The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-01

various kinds The figures which we
have submitted contemplate the install
lation of plant equipped with the
most modern machinery for producing
electric lights at a minimum cost.
According to the figures obtained
from other cities where the lighting is
done by private corporations this rate
is not excessive. 1t is true that the
offer made by the Edison company is
low when compared with that of some
other places, but this is in all proba bill
tiles the result of the fact that the city
owns a plant of it's own"
Referring to the issuance of bonds
for the rebuilding of the city electric
plant. Jonathan Thomas one of the
heavy taxpayers in Topeka, said: I
am most heartily in favor of the bond
issue and believe that it is step
towards the upbuilding of Topeka. The
success of the city waterworks has
demonstrated the fact that the city can
own and operate a plant of the KIND
successfully and save thousands of dol
lars each year for the taxpayers.
'"The light commission which mas
been appointed by Mayor Green is
composed of men of unquestioned abli-
fty and honor and will undoubtedly
handle the electric light business SO
that their work will rebound to their
credit Then there is another thing.
When a plant is owned by corpora
are subject to the dictates of the man
agement of the concern.
Even though the cost of operating
a plant by the city would be as great
per lamp as the charges made by the
Edison company, which l do not ao
nit, 1 feel that the issuance OF soo'ooo
worth of bonds for the rebuilding OF
the plant would be a wise investment
The city can then at all times be tree
from the control of a corporation own
ing the franchise. The proposition is
a good one from all standpoints or view
and 1 believe in the commission anu
the work which it will do and feel that
we will get better service and at low
er rate than if the plant is sold and the
lighting franchise let to a private cor
poration."
Mr. Matthews continued:
From my Investigations L THINK IL
would be a mistake to abandon the
municipal plant 1t has saved the city
much money The city cannot a1oro
to pay the Edison company $50 per
light per year, though that Is low com
pared with what other cities have palo
l will vote for the bonds Our inVesu.
cations showed me conclusively that
there is an organized effort to dls-
courage municipal plants and break
down those in existence.
Has to Confer With Myers.
I'VE asked the General Electric COM
pany for figures, said George T.
Moeser of the committee today, "and
of course expected to get an 1temlzed
estimate and we finally did get par
tial one in a roundabout way. IL is
our understanding, however, that pc
fore the General Electric company can
sell electric lighting machinery either
to Topeka or resident of this city
that it is obliged to confer with Mr.
Myers of the Edison plant.
This seems to be sales agreement
OF some kind which exists between the
General Electric company and Mr. My
ers which leaves the president OF the
Topeka Edison company in position TO
saw whether or not the company can
place machinery in Topeka in compe-
tition with that of the Edison COM
pany. After writing several letters TO
the General Electric company we We're
able to secure figures on portion or
the machinery included in the estl-
mate for electrical equipment which IN
the first plan was about $29,0Oo ana IN
the second nearly $27 900. The figures
which we secured were not complete
enough so that the committee could
itemize the amount designated in its
report
'It is my opinion" said John B.
Marshall, who for ten years was
superintendent of the Topeka Electric
Light plant, that the estimate. made
by the committee, for rebuilding the
plant is entirely too high. In my
opinion a plant sufficient for the needs
of the city at this time could be con-
structed for 5000 as there is much
to be saved from the plant now in
operation
Among other things which the
committee seems to have. overlo okeO
in their estimate, are three dynamos
which I should say are practically as
good as the day that they were placed
in the plant. Some time ago they
tested 96 per cent as to efficiency and
unless they have been greatly abused
they should be in excellent condition
today"
"I presume that the committee
which investigated the electric light
ing proposition made as complete a
report to the Comm ercial club yester-
day as they could from the material
and figures available" said r. l.. Cof-
ran TT seems to me that the re-
ported cost of rebuilding the present
plant is much too high and 1 do not
believe that the commission will be
called upon to spend over half of the
amount of the bond issue and at the
outside not more than two-thirds.
The city electric light plant is in
the hands of its friends and only such
a part of the bond issue as Is absolute
ly necessary will be used. The re-
port of the committee has much the
same ring as the one which has been
promulgated about the city and be-
fore the council for some time past
by Mr. Myers. The members of this
committee have undoubtedly done
their best to obtain fair estimates as
to the ccst of rebuilding the plant
but they have been handicapped in
many ways.
''If after we have gone over the
matter thoroughly we find that we
can get along with twenty-five or
thirty thousand dollars. only that part
of the bond issue Will be used. We
will not be compelled to build a new
plant as some seem to think, but will
merely add to the one now in opera
ton TO meet the demands of the CITY,"
TWILL KEEP BOTH WIVES.