The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-02
TO USE CITY PLANT

Continued From Page one)
in its desire to find out just what the
Edison company can do now and will
do in the future in the way of meeting
local electrical power demands. This
ability of the Edison company to meet
possible emergencies will have a di-
rect bearing on the possible use of
the city plant in supplying energy to
neighboring towns or private con-
sumers, he said.
Stanfield said it is intention to put
the Topeka city light plant on a pay
ing basis if possible. He declared that
as things are at present the machinery
stands idle many hours each day, and
asserted that the machinery would be
Just as well off if not better. pro-
ducing energy which could be sold
at a profit.
As to the legal aspects of the case,
the Edison company does not have an
exclusive franchise in Topeka. In the
franchise the city of Topeka speci-
fically reserves to itself the right to
own and operate a plant or plants to
supply the city. or the inhabitants
thereof, with electric power, heat
steam heat, or any other kind of
light, heat or power
In its report to the board of df-
rectors of the Chamber of Commerce.
the Industrial committee suggested
that the city of Topeka utilize a GER
tain sum, not specified originally
voted in bonds for the expansion of
the water plant and the consolidation
of the light and water plant. to install
a complete municipal lighting plant
Tor the supplying of light and power
to any or all consumers in the CITY.
Investigation proved this plan feast
pie only to the extent suggested by
Stanfield today
The water and light bond issue was
authorized in the amount of S535. 600
To cate two issues of the bonds have
been made, one for 100000 and one
for $4,000. The remaining $4,000
IS authorized by the bond election but
IS not yet issued, and unless extensions
30 the light plant are decided upon
probably will not be issued City Off
Gals today said that the $4,000 al
ready issued is thought to provide
sufficient funds for the work of re-
modelling and extending the water
plant and consolidating with If the
present electric light and power plant.
However, d. H. Branaman, city
attorney, declared today that in HIS
opinion the remaining $4,000 could
pc made available for use in enlarging
the present capacity of the light plant
70 meet Whatever light needs the peo-
pie of Topeka might put upon it. He
limited the extensions to the $4,000
available.
Commissioner StanfieId was oues-
toned on this subject also, and said
SAioI the S50,UUO would enlarge the
present city plant to a total CAPACITY
of $500 kilowatt hours-or equal to
what the Chamber of Commerce in
dustrial committee alleged to be the
capacity of the Edison company. STAN
field said, however, that this amount
for expansion as suggested would be
wholly absorbed at the plant and
would not provide funds for the cree
ton of pole and transmission lines.
He also pointed out that the increase
would only put the city plant on a par
with the present capacity of the Edi-
son plant and would not aid in easing
the situation as far as it relates to al
legged insufficient power.
As a possible solution of the situa-
ton, Stanfield said that it may be
possible that the city will accept or
ders to deliver power to factories
mills and industrial purposes, but that
no effort at all would be made to
invade the domestic lighting and
power activities of the Edison COM
pany. Even the action cited would
be based entirely on the attitude and
demands of the people of the city
he said.