The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-14
URGES WICHITA
GAS COMP ANY TO
COMPETE HERE
Bitter Row in Progress Be-
tween Big Rival Concerns.
Kansas Attorney Says Other
DepreciateS Value.
lHssAEF m nIIV ct aEnneFInF
WANT TO BUY AT A SACRIFICE
If Sold Stockholders Must Get
Return ON Investment.
Governor Capper FavOrs Pub
lie Sale of Utility.

Robert Stone, as attorney for the
Kansas Natural Gas company, today
urged the Wichita Natural to enter
this field as a competitor and prom
Used that if it would extend its lines
cities, the Kansas Natural would sup
ply it with all the customers it could
handle.
That a bitter row exists between the
Wichita Natural Gas company, the
United Gas Improvement company
and the Kansas Natural Gas company
was revealed when Mr.. Stone spoke of
the proposed purchase of the Kansas
Natural by the Wichita Natural and
the United Gas Improvement COM
pany. Mr.. Stone accuses these two
companies of endeavoring to get the
hearing postponed at st. Paul and when
it was discovered that they could not
do that, it is alleged, that an effort
was made to defeat the application
to increase rates.
This, Mr.. Stone declares, was in
order to depreciate the property in
order that it might be purchased at
So crifice.
Good Value Now.
1--WE are anxious to end the long
litigation said Mr.. Stone, ito which
the Kansas Natural has been subject
ed, not by its own choice but because
public officials would not grant it a
remunerative rate We believe the
time has come when the property can
be turned back to it's stockholders or
sold on a basis by which the stock
holders can get some return for their
investment.
"And we shall be glad to see any ar
rangement made by which the prop
will not submit to any arrangement by
which it will be sacrificed and sold for
the benefit Of the Wichita Natural or
the United Gas Improvement COM
pany."
Follows State House Meeting.
J. C. Mcdowell, an acknowledged
gas expert, and A. j. Diescher, man
ager of the Wichita Natural. called
upon Governor Capper Tuesday after
boon and requested that they be
granted conference with the at
torney general and members CT the
utilities commission. Diescher main
tanned that there is plenty of gas, but
from intimationS made following the
conference, it is under the control of
the Wichita Natural. They had maps
to show where the gas fields needed
are located and supplied names of in
terests owning the same. Following
the conference it was intimated that
lI.O OlQ IuiIlOT OIL the OIL tne
Kansas Natural would become a real
ity.
IF it is Sold" said Governor Cap
per, Il would favor a public sale, and
permit ali bidders to have an oppor-
tunity. I have understood there are
| others who would like to acquire the
property. What we wish most is to
get it out of the courts
Mr. Stone called Mr.. Diescher's
statement relative to the large amount
of gas available.
IF, as the Wichita Natural claims,
it has a reserve supply of gas,'' said
Mr.. Stone, 1.-The receiver of the Kansas
Natural will buy it at any reasonable
price. Or if the Wichita Natural will
built line to any of the cities in Kan
sas or Kansas City, Mo-, the receiver
will divide the territory with it and
| give 1t all the customers it can supply.
THE Wichita Natural has a pipe
line running as far north as lola 1t
can build pipe line from lola to KAN
sas City, or to Topeka, at a much less
expense than it can buy the Kansas
Natural system and the receiver will
gladly surrender all the customers to
it that it can supply.
Can Get Gas.
eff the Wichita Natural is not trying
to buy the Kansas Natural at a forced
sale and for less than it is worth, let
1t extend its own lines and become a
| competitor instead of a monopoly"
Mr.. Stone stated that the receiver
for the Kansas Natural is prepared to
spend s750,0OO this year for an ade-
quate supply of gas demanded by the
declares, that the receiver has it in
reach and will not have to purchase it,
as he claims Mcdowell and Diescher
| would hav- Topeka believe.