The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-31
CITY LIGHT PLANT
CONTINUED from Page One,

which interests this Chamber is sup
posed to protect it should at once in
sist on a very prompt, unequivocal and
definite statement from the Edison
company covering what if anything,
they may absolutely be counted upon
to do to afford adequate power (and
of equal concern) whether such en-
largements would give assurance of
ability on their part to provide current
at 8. reasonable, low cost, thus insur-
6ng as favorable rates as are enjoyed
by the other cities hereab bout with
which we compete.
We not only recommend. but urge,
that such request be made upon the
Edison company. We further venture
the suggestion that nothing can be
gained, while on the other hand inter-
ests on both sides might suffer thru
any publicity whatever concerning this
matter at this time.
City Take Over Lead.
AS to temporary but immediate
patching up of the power shortage
situation, based upon our understand
ing that the Edison company is short
of generative rather than distributing
or line capacity and on the further
understanding that the city now has a
very considerable power capacity rath-
err easily available for distribution in
WHAT'S commonly spoken of as the
wholesale district. we suggest the pos
sibility of taking over by the city tenn
porarily at least, of a part of the load
in that district with a. view to releas-
ing Edison power now needed by the
Topeka Packing company and others
outside of the small district mentioned.
In making this suggestion. we do it
realizing that perhaps both the city
paltn and the Edison company might
have objections which in themselves
have merit. However, to us the mat
ter seems invested with a certain meas
ure of public or community interest
such as would nevertheless justify the
waving aside of all objection that in
any way might be looked upon as
trivial or technical.
Take~Over Adams Street Station.
Another possible temporary solu-
ton might be found in the fact that
city is about to abandon it's old power
plant on Adams street. We have as
certained that the capacity of this
| plant is approximately $500 kilewatts
And we believe that the efficiency of
the city plant is fully equal to that of
| the Edison. If now, some arrangement
| by purchase or lease could be made
whereby the Edison company might
acquire and operate this city plant the
| additional power would seem to be
made available.
| That you may get a somewhat bet
| ter idea of the situation, it may not be
! out of place to explain that during
| something like two years past state
ments similar to those of Mr.. Baer in
| relation to being refused power on ac-
| count of no more capacity, have been
| made and so far as we have been able
| to learn from sources outside of the
| Edison -erganiza ton, no actual move
whatever for enlargement of capacity
| have as yet been attempted.
You should know that during the
past two or more years there have
| been at least several other refuSalS OF
power by the Edison company on the
| plea of no more plant capacity and
that a part. at least, of these COM
plants were referred to the industrial
! committee for such assistance as it
| might be able to render. The situation
| was taken up with the Edison COM
pany and considerably more than one
| year ago Mr.. Purdy made the state
ment before the members of the in
! dustrial committee that the company
was about to install additional boilers
| and enlarge capacity and that this
| euuipmen was already in the city.
You should know that the equipment
referred to by him consists of second
hand and Anticipated type boilers and
| Corliss engine and that apparently no
move has yet been made relative to
| their installation, the engine parts be-
ing still scattered about on the park
ing at the plant and the boilers re-
main where un1oaded.
1t should, however. be remembered
that such an arrangement is but the
merest makeshift and that while tenn
porariIy we might get power adequate
as to amount it would come from TIVE
obsolete plants and therefore at pro-
| duction costs that would perhaps be
almost double that of a modernly
| equipped and economically operated
plant.
In conclusion. as in the beginning
we assert our belief that the situation
is one calling for almost immediate
definite and perhaps somewhat radi-
cal steps ON the part of this chamber
(Signed)
GEO. p. MENTIRE,
C. S. ELLIOTT.
T. c. WH1TEKER,