. They are nearly all
| Topeka men. l am not against munich
| pal ownership but if the people want to
| own the plant that is all right with me.
! But If they let this contract it means
| that there will be no competition at all
| and that is one purpose of our wanting
to get this other franchise. We do not
want the franchise unless we get the
job of lighting the streets, too. The bus
mess men will see that the letting OF
the contract to the I-dison company
will raise their own lights before long.
1t means no competition
For the Edison Company
A strong petition in favor of giving
the city contract to the Edison com
pany and discarding the city plant
was presented by the Edison company
representatives. 1t was as follows:
ITO the Honorable Mayor and Council
men of the City of Topeka.
"Gentlemen:-As business men and
heavy taxpayers in the city of Topeka
of any further bonds for the recon
struction of lighting plant, and tc
urge upon you the advisability of ac-
cepting one of the propositions sub
mitted by the Edison company. We
think the price is low. We favor the
contracting for the lights at a specific
sum, and trust that your honorable
body may find it wise to close a con-
tract with the Edison company
Respectfully submitted, Chas. w
Merriam. c. o. Knowles, ]. E. Minney
Edwin Knowles, S. s. OFT, w. A L
Thompson, F. w. Freeman, F. NJ
Bonebrake. J. r. Mulvane. A. w
Knowles, Chas. S Elliott, c. E. Jewell
G. P Moser, G. Bowman, VIM. Moeser
Chas Wolff. Robert Pierce, H. B. Kelly
J. J. Wehe, NJ. F. Rigby, G. A. Bailey
]. w. Bailey, w. n. Hall. Horace L
Hail. w. H. Davis, Parkhurst-Davi:
Mercantile Co., NJ. A. Low, Geo. H
Mathews, John c. Harmon. c. B. Mer.
. Ram. A A. GODDARD, J. w. Going, c
e. Foote. D. o. McCray. ]. G. Sloneck-
er. H E. Valentine, ]. w. Wehe, Vim
f. Drechsel w. W. Mills, E. B. Guild
[. c. Bailey, P. 1. Bonebrake, Chas
} McClintock Geo. A Clark, W. NJ
Forbes, H. c. Bowman, E. D. Giles, w
L. Bates S. NJ. Grow, H. Hedderman
Frank J. Brown, w. W. Webb, S. G
Nichols A. Marburg, z. B. Cowgirl
| Warner & Potter. Crosby Bros, Palace
| Clothing Co, W. w. McFerran, H. T
Chase, Dell Keller. Thomas Page, Dav
Id Bowie. A. Fassler. Willis Norton &
81 Co., Petro & Woodford, J. A. Lukens
W. H. Rutter. c. F. Adams, H. c
Greene John D. Pratt, w. A. Forbes
IT, H. FOUGHT, A. Sheetz, John Nystrom
a H G. Buechner, d. J. Hathaway, G. A
, Fernstrom. Topeka Cold Storage, Ice 6
, Fuel Co.. r. F. Hodgins. Continenta
I Creamery Co. by w. F. Jensen, treas
. urer. Jensen Manufacturing Co., Arthu
q Capper, w. c. Carswell, Fred A. Snow