The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-13
THE GAS SHORTAGE
Mayor Green Discusses Proposed
Suit Against Gas Company.
Will Call Council Together If
Members Desire.
STATE SHOULD ACT.
Could Compel Kansas Natural
to Supply City First.
Forfeiture OF Franchise Would
Mean No Gas at All.

The sentiment in Topeka in regard
to taking some action in order to Sc
cure an adequate supply of gas for
the city is becoming more strongly
pronounced each day. The council
men think that something should be
done and it is possible that a special
meeting of the city council will be
called to take place during the pres
ent week. This will be done. accord
ing to Mayor Green, in case as many
as three councilmen request it.
The next meeting of the council
will be held next Monday evening,
but should another cold wave strike
the capital city the chances are that
the citizens would again have to suf-
fer on account of an inability to neal
their homes. and there are a great
many of the prominent citizens OF
Topeka who believe that action should
not be put off.
A dozen lawyers have expressed
the opinion that the failure on the
part of the Consumers Light, Heat q
Power company to supply the proper
amount of gas for heating the homes
and buildings of the city is just
grounds for forfeiture. Among those
who believe that some kind of action
should be taken is Attorney General
! Jackson. The attorney general be-
lieves that it can be shown that af-
ter the pipe line was laid to Topeka
| and after the contract was made TIC
furnish this city with natural gas, the
Kansas Natural Gas company laid its
pipe lines to Kansas City, Mo-, to St
! Joseph, Mo, and that it is now trying
| to make arrangements to supply st
| Louis with gas. He believes that To-
| peka should be supplied first on ac-
count of priority of contract. Nc
definite action, however. will probably
| take place until the whole proposition
| has been thoroughly gone over
Mayor Green Talks.
| ST am in favor of the council giving
| the city legal department authority tc
| investigate the matter thoroughly
and adopt the best methods for OBJ
| tanning gas said Mayor Green this
the city was familiar with the
situation. 1 have talked with attor-
neys who were prejudiced and I'M
| prejudiced and if I were to prepare
| have CLEANED I am afraid that they
would not meet with the approval OF
the people.
| II will say this. that I will lend my
| help by favoring the idea of the 1ega
, department ueing the power of the de
| partnnenf to secure gas. az *
As to annuIling the franchise wifi
! the local company 1 do not think thai
! any possible good could come from 1t
| We want the gas.
l 1t has been suggested uhat IL tine
! city anaulled the franchise it could die
tate terms. but the question is who car
better stand wait the company or tbs
| city.
This year there is 35 pounds less
! pressure on the main line than veal
! ago The pressure was 285 pounds last
| year, but this year it does not go above
80 pounds. If there is any chance thai
| the gas fields are failing. then perhaps
| the Kansas Natural Gas company woult
+, be glad of getting out of obligation OF
supplying Topeka with gas. Even Il
! there was plenty of gas the local COM
lany can't do any differently than they
| are now doing.
1.-The consensus of opinion at the
meeting on Friday evening was thai
| if the fact is established that Topeka
| can lay claim to priority of contract
then the company should be compelled
| to supply Topeka first.
| 81 don't know that we have priority
Any suit brought against the Kansas
l Natural Gas COMPANY should be dom