The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-14
DELAY INDICATED.
Plan to Have Another Engineer
Report on Light Plant.
Two Already Are in the City
Archives.
MIR. MYERS APPEARS.
Asks the Council to Take More
Time.
Question Has Already Been I'm
der Consideration a Year.

The city is to engage the services of
another electrical engineer who is to
make a thorough examination of the
city electric light plant, and an ex-
haustive report and recommendations
as to the cost of remodeling the pres
ent city plant with view to furnish
ing 500 lights.
The ways and means committee of
the council voted last evening instruct
ing the mayor to enter into negotia-
tons for the services of an engineer.
Meantime the ordinance calling for a
special election to vote bonds for the
improvements contemplated will be
held up until an engineer is secured
and a report is made. This may delay
the matter so that it can not be sub
mitted at the general election which
would greatly please the Edison COM
pany.
The council must secure such a re-
port and act upon it favorably or
otherwise before the 2sth of March, if
It intends to submit the voting of
I bonds at the regular municipal election
on April Z. The proclamation calling
the sneclal election must be publish
ed at least ten days before the election
is held. The council has therefore
about five weeks in which to hire the
engineer, secure report and pass the
ordinance.
committee last evening and was so ex-
pressed individually by a number of
the members that the electric light
plant should be placed in the hands of
a commission when it is remodeled.
Members who have never expressed
themselves that way before showed
that they had changed their mind
and favored taking the plant out of the
present unbusinesslfke management by
the council committee and placing it
oh Of
plcatlng the record made by the
waterworks.
The council during the past two
years mas had two different reports
mace upon the estimated cost of re-
modelling to an increased capacity of
SOU lamps, but neither is accep pied as
being entirely satisfactory or as COM
plete as it should be. The Brill report
was stated last evening to be too high
big cut has been made in the price
or iron products within the last few
months. Last year the board of water
works commissioners paid $SS per ton
Tor water mains; just a few weeks ago
the very same material was purchased
from the same manufacturers at s28
per ton, cut of ten dollars per ton
Big reductions have been made in
machinery, copper wire and products of
the iron trade. On this account 1t is
and by Freeman are both excessive to
that extent. The second report sub
mitted by r. M. Freeman of Kansas
university is stated not to be as exhaus-
tive as desired. although Freeman made
careful estimates, surveys and exam
nations. Others also declare that they
do not desire to have an electrical en-
g1neer whose experience has largely
been on theoretical lines. The commit
tee stated last evening that they wish
ed to engage the services Of man who
had had extensive construction exper-
fence and operative experience as well
as technical knowledge even though it
would cost several hundred dollars to
procure the services of such a man.
Five members of the committee were
present last evening including Coun-
cilmen Montgomery Hughes, Lannan,
Howard and Van Ness. Councilmen
Jordan and Blakely, though not MEM
bers of this committee, were in attend
ance as was also Mayor VIM. Green.
Harry Whittelsey Of the Whittelsey
Mercantile company said when the or
dinance came up for discussion: 1--WE
would like to have a little more time in
which to prepare estimates and facts
and figures to show wherein Mr.. Myers
may be wrong. This thing came up
very suddenly and we were not prepared
for it. think that the committee ought
to give us more time in which to get
together our figures and present our
side.''
What the committee has to consider
is this ordinance" INTERCEPTED Mayor
Green. 1.-THE only thing for them to do
Is to consider the form Of this ordinance
and the amount Of the bonds. If the
council has gone on record as it has by
instructing the city attorney to prepare
this ordinance 1t is your duty simply
to pass upon it,
''Mr. Whittelsey." said L. E. Myers
of the Topeka Edison company. "has
the notion that the Edison company
is responsible for this matter coming
h.
the committee. You do US an injus-
tice if you consider to the contrary.
I have always felt that there was a