The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-07
PLENTY OF GAS
IN Topeka THIS
WINTER--LAND0N
Kansas Natural Receiver Tells
Plans to Rotary Club.
New Fields Are To Be Tapped
Extensions in.
SLAP AT UTILITIES COMMISSION
Refusal of 3O-Cent Gas Last
Year Cause of '16 Rate.
Receivers First Public Discus
sion OF Troubles.
HAYS POINTS OUT THE PATH
Says State Has Been IncOnsis-
tent i'm Rulings.
Demands Better Service and
Refusal of 3O-Cent Gas Last
Year Cause of '16 Rate.
Receivers First Public Discus.
sion OF Troubles.
HAYS POINTS OUT THE PATH
Says State Has Been IncOnSiS-
tent i'm Rulings.
Demands Better Service and
Then Ties Firms Hands.

Victor Hays. president of the Kan
sas Natural Gas company, today told
Rotarians the chapter of misfor-
tunes of his company since it first
began supplying gas to Kansas. He
charged the state with inconsistencies
in demanding better service and then
in tying the hands of the gas COM
pany, making better service impos-
sibie.
Mr.. Hays peaded for the applica-
ton of common sense in deciding
whether the gas increase is proper. or
not. When the Kansas Natural first
began supplying gas the gas came
from a field not mere than 100 miles
away. Now the company is buying its
gas from another company at an in
creased price while the gas is piped
three times as far as it was originally
Yet despite the millions of dollars
spent in extending mains to get the
gas, the price of gas has not material
ly increased.
The gas man also spoke of the ques-
ton of attorneys fees. That was a
matter settled by the courts, he stat
ed. Yet the company paid $4,000
fees to Philadelphia attorney for a
three hours consultation, as much as
has been paid in Kansas for an attor-
neys services for an entire year.
Not a Cent i'm Revenue.
THE gas business is peculiar in one
respect" said Mr.. Hays. I'm every
other business increase of equipment
means an increase of the volume of
business Yet, in the gas business this
is not true. We have spent millions
in new equipment and yet haven't de-
rived a cent more in revenue"
Mr.. Hays spoke of being obliged to
purchase gas in Oklahoma from an
other gas company at 6 and II cents
against and 2 u cents a few years
ago. He told of the increase in the
price of equipment which he estimated
at 1916 per cent.
Inconsistency of State.
In pointing to the alleged incon-
sistency of the state, Mr.. Hays told
I of the company's anticipation of need
ing new gas territory in the years to
come and of its action in leasing ter
| ritory for the purpose of opening
fields.
"About that time the state brought
a suit against us charging US with
being a trust" said Mr.. Hays. THAT
threw us in a receivers hands and our
attempts to safeguard ourselves
against a gas shortage ended"
Landon's Speech.
John NJ. Landon. receiver for tho
Kansas Natural Gas company. today
told of hardships, hopes and ambi-
| tions and made promises concerning
the gas supply in a speech today as
guest of the Rotary club { it's first
luncheon of the 1916-17 season. Lam
| don told of extensions and better
ments of lines and service, took a veil
ed slap at the public utilities commits
sion for the present rate situation and
| assured Topeka there would be plenty
of gas next winter.
In his speech tod1y Landon referred
/ to Scipio, the town that once won
daily mention in the winter press dis
| patches. Scipio was a pumping sta
| tion, where the compressors were used
to send the gas to Topeka, Lawrence,
Kansas City and other towns. When
| trouble happened at Scipio, down went
| the pressure. Then the gas company
abandoned the Scipio station. That is
| one of the causes of the present low
! pressure, Landor said.
That wasn't the only trouble Lam
| don mentioned. He told the Rotar-
ians that denials of a 30-cent rate ap-
plication n year ago, is the cause of a
higher rate now. Why? Bettcrments
that would cost million dollars are
costing two millions now. Extensions
have been delayed. New fields are to
be tapped.
With 1t all, Landon gave an assur-
ance for next winter. New fields are
being tapped A mile of new pipe line
is being laid every day. New wells
are being drilled. There is an abund-
fSontinued Ca Page TwoJ
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