The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-18
City Council Not in Favor of
Revolving Gas Franchise.
People of Topeka Want "More
Gas" Instead of "NO Cas-"
PRESSURE STILL Low
General Shortage of Gas in To-
peka Today.
Manager Treleaven Can Make
No Good Promises.

The gas situation today is the same
as it was yesterday-the people are not
able to get enough gas to supply their
stoves, furnaces and light sufficiently
and the cold weather continues. Fur
thermore, Manager Treleaven of the
Consumers Light, Heat & Power COM
pany can make no promises for more
gas. He says that the local company
is using every ounce they can get in
this city.
"As long as this cold weather con-
tinues the people of Topeka might as
well expect a gas shortage" said Man
ager Treleaven. 'All of the lines and
pumping stations are working in fine
shape and the only trouble is that we
haven't gas to force into the city The
supply is about the same as it was
yesterday with no changes. l cannot
say that the supply will be larger be-
cause do not know that it will
The weather man says that 1t will be
warmer tomorrow and on that prog
nostication the people of the city will
have to base all hopes for Sunday COM
forts. 1t is unusual for Kansas wealth
er to hold out with cold spells very
long and the prospects for warmer
weather and thus more gas are bright.
The pressure was at II pounds this
noon. But it is I hard matter trying
to figure out the gas supply according
to the pressure. There have been times
when the pressure was only three
pounds at the city limits and still the
people have had plenty of gas and
knew nothing of the pressure. The
pressure howl that is made every day
is foolish and has very little to do with
the gas.
Nothing Being Done.
There has been considerable concen-
trated agitation over the city to COM
pei the gas company to get gas to To-
peka threatening them with a fran
chise revokement- The agitation has
accomplished nothing SO far as far as
natural gas is concerned and the pros
poets are that nothing will be done.
1t has been limited that the members
of the city council will take action
Monday night to procure gas. 1t has
also been stated that it is up to the
mayor and city council to demand that
the gas company furnish enough gas or
get out of town.
This sentiment does not correspond
with the sentiment of the city as
whole and with the sentiments of the
members Of the city council and the
city officials There are very few peo-
pie in Topeka who are in favor of a
franchise forfeiture and the members
of the city council are against such
proposition.
at am willing to do all in my
power to have this city supplied with
gas" said Mavor William Green this
afternoon "but 1 have not been able
to figure out what good it would do to
take vengeance on the franchise. l
still maintain that this matter should
be taken up in a conservative way
and worked out in the same manner.
There are a number of legal points in
volved that require thought"
The action has been referred to City
Attorney Ralston who has not made
his opinion public and who will not
say anything until the council meet
ing Monday night But it is known
hot - q I1Gn
for some of the ideas that have been
expressed publicly on the situation.
To Mr.. Ralston it is not question of
throwing the gas company out of
town in the middle of the winter but
it is a question of getting more gas
If possible and keep what gas there is.
"All of these meetings, and inter
views, and 'rawhide' articles, are not
city official today. "I know that the
people are getting sick of the talk:
There isn't a person in Topeka Chat
is, those who are really suffering from
it, but who feels that the Kansas Nat
ural Gas company is responsible for
the shortage and that it is on this
head that the hammer should be
struck. Everyone in Topeka is willing
to cooperate with the officials or the
people who really have a plan to get
more gas but they laugh and become
disguised at the attempts being made
to bluff the gas into town by words
and not actions"
1t has been suggested that the gas
There are very few of the council
ers. 1t has ben found that the law
Will never allow such a thing as this.
The courts of other states have de-
cided that when a PERSONS property
is torn mp and a gas main is laid along
his lots he has right to 1t as much as
his neighbor. The gas is for public
use and one person is equal to another
as far as the rights of the consumers
are concerned This scheme would
be given death blow at the outset
ers. 1t has been found that the law
men who would vote to take away the
franchise from the gas company. All
of the councilmen want to do all in
their power to get gas but every time
they stop and think over the PROPOSE
ton they come to the conclusion that
at this time there is no revealed man.
ner. 1t is the question of MORE GAS
instead of NO GAS with the people of
Topeka.