The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-06
Artificial Plant in Topeka Is
Being Remodeled.
Franchise Allows Original
Charge of S1.25 Here.
BILLIARD ANSWERS SHARITT
Mayor Says Topeka Receiver
Has Been Asleep.
Points Out Promise Never Full
filled by Judge Pollock.

+ Men are working night and day pre-
pairing the artificial gas plant at the
| foot of Monroe street for use in case
the natural supply is either exhausted
or the Kansas Natural refuses to fur
nish the local distributing company
with the product from the southern
Kansas and Oklahoma fields The re-
port came to the city hall today of
this action of the Consumers Light
Heat and Power company and it has
been discovered that Topeka will have
to pay the old franchise price of s1.25
thousand cubic feet if the natural
supply is cut off from the city mains
L. G. Treleaven, manager of the
Consumers company and secretary
of the old Excelsior Coke and Fuel
company, admitted this morning that
the artificial plant was being repaired
and remodeled for the local distribu-
ton in case any action was taken by
the Kansas Natural company or in
case the supply of natural gas was ex-
hausted.
I'VE want to be ready to send arti-
fetal gas through the MAINS" explain
ed Manager Treleaven. There is al
ways danger that the supply will be
exhausted. I will not say that we are
anticipating any trouble-but when it
comes we will be prepared for it. We
are under a contract to furnish gas
whether it is natural or artificial and
we will do all in our power to keep the
gas in the MAINS,
Mayor Billiard would make no COM
ments on the action of the Consumers
Light, Heat and Power company to-
day except that the corporation was
under obligation to the city through
its franchise to manufacture gas if
necessary.
However" he said, 'tthe old fran
chise allows them to charge $1.25 a
thousand cubic feet-this is prohibi-
tive to most consumers and will stop
the use of gas for heating purposes"
Billiard Answers Sharitt.
Mayor Billiard today answers the at
tacks made upon him by George Shar- !
ritt, one of the receivers appointed byf
Judge Pollock.
'.Mr. Sharitt made one false state |
m ment-maybe more the mayor ex- |
planned. "He said that after the re-
ceivers had applied for the increase
or city made a protest against the
raise
''Sharitt must have been asleep
possibly he did not read the newspa-
pers Didn't he know that twenty-five
mayors met at Kansas City and made
a protest against the raise? Didn't !
he hear that we appointed a commit I
tee to do all in its power to prevent an
advance in the cost of the product? And
didn't he find out that the chairman of
this committee went to Judge Pollock
and requested that hear
ing be given the cities before an in
crease was ordered? I am sorry that
Mr.. Sharitt did not keep awake to
these facts.
''And might add that Judge Pollock
promised to give us a hearing before
ne gave out his order-and the hear
ng never was granted.
''Sharitt asks whom I represent I
would like to say that represent every
gas consumer. in Topeka with the ex-
,eption of a receiver of the gas COM
oany and few others of Pollock's
friends. Sharitt may be a gas con-
sumner but believe he represents Judge
Pollock and the gas company to a
greater extent than he does the mass
If consumers in Topeka
Gas at 25 Cents This Month.
There is no doubt in the minds of the
.ity officials and the officials Of the )
Consumers Light, Heat & Power COM
,any, but the gas sosld in Topeka
his month will be at the =-sual rate of
Is cents a thousand GsSlc feet.
TN the first place. said Mayor Bill
ard. I'VE will pay only twenty-five
ents for gas this month. don't know
What charge will be made by the COM
twenty-five cents is all that
consumers in Topeka will pay" &
Manager Treleaven sets all the un-
asy at rest by this statement:
'I do not anticipate any increase in
he price this month. We have no in
to the effect that more will
re charged. The bills undoubtedly will
e the same as before"
The pressure today is not as good as
esterday.
Don't brag about the good pressure
re held Sunday warned Mr.. Treleav-
n, To-day the cold spell is holding over t
nd quite naturally the pressure is {
d. 1t~,-r = n ,,rr1af
he mains all the gas we can procure .o
4 the cifv lirnitS'' 4