The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-14
DOUBT DANNER'S
AUTHORITY FOR
DARKENING CITY
Officials Want To See 1t Before
Obeying Order.
Little Saving Would Come
From His Economy Scheme.
ONLY SLACK COAL IS USED
City Plant Not Equipped To
Carry slight Load"
Turning OFF White Way Might
Mean Shutdown.
Little Saving Would Come
From His Economy Scheme.
ONLY SLACK COAL IS USED

aDanncr will not only have to
order the city plant closed, or ITS
supply of electricity be curtalled,
but he will also have to show his
authority to give the order. Ana,
further, he will have to see that
il is closed"
This was the statement made this
afternoon by Mayor Jay +. House
in regard to the order to darken the
city in an effort to conserve that
was launched Tuesday by G. IL.
Danner, Shawnee county fuel ad-
ministratOr.
The same tone of mistrust and
doubt was expressed this morning
by Commissioner Frank NJ. New
land of the water and light de-
partment.
IF Danner has any authority to
order the lights supplied by the city
light plant turned off, they will be
turned off. If he hasn't the authority,
the lights on Kansas avenue, at the
three railway stations and lights in
the outskirts will be lighted until it is
impossible to run the light plant"
This was the opinion of Frank NJ.
Newland. commissioner of lights and
water.
The whole proposition of turning
out the white way lights and curtail-
ing the use of electricity, as proposed
by c. II. Danner is all bunc and is
entirely uncalled for, according to
Newland. The same opinion was aired
this morning by Jesse Shaw, super
intendent of the water department,
who has been rustling coal for the
water deartment for more than two
weeks.
Conditions at the light plant are
far from gloomy, Newland says, and
the future looks much better. Coal
has been coming in this week with
out the least trouble. Five cars have
already been received and others are
expected soon
Use SIack Coal Only.
The idea of conservation of fuel, the
averred purpose of the order that was
to come from Danner today, was
blown to pieces this morning when
Newland explained the fuel situation
at the light plant.
The slack coal that is used at the
city light plant" Newland said. has
been a drug on the market at all times
previous to this labor complication.
There was never a shovel full of the
steaming coal used in private houses
if it could be helped.
The coal used by the light plant
has always been plentiful At one
time it sold for 20 cents per ton. not
including freight. The only reason for
the great advance at the present time
is labor trouble. Demand of consum-
ers has nothing to do with the price.
There will be no scarcity of the slack
steaming coal if the miners settle
down and work
Couldn't Carry Light Load.
The idea of conservation" was
completely shattered when Newland
stated that to comply with the re-
quests made public Tuesday. it would
mean that the light plant would either
have to change its equipment or close
down. The units employed in pro-
ductng the electricity could not carry
such light load" as would be used
by only the top lights of the white wav
poles on Kansas avenue.
The lightest load that the present
equipment of the plant can carry, ac-
cording to Newland, would be the
top lights of the white way and all
the lights in the outskirts of the city.
And this is not far from the plan now
used by the department.
The communication that was to he
Continued on Page Two