The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-01
Manager Says Edison Company
Is Fully Equipped Here.
Amply Able to Care for Power
and Light Needs.
HAS CARRIED MUNICIPAL LOAD
When City Plant Breaks Down
Edison "HOOks On"
New 1900 KiIOwatt Unit Is
Ready for Installation.

The Edison company is amply
able to care for all the power and
lighting needs of the city, either now
or in the immediate future" accord
ing to Albert NJ. Patten, in charge
of all Kansas property of the Nc
Kinley interests.
Patterns statement is made in reply
20 a charge contained in report of
the industrial committee of the
Chamber of Commerce which was
submitted to the board of directors of
that body Monday. The report al
legged thai the Topeka Edison plant is
obsolete, not modern, and that it does
not and cannot supply the power
needs of Topeka. It also urges action
along the line of charging the NUM-
cipal power plant to sufficient ca
pacity to supply light and power to all
consumers in the city.
The Chamber of Commerce board
accepted the committee report but did
not vote approval of it. On the con-
trary it reserved action pending a con
ference with A NJ. Patten and A. H.
Purdy. in charge of the Edison COM
pany and the Topeka Street Railway
company.
Patten today declared he will be
glad ITO discuss the power situation
with the directors of the Chamber of
Commerce at their pleasure" Purdy
also. signified his willingness to take
part in such a conference but deferred
further statement in the matter to
Patten.
In regard to the ability of the Edi-
son company to meet the power and
light needs of Topeka consumers. and
in answer to other charges made in
the report of the Chamber of Com
merce industrial committee Patten
issued the following statement:
Patterns Statement.
We will be pleased to discuss the power
situation with the directors of the Chamber
Of Commerce at their pleasure.
The present capacity Of the Edison plant
is ample for the existing connected load
and any additional demand that could pos
slh!y develop in the near future A year
and half ago when business was booming
it began to look as if additional capacity
would be required very shortly. At this
time deliveries of large generating units
We're very indefinite and prices abnormal
ly high. Furthermore. all securities not
excepting government bonds were selling
at IN Ibnormally low price unless they
carried very high interest rate. Therefore,
1t certainly must be apparent to anyone
giving the matter due consideration that
Il would have been folly to proceed with
the constructions of 4 new plant at that
period. if the existing plant was at all
capabe Of supplying the energy required
Tor lighting and power purposes in the city
rs the excessive cost of the Plant and the
e: ceSsIVe cost OF money would necessarily
Lag been reflected in the rates for Il long
J. r'9d ami the Edison company did the
on'y sane business thing to do.
We increased our boiler plant cauacity
materially. because this is the slow end Of
ll3nt construction. We also bought and
- = on the syr1rnd today. ready for in
st1l.ntion. 150D kilowatt unit which could
hr Installed end in operation as soon as
any LARGE industry requiring power could
TT ready to receive the same Therefore
me situation has been fully protected at all
tines and ut n minimum expense Work
vas even started on the installation of the
IfEerntlnE unit and excavation for the
lpihdaEI0ns well under way. when the in