The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-02
GAS MEET FAILS.
Mayors and DOherty Unable to
Get Together on a Plan.
Artificial Plants Seem To Be
Only Solution of Problem.

Kansas City. Mo, March DE
spite the conference of the mayors of
forty-one interested cities held here
with Henry L. Doherty. the new own
er of the Kansas Natural, the solu-
ton of the gas situation seems as 1ar
away as it ever was, and, unless some
unexpected turn is taken today, IL Is
believed the conference will have ac-
complished absolutely nothing Wheh
the last mayor returns to his munich
pality.
AT Thursdays meeting a committee
consisting of Mayor Edwards, OF Kan
sas City, Mo; Mayor House, of To-
peka; Mayor Green. of Kansas CITY
Kan; Mayor Chase, of Oswego, and
Commissioner Lee, of Joplin, was ap-
/ pointed to go over the situation again
today with Doherty in an effort 10
formulate a plan which will bring the
different factions together and assure
the consumers more gas. ut it was
/ the opinion of all concerned that
nothing would come of this CONFER
ence.
The appointment of this committee
| followed an all-day discussion. DO
herty made it plain that he wanted
the company placed in the hands Oh
| the federal court to administer
Dana Against "
J. w. Dana of the Kansas City,
Kan, distributing company, opposed
this course. T. F. Doran, represent
ing the receiver of the Topeka com
many flatly declared that his COM
many would not be content with Il
rate less than 81 a thousand for the
first 1000 feet. with rate between
40 and 60 cents after that
The conference did develop this;
!
cline to surrender the advantage they
have bv reason of being near the gas
fields; the Kansas city com pdIIe9
and the Topeka company nope 10 oe-
velop a situation that Will force d re-
turn to artificial gas, or force ~
bertv TO take over the operation OF
the distributing companies under
lease or thru some plan that VIM siN7
them a profitable return on theIr m
vestment Mr. Doherty at last, mas
reaIized the futility of trying to recon-
Gle the divergent interests, ana WouIu
have returned to New York at once
except for a sense OF courtesy "
committee of mayors
Make No Guarantee
Dohertv announced his position on
puorantee to the consumers. lie oe
clared the gas proposition IS all MAT
we could not give a guarantee,
he said. 1.-The fact we have promised
and are ready to spend e mllllon
dollars for extensions when assured
of fair treatment, shoulo De sudi ail'ee
enough" ,.
.sIf the demand for gas were limited
by increasing the price, would you De
willing to impound the amount OF the
excess collected as a guarantee Tor an
adequate supply?'s Mayor Edwards
asked Doherty later.
Yes, l should be willing to lmpound
our share of that excess and let the
courts decide upon its disposition" Mr..
Doherty replied.
Mr. Doherty announced unless ac-
ton were taken at once there would
not be half a supply of gas available
for next winter. That places the cities
of Missouri and Kansas out on the end
of a plank with notice" behind
them and a declaration they must
jump and jump quickly.
I'VE must be allowed to proceed i'm
mediately rearranging the system" he
said. by Immediately, l mean within
fourteen days"
Scant Supply Next Winter.
Mr.. Doherty emphasized the fact he
had contracted for the purchase of the
Kansas Natural last November, but
litigation had prevented him from OBJ
tanning physical possession of the
property.
The present available supply of
gas for the entire system is At million
normal demand is in excess of $50
million feet. We cannot possibly
promise more than 80 million feet for
next winter and cannot promise that
unless we can take charge of the
property and begin preparation within
fourteen days.
IF the situation dragS along as at
present not more than 80 million feet
will be available next winter with
the present facilities of the Kansas
Natural"
J. W. Dana, president of the Wyan-
dotte County Gas company, termed
it ridiculous to ask a federal court
to take a bankrupt corporation and
make it a going concern.
I'VE should agree on a rate with the
state commissions" he declared 1T
is to their interest to give US a fair
rate
what do you call a fair rate?"
Alderman George Harrington asked
Mr.. Dana.
I'll figure that out by mathemat-
ical process and tell you later" Dana
returned.
Harrington snorted in disgust
81 wish you fellows would talk so
common people who are paying the
hills can understand you" he said. II
do not care for any of your analytical
problems in mathematics and chem
istrv. Quit talking over our heads.
what we want is gas and we want to
know what we are going to have to
pay for it,"