The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-09
THEY REFUSED
Topeka Commissioners Decline
Gas Co. Proposal.
Will Give Up Use Free Gas if
Company Will Pay.

At the city commissioners meeting
this morning the proposition of L. g.
Ireleaven, manager of the gas COM
pany, to take gas from the city build
; ing and donate it to the gas company
was thoroughly discussed. Mayor Bill
lard, as well as every commissioner,
agreed in refusing to consider the pro-
posal as stated by Mr.. Treleaven. They
are, on the other hand, willing to make
a counter proposition by which the city
will be protected from the loss of all
emoluments received from the gas
company for it's franchise.
E. B. Stotts commissioner of pub
lie buildings, framed a proposition, I'M
animously endorsed by the city COM
miSSionerS, which Mr.. StottS declares,
saves the rights of the citizens of To-
peka, and is fair to the gas company.
In this connection Mayor Billiard OBJ
served: After an earnest conference,
the commissioners are unanimous in
the belief that the city should not, and
could not, discontinue the use of gas
without being remunerated from the
gas company to compensate for the
loss. The company is, of course giving
us the gas under the terms of their
franchise. Our acceptance of Mr..
Treleaven's proposal would result In
nothing more nor less than direct
donation to the gas company"
Commissioner Stotts. who has made
summed up the matter as follows:
My attention has been called to the
request of Manager Treleaven, of the
Kansas Natural Gas company. that
this city discontinue the use of gas
under its boilers for heating the Audi
torium and city buildings. When To-
peka granted the franchise to the Nat.
ural Gas company. it was stipulated
that the city of Topeka was to re-
ceive gas for heating and lighting this
building free of charge in lieu of
cash consideration for this valuable
franchise. In my Judgment, the city
commissioners would have no authori-
ty to turn off the gas under the city
building, as it would be gift to the
gas company of all moneys received by
the city in consideration of the gas
company's franchise, amounting to
several thousand dollars annually.
1.-THE proposition of Mr.. Treleaven,"
standpoint of the gas company,
ideal. From the city standpoint
the proposition Will I am sure,
receive no consideration at all.
if Mr.. Treleaven, as a repre-
sentative of the gas company, will pay
the city the amount of money which
the gas now used by the city would sell
for, at the regular rate. the proposal
would be a fair one, and the commits
sion would adopt it without question"
Mr.. Stotts produced from his pocket
a slip of paper bearing couple of
rows of figures.
During the month of November and
December" said he, 1.-The city used p
010,000 feet of gas-an enormous
At % cents per thousand feet,
the rate charged consumers in Topeka,
the city would have owed the gas COM |
per month During the months of jan |
uary and February, the city will I'M
require a greater amount of
gas than during the two months pre- |
of course, to the lower |
If the gas company really |
has at heart the interest of the smaller |
consumers in the city of Topeka, it |
could serve them with the additional |
amount of gas which the city requires |
by paying the city for the gas, and then |
selling it to the smaller consumers.
This continued Mr.. Stotts, lis what |
we are going to propose to do. We can
take an average of the gas used by the
city of Topeka for the past four or five
years during the winter months, and |
strike an average monthly cost during
his period. The gas company can
hen pay into the city treasury sum
equal to that which it would receive
or this amount of gas, and the city in
urn can purchase coal to use in lieu
If gas
This is fair proposition" concluded
Mr. Stotts lone that would work great
benefits to the small consumer, be fair
o the city and tax payers as well as
he gas company. Every member of !
he commission, so far as I know,
would be glad to vote for an arrange
nent of this kind, and it can be con-
at any time the gas company
will enter into an agreement to pay
nto the city treasury the sum equal
O the sale price of the gas which is
low used in the boilers of the audi
orium and city building"