The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-03-02
OUR CITY sIREs.
Their Meeting Last Night and What
They ma.

Tue COuucii Cnainocr jast Sut nv t'oU Ctcch'
his honor Mayor Good presiding. Roll
called; absent Aldermen Whitls, Ervsy and
Tilmsn. The minutes of the last meeting
were read and approved.
The monthly report of the health officer
the report of the chief of the fire depart
ment, the city assessor and collector the city
treasurer, with the exception of the report of
the chief Of the fire department and health
officers, were received and liled.
The report of the city engineer in regard
TO the Main street sewer WAS construction Of
sidewalks was received aud fled.
The committee on claims reported batch
of accounts against the city amounting to
1921 ID and recommended that the same be
paid. Adopted.
The committee on streets and bridges
reported that the sewer on south Main,
between Field and Murphy streets, was com
pleted according to contract, and recon-
mended that warrant bs drawn in favor of
Butler & Ramon, contractors, for $500.
Adopted.
The committee on public buildings and
markets reported that deeds for lot 7, block
SO, had been made and warrants drawn for
amount Of purchase and recording of deeds,
Adopted.
The police board recommended that the
petition Of Stuart, ssking commission nss
special policeman, be granted. Adopted.
Mayor Good, chairman of the committee
on public schools, reported that he was Inv
structed by the committee to recommend that
the prayer of Hon. j. B. Simpson, president
of tne board of trustees, asking thai the
question Of the levyng of IL tax OF { of
per cent. for this and the ensuing year for
the purpose of raising funds to erect public
scoool buildings, be submitted to vote of
the qualified voters, be granted. Adopted
and referred 10 the committee on ordnaces.
The secretary read the following from Mr..
Burton, manager Of the Western Union Tel
ograph company
Dallas, Texas, February 2Sth
Honorable Mayor aud City Council.
A report Of the committee Of the council
granting TO certain parties an exclusive
privilege to erect poles for telegrsphic, tele-
phonic and fire alarm purposes for period
of ten years has been adopted. We would
respectfully ask your honorable body in
drawing up IN ordnance comforting these
privileges, that it may be so drawn ia not to
impair any of the rights we now enjoy or
may hereafter require in conducting our
telegraphc business. We make this request
for the following reasons: If an exclusive
privilege is given the aforesaid parties, and
we should at any time in the future desire to
enlarge our business, We would be placed in
apositi0n in which it would be necessary for
us TO buy from them the.priyilege ofextending
poles. 1t we were subjected to an exaction
of this character, IL would render our bust,
ness more expensive, snd in the end the bust
ness men who patroDize the telegraph would
bear the burden. II is the custom elsewhere
to give telegraph companies the privilege TO
erect poles, but not the exclusion of others.
The people everywhere are opposed to ex
elusive privileges to individuals or CORPORA
tons, and our statute books coalan laws,
recently enacted, which prohibit exclusive
privileges to any one. have reference TO a
law of congress which prohibits railroad COM
panies from granting exclusive rights of way
to telegraph compsniea, that it is against
public policy and the genius OF our insti.u-
lions to grant such privileges. l
think there is also law of
our state which prohibits such grants.
Ii is true principle in politics and morality
that the interest of the many is paramount
to that of the few.
Accompany to operate the National Bell
telephone has been organized, and has leased
the right TO put up tele Dhone exchanges in
the states of Arkansas and Texas, and letter
from the president received here a few DAYS
since states that they will commence the
erection of lines at once These gentlemen
are certainly unaware of the existence of an
exclusive privilege having been granted to
anyone nor do they anticipate that they will
be forced TO purchase the rights of individu-
ais to operate their business. Should it be
necessary for them to pay large price to
these favored individuals the amount so ex.
expended would have to be charged TO those
who use the telephones. Where the
telephone has been introduced it has not only
proved convenience but an indispensable
adjunct TO business men, and it will become
so IN our city. We cannot regard any policy
an enlightened one which places burdens
upon our people, no matter in what form,
and m00nopolies are regarded by them as
especially odious and detriment to public
business. In short, the telephones that NAV
be operated in Dallas may be rendered SO
expensive by this exclusive privilege AS 10
place them beyond the means of most of
our people and make them luxury instead
OF convenience to every man of ordinary
means. Very respectfully,
S. BURTON,
Manager Western Union Telegraph Office,
| q. Alderman Bohny stated that he had I'm.
derstood from the city attorney, that Messrs
Moninger& Howe wished to Withdraw their
contract.
Alderman Wheclcck said that Mr.. Burton
was mistaken in thinking the councuil had
given Moninger Il Howe the exclusive right
ofputting up poles.
On motion OF Alderman Bohny, the mat
Ter was passed over until the next meeting.
The petition of Messrs Kahn Il Camp
bell, asking removal of sewer from theirlot,
corner Of Main and Murphy streets to Muir.
ply street, and the privilege of erecting an
eight foot instead OF the ordinary six and a
half feet sidewalk, was read aud referred 10
the city engineer on streets and bridges, to
report at the n ext meeting.
The petition Of citizens, asking that a
portion of Sycamore street and Patterson
avenue and Ross avenue be properly drained,
was read and granted.
The petition of petitioners, asking that tho
south side Of Main street, between Sycs-
more and Ervay streets, be withdrawn from
the fire limits, was read and referred 10 the
committee on fire department.
The petition of residents of Good street.
asking an extension of said street, was read
and referred to the committee on streets and
bridges.