The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-02
1t Was Done To Make 1t Too
Expensive for Heating.
This Is Theory of Mayor House,
Who Attended Meeting.
BACK TO IS CENTS SOME DAY
That Is, if More Gas Territory
Can Be Discovered.
Meanwhile TOpekans Must Lay
In Coal Supply.

Topeka will buy gas for 81 cents
cubic thousand feet next winter-f
she pays her bills before the lOth
of the month. otherwise the rate is
90 cents. An order by Judge Wilbur
f. Booth in st. Paul today grants
per cent discount where gas bills are
paid before the 10th of the month
All towns north of Thayer, KAN
including Kansas City, Topeka, Leav-'
enworth, Lawrence, Atchison, Ottawa
and Garnett-will pay 60 cents for
gas. The Thayer and southern dis
trict will pay so cents, except Parsons,
which will receive a 35 cent rate and
Independence, Coffeyville and FIX
City. which will buy gas at 80 cents
The order is temporary and may be
changed on further showing by the
Kansas utilities commission or the
Kansas Natural, which is allowed IN
der the order to connect with the SER
vice of the Doherty interests.
Nothing in the order is especially
pleasing to the state utilities commits
sion. The commission had held out
for esta blishment of the universal IS
cent order of December, 1915 Fol-
lowing that order the Kansas Natural
had offered to cancel all pending
suits and enter into an agreement for
80 cent gas. The commission reject
ed the offer and Kansas consumers
will now pay both the tat expenses
for the commissions interference and
the additional tribute of 2S cents
thousand cubic feet above the peace
offer
Dispatches today stated that the
Kansas commission opposed Judge
Booths order for per cent dis
count on bills paid before the 10th
of the month. -
Mayor House Returns.
Ordering a 6O-cent gas rate for To-
peka and other cities in the vicinity
was the only method that could be
employed by Federal Judge Booth to
give patrons sufficient gas for lighting
and cooking this winter, according to
Mayor House, who returned today
from the gas hearing at Minnea polls.
Mayor House represented Topeka at
the meeting. Representative from
St. Joseph the two Kansas Citys, Cot
feyville and independence also were
present in compliance with a request
from the public utilities commission.
Invoking 60-cent gas rate this
winter does not necessarily indicate
that such a rate will be effective in
the future. In fact, Mayor House be-
Iieves that within two more winters
Topekans will obtain gas for heating,
as well as cooking and lighting, for
35 cents.
The mayor bases his belief upon
the statement of H. L. Doherty that
by that time he can tap sufficient
gas territory to supply heating gas.
Meantime, Kansans must put in a sup
ply of coal and pray that Doherty has
sood luck in finding a gas field. The
general disposition of all present at
the hearing was to end the controver-
sy, the mayor stated.
THE price had to be fixed at fig
ure that would make it's use for heat
Ing prohibitive." said Mayor House,
lin order to obtain a sufficient sup
ply for cooking and lighting"
The full order has not been handed
down, as yet, by Judge Booth. Mayor
House expects the 6O-cent rate will
become effective Sept. 1 or Is.