The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-02
new GAS RATES
into EFFECT SOON
IS AND so CENTS
Local Company Announces the
Change To-day.
First Three Thousand Feet at
Fifty Cent Rate.
AFTER THAT IT IS So CENTS
Claim That Former Rates Made
Company Bankrupt.
More Gas Promised Under In.
creased Receipts.
First Three Thousand Feet at
Fifty Cent Rate.
AFTER THAT IT IS 35 CENTS
More Gas Promised Under In.
creased Receipts.

receiver for the Consumers Light,
Heat and Power company. in circu-
lar issued to gas consumers.
According to the statement, so cents
net per thousand will be charged for
the first 5000 feet, with a minimum
charge of so cents; the rate for all
over 5000 will be 35 cents per thou
and. The company promises a more
adequate and continuous supply; bet
ter service than last winter but not so
good as may be expected the follow
ing year, nor not sufficient for heat
ing during the cold periods of the
coming winter.
The company says that the business
for 1915 was conducted at loss of
$55, 900. The rather startling state
ment is made that $26. 900 was paid to
Shawnee county for taxes, or more
than 50 for each consumer.
The seeming hardship of the new
rate seems to lie in the price of so
cents per Thousand for the first 5000
feet, making the small consumer, who
has heretofore used 1000 feet at
cost of Sc cents. pay 81.
The company says that this is the
expense per thousand: Local distri-
button 14A cents, taxes II cents, to-
tai 20A cents; bonds, interest and de-
probation II cents. total 3S cents. For
this the company says it received II
cents.
The statement speaks for itself as
follows:
The receivers of The Consumers
Light, Heat & Power company is in
receipt of notice from John NJ. Ian
don, receiver of the Kansas Natural
in the price of natural gas in said
cities of Topeka and Oakland. You
are therefore, hereby notified that
from and after your next meter read
eleventh and sixteenth days of Sep
TENDER, inclusive, the rates charged
will be as follows:
Fifty (50) cents net per thousand
for the first three Thousand 10000
cubic feet, with a minimum charge
of fifty 500 cents. For all over
three thousand 10000 cubic feet,
thirty-five (35) cents net per thou
The receiver of The Consumers
Light, Heat & Power company be-
lieves that the new schedule of rates
is just and equitable, and that it will
in the end work to the benefit of every
consumer of natural gas in the cities
of Topeka and Oakland, and that you
will find natural gas at the increased
price to be the cheapest fuel avail
able. The rates charged will enable
the receiver of the Kansas Natural
Gas company to produce a much more
adequate and continuous supply of
natural gas, thereby enabling the re-
ceiver of The Consumers Light, Heat
& Power company to give greatly i'm
proved service.
In order to handle the increased
quantity of natural gas which will be
procured by the receiver of the Kan
sas Natural Gas company, various ex-
tensions and improvements will have
TO be made, and it will be impossible
TO complete these improvements in
to ir1=1 FIJI
cola periods of the coming winter al
tho it is expected that better service
will be given this winter than last. In
another year the supply will be suffi-
ice at all times, hut our consumers
are advised not to depend upon nat
ural gas for heating in the cold peri
DDS of the coming winter.
The contract which was made with
the Kansas Natural Gas company on
the 5th day of January, 1905, before
natural gas was brought to Topeka,
provided for a rate of 35 cents net per
thousand cubic feet to become effect
i've in December, 1910. The local COM
pany has during all the succeeding
years supplied natural gas in the
cities of Topeka and Oakland for less
than it was authorized under its con-
tract. in consequence of which it has
become bankrupt. In putting into eff
feet the new rate the company is,
therefore. asking only what its con-
the increased rate, in our judgment, is
the lowest rate at which natural gas
can be profitably sold.
LAS stated, for several years past,
the Consumers Light, Heat & Power
company has operated at a great loss,
The business for the year 1915 result
ed in a deficit of more than $55, 900. 90
to the local company. During that
year the business of the company was
carefully and economically managed
and not a single dollar was needless
~ spent. In that year more than
$26,000.O0 was paid to the treasurer
of Shawnee county, Kansas, in taxes,
or more than two dollars for each
consumer of natural gas in the cities
of Topeka and Oakland.
In the month of July. just passed
our taxes, based on the amount paid
in 1915. were 61z cents for every
thousand cubic feet of gas sold In
addition to that, our local distributing
expenses. money actually paid out in
the cities of Topeka and Oakland
mostly for labor. amounted to lax
cents for each and every thousand Gu
bic feet of gas sold. making a total
cents for each thousand cubic feet OF
gas sold. Our share of the price paid
by the consumers for this gas was less
than 91k cents per thousand cubic
feet, although it cost us more than
double that amount to deliver it.
These figures do not include either
bond interest or depreciation. If the
two latter items were considered there
would be an additional cost to us OF
more than II cents per thousand GU
bic feet, making a total cost of 3S
cents for gas for which we received
less than 9k cents.
We solicit the cooperation of our